Debated in Parliament on 11 Sep 2012.
Mr Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Ministry has completed its review of the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) for HDB flats following the suspension of land sales for the scheme a year ago; (b) whether the review has looked into how it will impact owners of DBSS flats; (c) whether HDB has taken efforts to engage the developers in the design and layout of DBSS flats, keeping in mind the needs of public housing residents; and (d) .
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The Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) was introduced in 2005 to give flat buyers more choice by allowing private developers to design and build some public flats. While HDB would provide broad planning parameters, such as the mix of flat sizes and the range of social and community facilities to be provided, the developer is responsible for the design, construction quality and the pricing of the flat. Nonetheless, HDB would actively engage the developers by sharing good practices and relevant experiences in public housing development. HDB would also provide useful feedback to the developers and their consultants during the design and construction phases, with particular attention on safety, security and maintenance issues.
As DBSS projects are designed and built by the private sector, HDB's primary role is to ensure that only those who are eligible for public housing can buy such housing, and to disburse housing grants and provide concessionary loans to the eligible buyers. As DBSS flats are sold directly by private developers to flat buyers, resolution of any contractual disputes, including defects, rests with the buyer and the developer.
Given the current priority to ramp up the supply of Build-To-Order flats and Executive Condominium units, my Ministry has suspended the DBSS land sales, and is not rushing to complete the review of this scheme.
Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, some of the residents in an Ang Mo Kio DBSS project claim that HDB had previously publicly committed that there will not be any building of BTOs in mature estates. I hope that Minister can clarify whether there has been such a policy, or if there were other factors that could have led to such perception. Secondly, notwithstanding that there is a contractual relationship between the buyer and the developer, I wish the Minister would reconsider if the HDB could take a more active stance in mediating the differences and disputes that arise between the residents and the developer.
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Sir, there has been no such public or private commitment that there would be no more BTOs in mature estates. How could it be? How would you satisfy the many needs and demands from residents in mature estates who want their children to buy flats near to where they are staying? In fact, when we launched the particular DBSS project in the Member's constituency, there were several BTO projects in other mature estates as well.
As for the disputes between the Member's residents and the developer, I think HDB is playing a very active part to help them, counsel them, advise them, to resolve their conflicts. Whether we can play a mediating role depends on the specific issues involved. At the end of the day, we must be mindful that it is a contractual obligation between the buyer and the seller. We can advise the residents, perhaps with the local Member of Parliament to see what is the problem, and whether there is a way to resolve some of those issues.
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