Dec 6, 2009
HDB rents 'holding steady'
Plenty of flats available to meet demand by IRs' foreign employees
By Joyce Teo
Owners of public flats not far from Sentosa, and with rooms to spare, take note.
Foreigners slotted to work at the soon-to-open integrated resort (IR) there are scouting for rental units.
But property agencies say that given the large stock of Housing Board flats up for rent islandwide, overall rentals have remained steady. Most will likely remain so into the first quarter of next year.
HDB rents have, in fact, not fallen much in spite of earlier expectations.
The experts say that foreigners recruited to work at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) are contributing to the demand, but have yet to boost HDB rents generally.
Two property agencies note a rise in HDB rental deals in the fourth quarter, thanks to foreigners working at RWS.
But the search already started some time back, said RWS. It started sourcing for suitable accommodation early this year, with the help of a reputable service provider, said a spokesman.
The IR, which opens early next year, was reportedly looking for hundreds of HDB flats for rent. Some workers have apparently moved into their rented flats while another group is scouting around.
But while a few hundred units may seem a lot, they are 'marginal', said PropNex chief executive Mohamed Ismail. He said that, overall, the HDB rental market has remained unchanged since the third quarter, and should hold flat this quarter and the next.
Even a demand spike of 500 flats translates to less than 3 per cent of an estimated minimum of 20,000 rental transactions for all HDB flats here, he said.
C&H Realty managing director Albert Lu agreed, adding that 'the market is big enough to absorb this demand unless it comes in a very short period'.
'I don't see a dramatic rise in HDB rents because private rents have dropped so some may have moved back to private housing,' he said.
Another agency boss said the IR demand will help to compensate for the poorer sentiment in the market and keep rents stable.
Private rents fell in the third quarter, though the pace of decline has slowed from the second.
A recent Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore statement said HDB rentals have stabilised after a moderate decline from late last year to the middle of this year. They have since begun to rise, it said.
The latest HDB rent data - for July to September - showed that the median sublet rents for two-room and five-room flats remained unchanged while that of three- to four-room flats and executive flats saw a rise of up to $100.
Some high-priced HDB rental deals were done this year but these were for nicely renovated furnished flats right next to MRT stations, Mr Lu said.
One of the top five HDB rental deals his agents closed in the past two months was for a $2,300-a-month, fully furnished three-room flat in Upper Cross Street.
At Dennis Wee Properties, director Chris Koh said: 'We're seeing more inquiries from foreigners for HDB flats for one to two years' lease...There's renewed interest maybe because of the integrated resorts.'
He said those working for RWS will likely look for flats in Telok Blangah or even Clementi, while those working for the Marina Bay IR would be keen on flats nearby and all the way to Toa Payoh.
Those looking at renting HDB flats are likely to be chefs, technicians or middle managers with a typical budget of around $1,500, said Mr Koh. Some may stretch their rental budget to $2,000 - not enough for private units in the areas they want.
Still, an industry source who declined to be named said because these would-be tenants want only approved HDB flats in specific locations such as Telok Blangah, rents in those areas could rise.
The current average monthly rental in Telok Blangah for a three-room HDB flat is about $1,700 while a four-room HDB flat goes for about $2,000, said Mr Lu. Recent advertisements for HDB rental deals in the Central area including places such as Tanjong Pagar show asking prices of up to $2,300 a month for a three-room flat and as much as $2,800 a month for a five-room flat.
joyceteo@sph.com.sg
Sunday, December 6, 2009
ST ; Two HDB blocks house old folks' homes
Dec 6, 2009
Two HDB blocks house old folks' homes
One-room rental flats in Bukit Merah and Ang Mo Kio for the senior citizens
By Shuli Sudderuddin
Henderson Senior Citizens' Home, which takes up an entire floor above the void deck of Block 117, Bukit Merah View, has 20 one-room units for the elderly. The corridors have railings and there is a senior activity centre in the void deck. -- ST PHOTOS: CHEW SENG KIM
A typical day for 88-year-old retiree William Chua goes like this: He leaves his one-room Housing Board flat in Bukit Merah View to go to the senior activity centre at the void deck.
There, he eats his meals, plays mahjong with his neighbours and uses the computer to exercise his brain and eyes. Once a week, he takes a bus to church.
'I used to just idle away my time, but now I am learning to use the computer and I play mahjong daily. I keep my mind alert,' said Mr Chua, who is single.
Thing is, he is living in a senior citizens' home.
The Henderson Senior Citizens' Home (HSCH) he lives in takes up the entire floor above the void deck of Block 117, Bukit Merah View. It has 20 one-room units.
The Chinese Women's Association runs the HSCH. NTUC Eldercare will take over the management of the home next month.
HSCH is one of two homes for the elderly that are housed in an HDB block. The other operator, the Asian Women's Welfare Association (AWWA), runs the AWWA Community Home in Ang Mo Kio. This sheltered home for the elderly has 72 one-room units on the second, third and fourth storeys of Block 123, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6.
Mr Chua said his life changed for the better when he applied to HSCH 25 years ago.
He used to work as a bookkeeper in a shipping company and moved in after he retired as he had no one to look after him. He used to live in a rental flat in Balestier.
Both homes have much in common. They both operate out of one-room rental flats. Elderly residents - they live in groups or by themselves - pay a monthly fee to the homes, ranging from $40 to $400 depending on the level of their finances. A number are on the public assistance scheme.
Residents are usually there for the long term, moving out only when they need treatment in hospital or nursing home care. A minority move back with their families.
The HSCH has 19 residents now while the AWWA Community Home has on average 130 to 135 residents.
Some were referred by hospitals, others approached the homes themselves or with their families. Still others were homeless.
The homes are retrofitted to be elderly-friendly: Corridors have railings to aid the elderly in walking and the units have been modified. Bathrooms, for instance, have railings, and an alarm system in each flat enables residents to get help if needed.
Independent living is encouraged.
Said an AWWA Community Home spokesman: 'We even have residents holding jobs such as working in a canteen or distributing mail.'
Mrs Betty Chen, president of the Chinese Women's Association, said: 'We encourage residents who can cook for themselves to go marketing and make their own meals.'
In both homes, help is given to residents who have become less mobile or need assistance with tasks such as getting food.
Residents interviewed by The Sunday Times said they liked living among new-found friends and pursuing their own lifestyle.
Some have even found love. Thirteen years ago, Mr Eddie Cheong, 83, married fellow resident Kim Cheong, 78, a year after he moved into the AWWA Community Home.
Said Mr Cheong: 'I'm very happy. We have each other's company and she looks after me.'
An HDB spokesman said that for now, the board is not allocating more such flats because vacant rental flats are no longer available.
Mr Lim Boon Heng, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said that this 'ageing-in-place' concept enables people to continue to live in the homes they have grown old in.
He added that using HDB rental flats as communal housing is just one aspect of ageing-in-place.
'There are some people who will need to move to communal housing or sheltered homes. These are a minority, mostly singles without close relatives. For them, communal housing is one solution.
'This forms one aspect of ageing-in-place, for a small group... For the vast majority, support services will emerge to enable even the old to age in place, in their normal HDB flats, in condominiums or private property.'
Dr James Low, head of Alexandra Hospital's Department of Geriatric Medicine, said sheltered homes in HDB flats are one option for ageing-in-place, though not the only one.
The sheltered homes felt that expanding their premises could benefit more elderly people.
Said the AWWA Community Home's spokesman: 'It would be good if we could help more residents.'
Agreeing, Mrs Chen said: 'It would be great if we could have another floor so that we could take in more residents.'
shulis@sph.com.sg
Two HDB blocks house old folks' homes
One-room rental flats in Bukit Merah and Ang Mo Kio for the senior citizens
By Shuli Sudderuddin
Henderson Senior Citizens' Home, which takes up an entire floor above the void deck of Block 117, Bukit Merah View, has 20 one-room units for the elderly. The corridors have railings and there is a senior activity centre in the void deck. -- ST PHOTOS: CHEW SENG KIM
A typical day for 88-year-old retiree William Chua goes like this: He leaves his one-room Housing Board flat in Bukit Merah View to go to the senior activity centre at the void deck.
There, he eats his meals, plays mahjong with his neighbours and uses the computer to exercise his brain and eyes. Once a week, he takes a bus to church.
'I used to just idle away my time, but now I am learning to use the computer and I play mahjong daily. I keep my mind alert,' said Mr Chua, who is single.
Thing is, he is living in a senior citizens' home.
The Henderson Senior Citizens' Home (HSCH) he lives in takes up the entire floor above the void deck of Block 117, Bukit Merah View. It has 20 one-room units.
The Chinese Women's Association runs the HSCH. NTUC Eldercare will take over the management of the home next month.
HSCH is one of two homes for the elderly that are housed in an HDB block. The other operator, the Asian Women's Welfare Association (AWWA), runs the AWWA Community Home in Ang Mo Kio. This sheltered home for the elderly has 72 one-room units on the second, third and fourth storeys of Block 123, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6.
Mr Chua said his life changed for the better when he applied to HSCH 25 years ago.
He used to work as a bookkeeper in a shipping company and moved in after he retired as he had no one to look after him. He used to live in a rental flat in Balestier.
Both homes have much in common. They both operate out of one-room rental flats. Elderly residents - they live in groups or by themselves - pay a monthly fee to the homes, ranging from $40 to $400 depending on the level of their finances. A number are on the public assistance scheme.
Residents are usually there for the long term, moving out only when they need treatment in hospital or nursing home care. A minority move back with their families.
The HSCH has 19 residents now while the AWWA Community Home has on average 130 to 135 residents.
Some were referred by hospitals, others approached the homes themselves or with their families. Still others were homeless.
The homes are retrofitted to be elderly-friendly: Corridors have railings to aid the elderly in walking and the units have been modified. Bathrooms, for instance, have railings, and an alarm system in each flat enables residents to get help if needed.
Independent living is encouraged.
Said an AWWA Community Home spokesman: 'We even have residents holding jobs such as working in a canteen or distributing mail.'
Mrs Betty Chen, president of the Chinese Women's Association, said: 'We encourage residents who can cook for themselves to go marketing and make their own meals.'
In both homes, help is given to residents who have become less mobile or need assistance with tasks such as getting food.
Residents interviewed by The Sunday Times said they liked living among new-found friends and pursuing their own lifestyle.
Some have even found love. Thirteen years ago, Mr Eddie Cheong, 83, married fellow resident Kim Cheong, 78, a year after he moved into the AWWA Community Home.
Said Mr Cheong: 'I'm very happy. We have each other's company and she looks after me.'
An HDB spokesman said that for now, the board is not allocating more such flats because vacant rental flats are no longer available.
Mr Lim Boon Heng, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said that this 'ageing-in-place' concept enables people to continue to live in the homes they have grown old in.
He added that using HDB rental flats as communal housing is just one aspect of ageing-in-place.
'There are some people who will need to move to communal housing or sheltered homes. These are a minority, mostly singles without close relatives. For them, communal housing is one solution.
'This forms one aspect of ageing-in-place, for a small group... For the vast majority, support services will emerge to enable even the old to age in place, in their normal HDB flats, in condominiums or private property.'
Dr James Low, head of Alexandra Hospital's Department of Geriatric Medicine, said sheltered homes in HDB flats are one option for ageing-in-place, though not the only one.
The sheltered homes felt that expanding their premises could benefit more elderly people.
Said the AWWA Community Home's spokesman: 'It would be good if we could help more residents.'
Agreeing, Mrs Chen said: 'It would be great if we could have another floor so that we could take in more residents.'
shulis@sph.com.sg
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