Future housing policies will consider all homeowners: Maliki

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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/govt-will-look-out-all-homeowners-maliki

Future housing policies will take into consideration all homeowners, not just new ones, Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of National Development Dr Mohamad Maliki said at the second “Our Singapore Conversation on Housing” session held yesterday (May 8).

The participants, who numbered more than 50, were also joined by Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Penny Low, who sits on the National Development Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC).

Topics discussed at yesterday evening’s session included whether the Executive Condominium (EC) and Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) should continue, whether the range of public housing currently available is adequate, and if the income ceiling for the purchase of BTO flats should be raised or possibly even removed.

Dr Maliki stressed that existing homeowners’ interests will be considered even as changes to public housing policy are being discussed, noting how prices of new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats could have an impact on the resale market.

Responding to calls by participants to remove the income ceiling for the purchase of BTO flats, Dr Maliki acknowledged the complexity of housing all Singaporeans while meeting all aspirations and expectations.

“How we manage the property market will have an impact on current home owners and we should not forget that because when we talk about prices of new flats, at some point, the behaviours of buyers will move in a certain direction and there will be impact on the resale market,” cautioned Dr Maliki.