Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Serangoon North HUDC Privatisation

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Serangoon North HUDC Privatisation

Dear Mr Tan,
Hope you can post this article in your blog site. Hopefully someone out there may be able to offer the residents in Serangoon North HUDC estate some ideas on how they can proceed from the present jam they are in.

Aik Theng Chong

21 comments:

Anonymous said...: This situation is due to rules and procedures and those responsible did not break any of the rules but also did not provide favourable outcome for some.

So there must be some rules on what situations can a committee be dissolved and a new one formed or there is a stated tenure for a committee.

It is just like in electing a government. If you elect a bad government, you can vote them out at next election as there is a fixed tenure under the law for them. Meanwhile, you will be stuck with a bad government as the law cannot be invoked to remove them.; July 12, 2009 12:32 PM
Anonymous said...: The residents in SN HUDC estate felt the privatization has been jam for about 1 year and they are very frustrated with the committee leaders for not stepping down or recruit new members to expedite the privatization process. Is there any ways to remove these committee leaders or expedite the privatization exercise?

As I read from the previous comment, due to the rules and procedures, there are some rules on what situations can a committee be dissolved and a new one formed or there is a stated tenure for a committee.
So, the residents have to follow the above regulation, wait for the tenure for a committee to end but for our case there is no length of govern period as it is a volunteer service from the residents and we do not receive any updates or progress events from the committee leaders about the privatization process.; July 12, 2009 5:36 PM
Anonymous said...: I dont see the benefits of privatisation of the estate. Many plunged in without realising what they are in for. They think that they can profit by selling en bloc once it is privatised. But is this so? I suggest they do some calculaions and see if there are indeed benefits. Firstly, you have to pay $30,000 upfront and some other unknown fees. Secondly, the increased conservancy fees which you have to pay pending en bloc sale could be $50,000 or more depending on when privatisation happens. If this takes 5 yeas or more (conservative estimate), the cost is substantial if you add on the cost of maintenace o the estate etc etc during this period. You have to pay for lift breakdowns, improvement to car parks, provide fencing and security, pest control, and anything that has to be done.THe list goes on. Presently,these costs are borne by HDB and Town Council. So even if we suceed to privatise, can we sell enbloc and at a good price? I am afraid that even before we can sell en bloc the costs each of us has to bear could amount to $100,000. Can we recover this from the enbloc sale? Mind you this estate is not that attractive as it is small is size( cant even provide a tennis court now!!),transport is not that convenient(no MRT), shops are lacking(no shopping malls) etc. So I strongly advise that before residents vote for privatisation, they give it some thought and not be guided by profit from enbloc sale-which it may not be and never come!! Let HDB continue to take care of the estate.; July 13, 2009 9:31 AM
Anonymous said...: Maybe that's why the committee did not pursue the privatisation as some had hoped.

And of course the committee may also not be obliged to disclose the reasons as stated per Anon 9.31 am.; July 13, 2009 12:53 PM
zach said...: Helpless??

Im not so certain that "Helpless" is appropriate.
Afterall, there are certain assumptions here that hints at some
form of profit could be involved,
if not why go through the process
of privatisation?

Shouldnt the decision of the remaining residents who chose not to go ahead with privatisation be respected too? Just because they
are the minority does not equate to
the need to compromise their personal decision.; July 13, 2009 2:08 PM
Anonymous said...: I think Anonymous 'July 13 9:31am' may have overstated the maintenance cost involved if privatisation is successful.
Presently the conservancy charges and 1 season open car park fee would amount to $172 per month in the HUDC estate.

I am presently staying in a condominium and pays total maintenance fees of $250/month. This fees, equivalent to HUDC conservancy charges, also covers the cost of 2 covered car park lots per household in the estate. You can see that the charges incurred between both estates would not amount to much of a difference.

Privatisation does not necessary means en-bloc sales is a forgone conclusion. Far from it. Privatisation also do have its benefits.

For one, owner can go into the HDB open market to purchase a resale HDB unit.

The prices of the privatised unit would also go up in value.

The owners also would not be subjected to HDB rules and regulations.

You can also rent out the unit without any needs to seek Town Council approval.; July 13, 2009 4:00 PM
aik said...: Its good that those that seems to be not in favour of privatisation have make some of their views and concern known here. I certainly hope more would come forward to voice their concerns and opinions.

We all have a stake in the estate and no one should need to feel that they have to compromise their personal decision.; July 13, 2009 4:25 PM
Anonymous said...: As a resident in this estate, we are for privatization and our problems now is how to get rid of the protem committee leaders because they have been doing nothings for the past 1 year and privatization is in a standstill or jammed. The residents are very frustrated about it. So our question now is how to remove the committee leaders? Please advice?; July 13, 2009 8:08 PM
Anonymous said...: Anon 8.08 pm

Normally when there are no clear cut rules to break a deadlock or there is a dispute, and the authority would not help, the only way is to go to court! And accept the court ruling or appeal to higher court. Of course all these need money.
This has been and is the way for all kinds of cases. That's what a court is for and what lawyers will be engaged to do.; July 13, 2009 9:33 PM
Anonymous said...: People who think they can profit from privatisation better think twice.
Once privatised you are on your own and your cost will shoot through the roof and may not in the next 10 years before someone takes notice of the estate. HDB gladly lets you. it is hands off and it means cost of maintenance...no subsidy, your units are condo mumbo now. What so great?
Thinking of becoming a millionaire?
TKK, wait long long, maybe when yours is only one left.; July 13, 2009 10:02 PM
Anonymous said...: Since the deadlock or dispute has been ongoing for 1 year and the residents have no money to engage the lawyers to attend to court cases. Is there other options the residents has to remove the committee leaders?; July 13, 2009 10:22 PM
Anonymous said...: So lets study the benefits mentioned above. We can rent out the units without HDB/TC appoval. This is likely to bring with it problems to residents when they are rented out to dubious characters and illegals. Worse still the whole flat will likely be subdivided and evenually become a slum! Even with HDB/TC control we already face such problems; what without HDB/TC control. You think the MC can be that effective?

Also it was mentioned we can do what we like. Yes, you can but at your own cost. Do you know the electrical outage in the estate is even lower than some HDB estates, and we cannot put extra air con because of the loading limit. Yes, you can install all the aircon you want, but you have to pay for the electrical upgrading first!! Also I wonder how many will like to buy another HDB flat when the estate is privatised. Yes,it is true, but will only be the intention of the minority. If they have this intent, they would have moved out long ago since they hve the resources. And will the value go up? Hopefully so but by how much and bearing in mind what we have to pay upfront and the lack of faclities and amenities in and near the estate. Lastly, it is wise to stick to the saying" a bird in hand is worth two in the bush"; July 14, 2009 10:54 AM
Anonymous said...: As I have mentioned, our problem is how to remove the protem committee leaders?
Can the residents hold a meeting to vote for no confident motion on the committee leaders. Is this meeting legal and recognize by the authorities such as the HDB, MP and the law firm who handle our privatization?; July 14, 2009 7:45 PM
Anonymous said...: Anonymous July 14 10:54am reasons are at best entertaining.

If his sweeping statement on the possible outcome of the conditions of the estate once it is not governed under HDB rules and regulations is to be believed, than only the HDB is capable of running housing estates competently. Wonder what is happening to all those condos and private apartments in Singapore run by MC.

As for his fear of power outrage happening due to all those additional electrical appliances, rest assured that there are enough regulations and safeguards in our national electrical system to prevent such event happening.

As regard to the possibility of purchasing a resale HDB unit after privatisation, it is an opportunity whereby you can either sell or rent out the HUDC unit for an additional source of income.

Value of privatised unit going up? Definitely, this can be seen in other privatised estates.; July 15, 2009 12:11 AM
Anonymous said...: Look like there is no response to my question: How to remove the protem committee leaders?

Is holding a residents meeting and vote for no confident motion on the protem committee leaders can legally remove the committee leaders?

We are in the standstill or jammed for 1 year and we want to remove them so that we can continue with the privatization, they are the stumbling block or obstacle that we need to remove.; July 15, 2009 8:29 PM
Anonymous said...: The statistics speak for themselves. The majority of HUDC flats are already happily privatised. Latest being Eunos and Shunfu. Serangoon North is one of the remaining few. I say - Lets get privatised and make it fast!!!; July 16, 2009 10:14 AM
Tan Kin Lian said...: I suggest that those who are in favour of privatisation form a working group and go door to door to get the residents to sign in support of a new committee being formed.

If you can get more than 50% of the owners to support the new committee, you can approach HDB to recognise the new committee. Or get the old committee to set down.; July 16, 2009 3:46 PM
aik said...: There are many in the estate who have suggested holding a meeting to vote out the current pro-tem committee.

The problem is, it required voluteers, logistical support, time and money to get a meeting going. It would also required HDB staffs and the Law firm personnel handling the privatisation to be present to witness and confirm the validity of such votes.

The biggest uncertainty is not knowing how many residents will turn up for the meeting.

The last informal meeting called by one of the resident attracted only a handful of residents.

Try signing the I petition set up by James Ng to remove the pro-tem committee. Once enough have signed up, it will be easy to varify the genuine residents of the estate. The list can then be submitted to HDB and the Law firm.

It can also be used as a mean of communication from the e-mail address to contact the residents of any meeting if required.

Furthermore from the list, those who have not voted can be narrowed down and door to door visit carried out to convince them to vote.; July 16, 2009 4:07 PM
Anonymous said...: The easiest and most convenient way is to held a residents meeting and straight away vote out the committee leaders. Let the law firm personnel and the HDB personnel to attend to this meeting and witness the voting process. In this way, the committee leaders will be throw out immediately and the new team can take over and expedite the privatization exercise. The property market is picking up, so don't delay anymore and kick the committee leaders out as soon as possible.; July 16, 2009 9:05 PM
Anonymous said...: why do you wan to remove the present committee? They are pro privatisation and have put in great effort. Its the residents who dont want pivatisation that causes he jam. In such a case, nothing can be done! Those of you who are so keen n privatisation better go out to sell or promote the scheme. No poi blaming the preent committee. They have done their part.; July 17, 2009 10:05 AM
Anonymous said...: I have no doubt that the current protem committee had done their part but had been unsuccessful. It is time to put pride aside and step down for a new team with new ideas and renewed drive to have a go at the privatisation process.; July 17, 2009 4:23 PM