|
|
The Creation of the Singapore HDB and HDB Flats Program
If you have never thought about moving to Singapore, you have probably never heard of the Singapore HDB and their flats. This is because few people will ever deal with the HDB, or Housing and Development Board, unless they are either currently living in Singapore or plan to move there.
The Singapore HDB was created by the Housing and Development Act of 1960. This act created the HDB as a replacement for the Singapore Improvement Trust, and it was passed in response to the many housing problems that the country was facing. One of its first priorities was to construct low-cost housing for as many families and individuals as possible. This five-year plan was aimed at renting these flats, while the Home Ownership for the People Scheme was created to assist with buying homes and flats. However, many squatters would not move into the new, cheap flats at first. It would take the Bukit Ho Swee Fire of 1961, a fire that destroyed much of the Bukit Ho Swee squatter settlement, to get people into the HDB flats.
The Singapore HDB program built flats very quickly in the first five years, over 50,000 housing units were constructed. By 1968, the government and the HDB were allowing people to use their pension funds to purchase the homes and HDB flats that they were renting. This gave people a sense of ownership and pride in their country, and it encouraged them to work towards a goal. Later, quotas made certain no one group took over entire sections of HDB flats. Income groups were also mixed to prevent social stratification and the conflict that often comes with it.
During the 1990s, the Singapore HDB realized that the flats build during the 1960s were becoming dated. They began updating these flats, adding lifts and other modern conveniences. They also responded to the needs of the increasing number of senior citizens by building new studio flats. However, much to their surprise, many younger single men and women found that they liked the studio layout and purchased many of these HDB flats
In more recent years, the Singapore HDB has undergone some changes. The Building and Development Division incorporated and is now called the HDB Corporation Pte. Ltd. It then changed its name to Surbana Corporation. In 2002, the HDB Hub was constructed, and the official HDB headquarters was shifted from Bukit Merah to the hub. Surbana Corp. took over the old offices.
Today, between 80 and 90 percent of all Singapore residents live in HDB flats, and these high-density housing units have solved much of the countrys crowding issues. Some rent, but those who meet the conditions of purchasing a HDB flat often do so.
|
 |
Please Rate: |
|
Rating: |
 Processing ... |
(Average: Not rated) |
| Views: | 14 | |
|
| More Articles from Real Estate | | |
| Top Articles in Real Estate | | |
|
