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     2008

 

Release of 3rd Quarter 2008 Public Housing Data

Resale transactions increased by about 4%, from about 7,760 cases in 2nd Quarter 2008 to about 8,110 cases in 3rd Quarter 2008 (see Annex C)...
Subletting transactions fell slightly by about 4% from about 4,120 cases in 2nd Quarter 2008 to about 3,960 cases in 3rd Quarter 2008 (see Annex F). The total number of HDB flats approved for subletting rose to about 21,400 units, compared to about 20,200 units in 2nd Quarter 2008...

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     2007

 

Use of outdoor display areas (ODA) by HDB shop retailers

Since 17 Oct 07, HDB, SCDF and NEA have been mounting joint inspections with the Town Councils to enforce the ODA guidelines. Sixteen joint inspections, one in each of the 16 Town Councils, involving a total of 1,180 commercial units, have been carried out to-date.
Upon the first joint inspection, an average of 41% of the shops at each site were found to have infringed the ODA guidelines. Some of the common infringements include installation of drop-down screens and lack of 1-metre distance between rows of goods...

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Lower season parking charges for commercial vehicles weighing up to 1800kg

From 1 Dec 2007, owners of commercial vehicles such as vans and mini-buses with unladen weight not exceeding 1,800 kg will enjoy lower season parking charges if their vehicles can fit into a car lot...
About 900 season parking ticket holders are expected to benefit from the revision. Instead of paying the higher season parking charge of between $120 and $185 per month for heavy vehicles, they will now pay the lower season parking charge of $65 for surface car parks and $90 for multi-storey car parks in residential estates, and between $80 and $180 in commercial areas...

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HDB releases public housing data for 3Qtr 2007

HDB’s Resale Price Index (RPI) rose by 6.6% in 3rd Quarter 2007 over the previous quarter, with price increases across most flat types and towns.
The median Cash-Over-Valuation (COV) amount among all resale transactions conducted in 3rd Quarter 2007 was $17,000 (see Annex C). Cases requiring COV constituted 80% of all resale transactions in this quarter, with 20% of resale transactions done at or below valuation...

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Measures to help HDB retailers

Most older HDB shops were built with electrical loads lower than current norms. Over time, the electrical load requirements in shops have increased with the proliferation of air-conditioning, more lighting and other electrical appliances.
Currently, the charges for electrical upgrading for shop tenants and shop owners are $45 per amp and $85 per amp respectively. From 14 Nov 2007, electrical upgrading up to 1 phase 60 amp will be free for tenants while shop owners will pay the revised charge of $45 per amp...
The lower charges/free upgrading will benefit about 1,200 owners and 1,300 tenants of HDB shops with an existing electrical supply of less than 1 phase 60 amps...

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Regulation of cyber gaming cafes in HDB estates

Computer gaming establishments are only allowed to be set up at shopping, recreational or commercial centres. This includes HDB Town Centres, which are part commercial and part residential.
In addition, licensees of computer gaming centres are required not to admit persons below 16 years of age before 6.30 pm on a school day.
Further, the licensee has to ensure that students wearing school uniforms are not admitted into the establishment at any time, and is not allowed to provide a change of clothes to students...

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HDB introduces family season parking ticket from 1 Oct 2007

The Family SPT is for HDB residents who require SPT to two different car parks because of family arrangements...
For such residents, who have already bought a regular SPT to park at their own residential car park, there is a need for a second SPT to park at another car park for visiting their parents, children, grandparents, siblings or their in-laws.
The Family SPT will be sold at 50% of the regular SPT price applicable to the car park where the Family SPT is to be purchased.

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HDB releases public housing data

"30% of all resale cases in 2nd Quarter 2007 were transacted at or below valuation, with an overall median Cash-Over-Valuation (COV) of about $7,000...
"The number of resale transactions increased by 38% from 6,300 cases in 1st Quarter 2007 to 8,700 cases in 2nd Quarter 2007 (see Annex D).

"This is indicative of a more active HDB resale market, and the availability of more resale flats to meet the location and flat type preferences of flat buyers..."

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$210 million rebates for 800,000 households in FY2007

"For fiscal year (FY) 2007, 800,000 eligible households will receive $210 million worth of Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC), rental and Utilities-Save (U-Save) rebates as part of the GST Offset Package announced in the Budget Statement 2007.
"Households can get up to 4 months of S&CC rebates, 4 months of rental rebates and $220 worth of U-Save rebates. These rebates will cost the Government $210 million in FY2007 and $800 million in total over 5 years..."

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Singaporeans can sign up for GST Credits from 15 May 2007

"2.4 million Singaporeans will be eligible for $650 million of GST Credits and Senior Citizens Bonus in 2007...
"Eligible Singaporeans will receive a letter from the CPF Board by 15 May 2007 on how much GST Credits/Senior Citizens’ Bonus they can receive and how to sign up.
"From 15 May 2007, Singaporeans can sign up at any DBS/POSB/UOB/OCBC ATM or through the GST Offset Package website at www.gstoffset.gov.sg. They need to do so by 25 June 2007 to get the GST Credits/Senior Citizens’ Bonus if they would like to receive these on 1 July 2007..."

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RFID tags to replace paper HDB season parking tickets

"HDB is introducing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to replace the current paper disc issued to season parking tickets (SPT) holders...
"SPT holders will be notified by post closer to the time when the RFID tags are implemented at their car parks. New SPT applicants will be given RFID tags when they apply to purchase season parking..."

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     2006

 

HDB further relaxes policy on subletting of whole flats

"With immediate effect, HDB will be relaxing its policy on the subletting of whole flats through a further reduction of the MOP and delinking it from the lessees’ HDB loan status. The revised MOP is:
"5 years for owners of subsidised flats, i.e. flats purchased directly from HDB or from the open market with a CPF Housing Grant; and

3 years for owners of non-subsidised flats, i.e. flats purchased from the open market without a CPF Housing Grant..."

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Rates for HDB rental flats to be pegged to household income

"Starting from 1 Mar 07, HDB will align the rental for its flats to the household income of the tenants.
"Tenants whose monthly income is $800 and below will continue to pay the 1st-tier rent. Similarly, tenants who rented their flats after 1 Oct 2003 and whose monthly income is between $801 and $1500 will continue to pay the current 2nd-tier rent.
"However, tenants whose income has since risen above these levels will be required to pay higher rent based on their new income levels..."

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     - 3rd Quarter 2006 real estate statistics

     - Flat buyers taking an HDB loan need HDB loan eligibility letter

 

Key challenges facing public housing in Singapore

"Between now and 2030, the number of elderly aged 65 years or older will increase dramatically, from 300,000 to 900,000. 1 in 5 Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above by 2030.
"We will need to provide a wide range of housing options to meet the different financial needs and lifestyle preferences of the elderly, from smaller HDB flats like studio apartments, to private retirement housing with dedicated care facilities..."

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     2005

     - Pay half-hourly rates for night parking at HDB/URA carparks

 

Review of housing options for the elderly

"To encourage extended family living, HDB will extend the $12,000 monthly income ceiling to extended families buying resale HDB flats with the CPF Housing Grant. The revised policy will apply with immediate effect...

"To facilitate the elderly to buy SAs, buyers aged at least 55 years will now be able to use their CPF to buy SAs after they have set aside at least the full cash component of their Minimum Sum...

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     - Private sector to build and sell HDB flats

     - HDB & URA outsource car park enforcement services