More go for HDB Lease Buyback Scheme

This post came out from The Straits Times (16 May 2016)

After learning that his work contract would not be renewed next year, 68 year old security officer Abdul Rahman Kemat and his wife decided to sell part of the lease on their four room flat to get some passive income.

The couple, who had 81 years left on their lease, sold 46 years back to the Housing Board for about $144,000 earlier this year. Of this sum, about $119,000 went towards buying Central Provident Fund Life plans, which provide the couple with a combined monthly payout of $1,000.

They are among 1,506 households who have taken up the HDB's Lease Buyback Scheme since it was introduced in March 2009. The scheme lets elderly flat owners sell part of their lease back to the HDB for retirement income.

It has been updated several times, including in April last year, when it was expanded to include four-room flats. This allowed the scheme to cover three-quarters of elderly HDB households, compared to 35 per cent previously. The monthly household income ceiling for taking part in the scheme was raised twice: from $3,000 to $10,000 and then to $12,000.

In addition, flat owners can now choose the length of lease to be retained, from 15 to 35 years, as long as it covers the youngest owner under the age of 95. Previously, the only option was to retain 30 years of the lease.

Some 541 households took up the scheme between April last year and March this year. Of these, 233 households live in four room flats. Nearly half, or 261 households, chose to retain a lease length other than 30 years. About 5 per cent, or 27 households, had a monthly income exceeding $3,000.

It takes about three months to complete an application for the scheme, which includes financial counselling to ensure that applicants make an informed decision, the HDB said.

Thoughts:

1. One question popped out in my mind was that how does the Government assess the success of this scheme. I do not think that having more people on it means that it is successful. If we argue that more low/ no income people are on this scheme, then what does it says about cost of retirement in Singapore? 

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big