SERS flats in Bedok to be leased out to foreigners

Blocks 46 to 50 in Bedok South Avenue 3 were chosen for the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) back in 2004. Since that time, all the residents living in the selected blocks have been relocated. Notices have been posted by the HDB at the void decks of the neighbouring blocks to inform residents about their plan.

The notice says:

“Pending the future redevelopment of the site, residential units in these blocks [46 to 50] will be put to temporary use. HDB will be engaging a Managing Agent to lease out the flats. The Managing Agent will be commencing renovation works at the blocks in the next few months.”

“The majority of the flats will be leased to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents and students. The rest will be leased to S Pass and Employment pass holders. These are professionals, executives and supervisory staff. There will be no construction and marine sector workers in these flats. Some flats will be reserved as Interim Rental Housing for needy Singaporean families in financial difficulty with temporary accommodation.”

Permanent residents, foreigners, students, S Pass and Employment Pass holders are not qualified to rent public rental flats from the HDB under the eligibility rules for public rental flats.

Given such eligibility rules, some Singaporeans are left wondering why HDB flats are being rented to non-citizens, while needy Singaporeans still have to wait for years to get a rental flat.

With HDB’s mission to provide affordable housing to Singaporeans, they doubt if this shift in public housing policy has ever been disclosed in parliament.

The way that HDB is dealing with the possible conflict of interest, as the only provider of housing to needy Singaporeans, from a monthly rental of $26 compared to the much higher rental and profits earned if flats are rented to non-citizens is also being questioned.

The issue lies on the transparency and accountability on the contention of renting much needed flats to non-citizens, and not on whether the flats are being rented to “professionals, executives and staff” and not to “construction and marine sector workers.”