To quell uncertainty, explain public housing policies clearly and promptly

IN the space of 30 minutes during the National Day Rally on Sunday night, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a dizzying number of announcements related to public housing in Singapore. These centred mostly on the upgrading of Housing Board (HDB) flats and the re-development of precincts, and the perennially hot-button issue of a flat's 99-year lease.

With more than 80 per cent of the population living in HDB flats today, the new policies will have a significant impact on current and future generations of flat-dwellers. In his speech, Mr Lee promised that every flat will get two rounds of upgrading during its 99-year lease period (once at the 30-year mark and again at the 60-70 year mark), with the existing Home Improvement Programme (HIP) scheme extended to include blocks built up to 1997 (instead of 1986 previously).

There's also a new voluntary early redevelopment scheme called Vers that, if enough residents vote for, will allow the government to take back flats from around 70 years of age for re-development. Residents will be compensated accordingly, although the amount will be less than what they would get if their flat was picked for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme.