Sers Scheme Gets The Thumbs Up

Source : The Business Times, August 6, 2008

HDB's latest survey, completed last year, shows support for Sers at 85%

RESIDENTS under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers) have shown strong support for the programme, said the Housing and Development Board (HDB) yesterday.

Under Sers, selected old blocks of sold flats are redeveloped, and residents involved are rehoused in new and better flats nearby.

HDB's latest survey, completed last year, showed that support for Sers stood at 85 per cent.

The survey covered 1,019 households among 4,418 which had moved to 10 Sers replacement sites from 2001 to 2006.

Under the category 'new replacement flats are value for money', the satisfaction level was 89 per cent.

The new living environment at the Sers sites, encompassing the replacement flats, new blocks and common areas within the precincts, scored satisfaction levels of 80 per cent or more.

Most residents were also pleased with Sers' role in retaining kinship and community ties.

Seventy-two per cent of residents said relations with their neighbours had either improved or remained the same. Ninety- four per cent also expressed a sense of belonging to their estates.

'The survey findings reaffirm the popularity of Sers among the residents. This is not surprising as Sers offers many attractive benefits,' said HDB's release yesterday.

Among various benefits, Sers offers affected residents new homes which come with a fresh 99-year lease at a subsidised price.