ABOUT 40 years ago, when I was living in a three-room flat in Queenstown, I had to get my upstairs neighbour to cooperate when his waste-water pipe was exposed on my toilet ceiling.
Back then, the HDB was not obliged to fix the leak and we had to foot our own bills.
All flats deteriorate over time as a result of wear and tear, so why should the HDB be burdened with repair costs ("HDB should have access to flats for ceiling repairs: Khaw"; Dec 23)?
In private condominiums, developers usually carry out repairs for free for no more than two years after completion of the project. After that, home owners have to pay to repair any leaking pipes, ceiling seepage and so on.
The HDB has already incurred a huge deficit in the last financial year ("HDB deficit more than doubles"; Dec 18), so it is not prudent for it to provide goodwill repairs even in flats that are more than 30 years old.
It has done well to put a roof over Singaporeans' heads in the last four decades. Where else in the world would the government build executive condominiums for citizens who cannot afford private condos?
But the HDB must not overdo things.
Many flat owners can afford to buy expensive cars, yet complain that the cost of HDB parking is high and that they cannot afford to pay 25 per cent of the bill to repair ceiling leaks.
The Ministry of National Development must explore ways to cut the HDB's deficit.
Measures could include discontinuing the building of executive condos, raising the HDB season parking fee, and reducing the subsidy in the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme.
David Goh Chee Hoe
- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/premium...ng-repair-costs-20141231#sthash.fAbhsWQg.dpuf
Back then, the HDB was not obliged to fix the leak and we had to foot our own bills.
All flats deteriorate over time as a result of wear and tear, so why should the HDB be burdened with repair costs ("HDB should have access to flats for ceiling repairs: Khaw"; Dec 23)?
In private condominiums, developers usually carry out repairs for free for no more than two years after completion of the project. After that, home owners have to pay to repair any leaking pipes, ceiling seepage and so on.
The HDB has already incurred a huge deficit in the last financial year ("HDB deficit more than doubles"; Dec 18), so it is not prudent for it to provide goodwill repairs even in flats that are more than 30 years old.
It has done well to put a roof over Singaporeans' heads in the last four decades. Where else in the world would the government build executive condominiums for citizens who cannot afford private condos?
But the HDB must not overdo things.
Many flat owners can afford to buy expensive cars, yet complain that the cost of HDB parking is high and that they cannot afford to pay 25 per cent of the bill to repair ceiling leaks.
The Ministry of National Development must explore ways to cut the HDB's deficit.
Measures could include discontinuing the building of executive condos, raising the HDB season parking fee, and reducing the subsidy in the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme.
David Goh Chee Hoe
- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/premium...ng-repair-costs-20141231#sthash.fAbhsWQg.dpuf
