HOUSING Board flats that are fully sublet to non-citizens will
no longer be eligible for rebates on utility bills.
The ruling - it comes into effect today - is similar to one that
already applies to HDB flats owned by non-citizens. These are also
not eligible for the rebates.
The move by the Finance Ministry makes clearer the distinction
between citizens and non-citizens and will ensure that Government
utility rebates reach Singaporeans as intended.
About 800,000 Singaporean HDB households will receive $106
million worth of U-Save rebates this year, the ministry announced
yesterday.
The rebates are part of the GST Offset Package announced in the
2007 Budget to help Singaporeans, especially low- and middle-income
households, cope with the tax increase.
They are restricted to flats owned by locals but there has been
an increase in the number of Singaporean-owned HDB homes that have
been fully sublet to non-citizen tenants in recent years.
--ST