ALLOCATION OF HDB FLATS (Concessions to families affected by rent de-control)

Mr Loh Meng See asked the Minister for National Development whether concessions will be given to families living in shop-houses in the City Area affected by rent de-control to be allocated Housing and Development Board flats early.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang (for the Minister for National Development): Sir, rent de- control is a private matter between the landlord and his tenants. However, to mitigate the impact of rent de-control, the Government put in place the Old Single Person Tenants scheme, which gives priority allocation of HDB rental flats to old single persons affected by rent de-control.

In view of the fact that many of those affected by rent de-control in and around the Central Area are low-income families, I am pleased to announce that my Ministry has decided that, with effect from 1st February 1993, priority allocation of 2-room HDB rental flats will be extended to families affected by rent de-control, on terms similar to priority allocation for families affected by Government resettlement.

As for those families which can afford to buy their own flats, HDB will give them priority allocation to purchase Home Ownership flats, on terms similar to priority allocation for families affected by Government resettlement, as long as they satisfy the normal eligibility conditions.