New VERS scheme could bring about 'acrimony' among residents, warns Alex Yam

SINGAPORE: The chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development Alex Yam on Sunday (Aug 19) raised concerns about a new housing scheme which will allow more HDB households to benefit from redevelopment before the 99-year leases on their flats expire.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed plans for what is called the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS) during his National Day Rally speech on Sunday. 

Mr Lee said the scheme, which will kick in in about 20 years, is part of a long-term plan to allow the Government to progressively redevelop precincts.

It will take place when the flats reach about 70 years of age, he added. Flat owners can vote for the Government to buy back their homes before their leases run out. 

The deterioration in value of older flats and the difficulty in selling them have been in the spotlight recently.

However, the issue with private en bloc may happen to VERS as well, Mr Yam said.

"Private en bloc - we’ve seen huge numbers of it over the last few years. But the issue with private en bloc may happen to VERS too, which is the acrimony that will come about, this idea of one group versus another, I want to stay, I don’t want to stay."

While he acknowledged that details were scant, he raised several questions. 

“What sort of percentile are you looking at? Are you looking at the same as the private sector? How do you address the concerns of those who, after going through the VERS, find that they have become in one way or another disenfranchised with this flat?” he asked. 

He also raised concerns about how HDB will calculate the value of the homes, and how CPF monies will be returned. 

“We didn’t go through so many cooling measures to try to dampen the private en bloc market so VERS can take over. You have to consider that private en bloc market is only 20 per cent. VERS will eventually perhaps affect 80 per cent,” he said.

Mr Yam, however, acknowledged that VERS will go “some way” towards addressing the concerns of those who are in older flats today. 

Fellow GPC member Saktiandi Supaat agreed that these details have to be addressed, but noted that given that the programme will kick in in about 20 years, there is time to iron out the details. 

Ms Cheryl Chan said that the plan has to be well thought out and address several different aspects, like how the home was financed and the age group of the flat owners. 

“There is always a possibility that you have arguments surrounding the sale,” she said.

Deputy chairman of the GPC for National Development Chong Kee Hiong was positive about the new scheme. 

He said that VERS will allow homeowners to get new flats with the latest technologies.

“If you don't have VERS, residents only have one choice which is to sell their flats with remaining 20-over years of lease left, so this will help them," he said.