Where Do We Stay In The Meantime?

Source : TODAY, Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Letter from LUCY HUANG

I thank Michael Chua Kheng Hwee and Tan Meng Lee for the advice in their respective letters, “Either buy a new condo or a new HDB flat” and “Make it mandatory - a one-for-one exchange”(Dec 28).

I was told by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) that I would have to wait two-and-a half years before I could apply for an HDB flat.
After applying, I would then have to wait an additional two to two-and-a-half years before being allocated a unit.

The developer who bought our estate has agreed to let us buy a unit when the project is completed. But this would only happen in one-and-a-half to three years.
So, buying a new condominium or HDB flat would leave us with no place to stay in the interim period.

Buying a new condominium that has just obtained its Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) is also not feasible.

By the time the TOP has been obtained, all the units would have already been sold and those who bought them would ask for much higher prices.
These new developments would also not be ready by the time we have to move.

Furthermore, their rooms are extremely small and our beds would not even fit into the master bedroom.

It is a real problem. However, I do at least feel very happy that there are those in Singapore who are concerned enough about the plight of the displaced elderly, to try and offer helpful suggestions.