Pulau Ubin residents to start paying rent for first year

Saifulbahri Ismail Channel NewsAsia 17 Apr 13;

The Singapore Land Authority and the Housing Development Board said the rent is subsidised and 90 per cent of the 22 households in Pulau Ubin will pay less than S$20 per month in the first year.

SINGAPORE: Residents in Pulau Ubin affected by the recent census survey will have to start paying monthly rent between S$6 to S$35 in the first year if they choose to stay on the island.

In a joint statement issued by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the Housing Development Board (HDB) on Wednesday, the rent is subsidised and 90 per cent of the 22 households will pay less than S$20 per month in the first year.

However, the rent will be increased over five years based on market rates.

From the sixth year, the rent will range between S$31 and S$205 per month.

Ninety per cent of the households are expected to pay less than S$120 per month.

Residents can continue to remain on the island via a Temporary Occupational Licence (TOL) as there are no other plans for the State land in the foreseeable future.

The fee is determined based on the gross area and land area occupied.

SLA and HDB issued the statement to clarify the confusion caused by the Notice of Census Survey that was served on the 22 households on 12 March.

They reiterated that the residents are not being evicted and they can continue to stay on in their premises.

In addition, the planning intention is to keep Pulau Ubin in its rustic state for as long as possible.

The Notice of Census Survey that HDB served on the residents made reference to the past planning intent, which was originally described in 1993 as the development of an adventure park.

Many residents had taken it to be eviction notices.

The census survey had made reference to "resettlement" benefits and a "clearance" scheme.

SLA and HDB clarified that the terms used were in connection to the 1993 plan.

The authorities acknowledged that the notification could have been more carefully worded and the language updated to reflect the eventual development.

SLA and HDB have apologised for the anxiety caused to the residents involved.

- CNA/ck

Pulau Ubin will remain in "rustic state" but residents will have to pay rent
Feng Zengkun Straits Times 17 Apr 13;

Kampung residents on Pulau Ubin who have to pay rent from now will pay an estimated $6 to $35 per month in the first year, with 90 per cent paying less than $20 a month. This rent, which is subsidised, will be increased to the market rent gradually over five years to assist the residents, said the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the Housing Development Board (HDB) in a joint statement on Wednesday.

From the sixth year onwards, the residents are expected to pay between $31 and $205 per month, with 90 per cent paying less than $120 monthly. The statement was the latest by the authorities to clarify notices posted on 22 Pulau Ubin homes in March, which many took to be eviction notices. The notice had referenced "resettlement" benefits and a "clearance" scheme, but these were in connection to an old 1993 plan, the SLA and HDB said.

Then, the state had acquired land on the island to build recreational facilities, including expansion of the Outward Bound School grounds. As a result, the land which the affected residents occupied became state land. They were therefore entitled to money but also had to start paying rent to remain in their homes.The planned developments were completed, but the 22 households which received the notice in March had not claimed their benefits or paid rent, the authorities discovered in a recent review.

"We acknowledge that the notification could have been more carefully worded and the language updated to reflect the eventual development. We apologise for the anxiety caused to the residents involved," said the SLA and HDB. They also reiterated in their latest statement that the residents would not be evicted, and that Pulau Ubin would be kept in its rustic state "for as long as possible, to serve as an outdoor playground for Singaporeans".

Pulau Ubin to stay rustic for ‘as long as possible’
SLA, HDB apologise for ‘anxiety’ over clearance notices, says residents can stay but must pay rent
Woo Sian Boon Today Online 17 Apr 13;

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Housing and Development Board (HDB) today apologised for the confusion over a notice served to 22 households on Pulau Ubin last month, which was read to be an eviction notice, and said that residents can stay but will have to pay a subsidised rent.

A Notice of Census Survey issued last month had said that these homes are slated for “clearance” and referred “resettlement” benefits and the development of an “adventure park” on the island.

The SLA and HDB said in a joint statement that the notice referred to an old 1993 scheme under which the state acquired land on Pulau Ubin to build recreational facilities and expand the grounds of the Outward Bound School.

“We acknowledge that the notification could have been more carefully worded and the language updated to reflect the eventual development. We apologise for the anxiety caused to the residents involved,” the joint statement read.

The SLA and HDB also reiterated the planning intention is to keep Pulau Ubin in its rustic state “for as long as possible, to serve as an outdoor playground for Singaporeans”.

Pulau Ubin’s residents will now have to pay a monthly rent of between S$6 and S$35, with an estimated 90 per cent of households paying less than S$20 a month.

The rental will increase gradually over the next five years to market rates, expected to be between S$31 and S$205 from the sixth year onwards, with nine out of 10 households paying less than S$120 a month. WOO SIAN BOON

Pulau Ubin residents to pay subsidised rent for first 5 years
Woo Sian Boon Today Online 18 Apr 13;

SINGAPORE — Apologising for the anxiety caused to some Pulau Ubin residents — who received last month what had appeared to be eviction notices — the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) yesterday reiterated that these 22 households can continue to stay in their homes.

The authorities also disclosed the details of the rent — which would be subsidised for the first five years — that these families now have to pay.

In a joint press statement, the SLA and the HDB acknowledged that the notification “could have been more carefully worded and the language updated to reflect the eventual development”. The notice of census survey that the HDB served on the residents — which carried a header referring to a “clearance scheme” for the “development of adventure park” — was in reference to the “past planning intent, which was originally described in 1993 as the development of an adventure park”, they added.

The SLA and the HDB reiterated the current planning intention was to keep Pulau Ubin “in its rustic state for as long as possible, to serve as an outdoor playground for Singaporeans”.

In 1993, the land on Pulau Ubin had been acquired by the State to build recreational and expand facilities, such as the National Police Cadet Corps’ camping facilities and Outward Bound School training grounds.

With the recent completion of the planned developments, the authorities had conducted a review and discovered that the 22 households had not claimed resettlement benefits entitled to them.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, the SLA and the National Parks Board said: “When SLA recently took stock of the situation in Pulau Ubin, we found that some households had not claimed their resettlement benefits, and that was why we decided to conduct a census survey to determine their eligibility for resettlement benefits. Once we have established that, households who are not eligible for HDB’s resettlement benefits but wish to continue their stay at Ubin will be issued a Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL).”

The census survey started on April 3 and will be completed by June. The SLA and the HDB said their staff were deployed last month to explain to the residents the purpose and intent of the exercise. “They also explained to the households that there was no plan for eviction. In addition, a contact was provided for residents who needed further clarification,” the agencies added. The rent — which will be subsidised initially to help residents adjust — would be gradually increased to full rate over five years.

In the first year, the monthly rent is between S$6 and S$35, with 90 per cent paying less than S$20 a month. From the sixth year onwards, residents will have to pay between S$31 and S$205 monthly, with 90 per cent paying less than S$120 per month. Rent rates are calculated based on the gross area and the land area occupied.

Eventually — after five years — 10 out of the 22 households will pay between S$30 and S$60, seven will pay between S$61 and S$90 and three will pay between S$91 and S$120.

Only two households will pay rent above S$120.

The SLA and the HDB said they would continue to “engage and explain” to residents about resettlement benefits and TOL arrangements. “Most of the residents have, in fact, contacted HDB for a site appointment,” they added.

Residents need only pay rent if they decide to stay on after the census survey’s completion and a TOL is issued to them.

Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Master Plan 2008, a large portion of Pulau Ubin, including parts of the land acquired in 1993, is zoned as Open Space and designated as a Nature Area in the Parks and Waterbodies Plan. Under the Land Use Plan for 2030 and beyond — which was recently released — Pulau Ubin was reflected as “Open Space” and “Reserve Site”.

TODAY understands that there are currently about 50 households living on the island which are paying rent under the TOL arrangements.

Ubin residents' rent will start from $6 to $35
SLA, Housing Board sorry for poorly worded notice that caused eviction worry
Poon Chian Hui And Feng Zengkun Straits Times 18 Apr 13;

MONTHLY rents for the 22 Pulau Ubin households served notices last month are expected to start from between $6 and $35, if they choose to remain on the island.

The amount will eventually rise to between $31 and $205 a month after five years.

This was revealed by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the Housing Board yesterday. They also apologised for the poorly worded notice that led many to believe that the residents were facing eviction.

The confusion started with a March 12 notice from HDB telling the 22 households that their homes were slated for "clearance" for the development of an "adventure park".

But this actually referred to plans in 1993, that eventually evolved into a "recreation park". The park, which was completed in 2005, includes the cycling and hiking trails, campsites, shelters and toilets that can be found on the island today. The Outward Bound School training grounds and the National Police Cadet Corps' camping facilities were also expanded.

While other households claimed compensation and moved out, the 22 were allowed to stay because the land which their homes occupied was not needed for the development.

"We acknowledge that the notification could have been more carefully worded and the language updated to reflect the eventual development," said the SLA and HDB in a joint statement yesterday. They admitted the notice had "made reference to the past planning intent".

"We apologise for the anxiety caused to the residents involved."

There are also no plans for the time being to further develop the island, which is to be kept in a "rustic state for as long as possible", they added.

What the HDB is doing, however, is to conduct a census to determine how much rent the residents will have to pay to stay on Ubin, and if they are eligible for resettlement benefits.

Those who can show that they own and live in their Ubin homes will be entitled to a payout, as well as tenants who can show proof of residence through documents such as their NRIC cards.

This is regardless of whether they choose to move.

Residents who leave may also get priority when they apply for HDB flats. But those who want to stay on Ubin need to apply and pay for a temporary occupation licence (TOL), as they are now residing on state land.

Each licence is valid for a year.

The fees, which will kick in some time after the census is completed in June, are the equivalent of rent and will be determined by factors such as how much land each household occupies.

Some 90 per cent of the households are expected to pay less than $20 a month for the TOL in the first year. And from the sixth year onwards, most will still pay less than $120 a month, said the authorities.

But even that may be too much for some, such as Madam Kamariah Abdullah, 54, who was born on Ubin. She is worried that she may have to depend on donations in the future.

Her kampung house is open to tourists, or for cultural activities such as cooking classes. But it also costs her a few hundred dollars a month to maintain the premises.

She said she has to hire helpers to trim the garden, clean the house, collect water from the well and start the electricity generator.

"I don't know how long I can survive," she said, referring to the new arrangements.

"Hopefully someone can take over the place and convert it into a museum, that will be the best."

Environmentalists said they are glad the residents will not be evicted, but Ubin's future still needs to be addressed.

Nominated Member of Parliament Faizah Jamal suggested preserving the iconic kampung buildings there and working with the residents to plan the island's next phase of development.

"Residents there have a love of the land that you and I cannot imagine. We should work with them before it is too late."

FROM NOTICE TO APOLOGY

1993

The Government acquires private land on Pulau Ubin to develop recreational facilities, including expanding the Outward Bound School's grounds.

Affected households will be compensated, but must also apply for a temporary occupation licence and start paying rent if they want to remain on Ubin.
Twenty-two households apply neither for compensation, nor for the licence.

2005

The facilities, which now also include cycling and hiking trails, and amenities such as campsites, shelters and toilets, are ready.

The 22 households continue to stay on Ubin as the land they occupy is not needed for the development.

Before March 2013

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) discovers that the 22 households do not have the necessary licence.

March 12, 2013

The Housing Board notifies the households about a census survey, but also refers to the original 1993 plan, in which the Government wanted to develop an adventure park. Residents get worried that they are set to be evicted.

April 17

The SLA and HDB apologise for the census notice's poor wording, and reiterates that there are no plans to evict the 22 households.

FENG ZENGKUN