BT : HDB does not price flats on cost plus profit basis: Mah Bow Tan

Business Times - 23 Nov 2009


HDB does not price flats on cost plus profit basis: Mah Bow Tan

By EMILYN YAP

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) does not price its flats on a cost-plus-profit basis, but on 'market price less a generous discount', said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan in Parliament on Monday.

He shared that the total cost of building flats varies depending on when, where and what HDB builds. The cost includes the cost of land as well as the constuction costs of flats and ancillary services. The total cost can vary from $230,000 for a 3-room flat in Punggol to $530,000 for a 5-room flat in Tiong Bahru.

'Together with the Additional Housing Grant which varies from $5,000 -$40,000... on average the subsidies amount to about 20 per cent of the market price for 4-room flats. It will be even more for smaller flats. This is the subsidy given to all first-time buyers, to keep the flats affordable.'