Kudos to this govt agency's quick response to the persistent
problem, solution within a month's time.
However, boo boo for only reacting after news reports and
complaints and of course... the investigation report that found no
one at fault seems dubious
HDB Launches Combined Balloting/ Walk-In System To Replace
Walk-In Selection (WIS)
HDB will be replacing its existing Walk-In Selection (WIS) system
for unsold flats with a combined balloting/walk-in sales system
called the Bi-monthly Sale of 4-room and Bigger Flats beginning
Apr 2007. The improved sales exercise will incorporate features of
the existing balloting and walk-in selection systems.
2 Under the combined balloting/walk-in system, HDB will group its
stock of unsold 4-room and bigger flats into 3 sectors according to
towns/estates as follows:
Sector A towns/estates in the North and West zones
Sector B towns/estates in the North-east zone
Sector C mature / established towns/estates
The unsold flats under each sector will be launched for sale on a
bi-monthly basis, on the 10th day of even months.1 The first
exercise for flats in Sector A will start on 10 Apr 07. This will
be followed by launches for Sector B on 11 Jun 07 and Sector C on
10 Aug 07, before rotating back to Sector A on 10 Oct 06 (i.e.
there will be a sales exercise launched for the unsold flats in
each sector every 6 months). HDB will announce each launch through
a press release and advertisements in the media. The detailed flat
list and prices will also be made available on the HDB InfoWEB and
at HDB Hub. The towns/estates under the respective sectors and the
scheduled launch dates in 2007 are shown in Annex A.
3 Interested buyers can submit their applications to HDB during the
initial one-week application period. A computer ballot will then
determine the order of selection and all applicants will be given
an appointment to book a flat, subject to availability when their
turn is due. Applicants who apply after the initial one-week period
will be given appointments after the last balloted position. After
all scheduled appointments have been processed, remaining flats
will be available for booking on a walk-in basis. Unsold flats will
be withdrawn at the end of the 5th month, so that they can be
prepared for re-launch one month later. The step-by-step sales
procedure is at Annex B for reference.
4 Flat buyers can look forward to the following benefits under the
improved system:
(a) greater certainty when planning their flat purchase as the
launch dates and location sectors follow a fixed pattern;
(b) no need to queue as all applicants who submit their
applications in the first week of the launch will be given equal
chances to select choice units through balloting;
(c) more time to study the flat list available on the first day of
launch, before submitting their applications within the first week;
and
(d) improved convenience with the option of submitting applications
via the internet.
5 To facilitate the transition to the combined balloting/walk-in
system, flats currently available for sale under WIS will be
withdrawn by 15 Mar 2007.
Monthly Sale of 3-room and smaller flats
6 The combined balloting/walk-in system for the sale of unsold
4-room and bigger flats will be applied to the existing monthly WIS
exercise for 3-room flats with effect from Apr 07.
7 Beginning Apr 07, HDB will offer 3-room flats, together with
unsold 2-room flats and returned Studio Apartments under the
Monthly Sale of 3-room or smaller flats to be launched on the 1st
day of every month.2 As the number of such flats is smaller, the
sales exercises can take place on a monthly basis. The sales
procedure is at Annex C for reference.
8 To facilitate the transition to the improved system, flats
currently available for sale under the existing WIS for 3-room
flats will be withdrawn by end-Feb 2007 and there will not be any
WIS exercise for 3-room flats on 1 Mar 07.
Investigation into Feb 2007 WIS
9 HDB offered for sale 556 flats in established estates under the
WIS exercise on 2 Feb 2007. The formation of an unofficial queue
outside HDB's Sales Office prior to HDBs announcement on 2 Feb led
some members of the public to believe there had been an information
leak on the launch date of the exercise.
10 HDB has completed its investigations into the matter. We
interviewed 40 applicants who were at the head of the queue, as
well as HDB staff and contractors involved in the WIS. We have
found no evidence to suggest that information on the launch was
leaked.
11 Investigations revealed that most of the applicants had decided
to queue up based on speculation on internet forums that there
would be a WIS exercise for flats in established estates in Jan or
Feb 07. This arose from HDBs earlier announcement in Nov 06 when
it suspended the sale of flats in established estates that the
re-launch would be in 1Q07. Some participants on the internet
forums even organised themselves into groups to take turns to keep
watch at HDB Hub for tell-tale signs of a sales launch, such as the
placement of queue posts. When they saw that a queue had formed for
the regular monthly WIS exercise for 3-room flats on 1 Feb 07, some
decided to join that queue in anticipation that it was for the
flats in established estates.
12 Many of the applicants were unaware that the flats offered were
balance units from earlier sales exercises and units given up by
previous buyers. Out of the 4,600 appointments for interested
buyers to book their flats, only 355 units have been booked,
reflecting an overall acceptance rate of less than 10%. To date,
there are still about 200 units available for interested buyers to
select.
13 The incident showed that the existing WIS sales process could be
enhanced to ensure greater transparency and convenience to the
public. The improved system was therefore designed with these
objectives in mind.
Enquiries
14 For enquiries, the public can:
- e-mail [email protected];
- call the Sales/Resale Customer Service Line at 1800-8663066 on
weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm; or
- visit the HDB Sales Office to speak with our customer service
officers during office hours.
Issued By : Housing & Development Board
Date : 26 Feb 2007