The Housing Board has rejected the requests of unhappy flat buyers for refunds on their Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, made last month when they discovered that a temple with a commercial columbarium would be built near the estate in Sengkang.That project will no longer go ahead as planned.
HDB said in a statement that it received 95 requests as at Feb 9 from future residents of three BTO projects along Fernvale Link - Fernvale Lea, Fernvale Rivergrove and Fernvale Riverbow - asking to cancel their bookings, and get a refund.
These 95 make up 2.4 per cent of the 4,000 units in the three BTO projects.
HDB reiterated that the Ministry of National Development (MND) and its agencies would ensure that the site is restored to the original plan of a Chinese temple.
Whether it has a columbarium or not would depend on the temple's trustees, and would be subject to the Urban Redevelopment Authority's guidelines and approval.
HDB sent official letters or e-mail to buyers to turn down their requests on Feb 16.
The buyers have until Friday to notify HDB if they wish to proceed with the cancellation of their flat application.
If they do so, they will be subject to the standard process of cancellation, wherein they forfeit the option fee paid if they cancel before signing the Agreement for Lease. This can range from $250 to $2,000, depending on flat type.
If they cancel after signing the agreement, they will forfeit 5 per cent of the flat's purchase price.
The appeals for refunds were made after buyers discovered that a temple complex with a commercial columbarium, run by Australian-listed company Life Corporation through its subsidiary Eternal Pure Land, would be built nearby.
At a dialogue with residents and agencies involved, called by Sengkang West MP Lam Pin Min on Jan 4, buyers claimed that the site was earmarked for a temple and should not be given to a for-profit company.
Others said they were misled by the site plan and did not want to live near a columbarium.
A group of residents left their names with HDB afterwards, asking for a refund. There have been no further updates from HDB or MND on their talks with Eternal Pure Land regarding the site.
Restaurant manager Catherine Neo, who asked for a refund, said: "A temple columbarium won't hold as many niches as a commercial columbarium, so that's okay with me.
"There's nothing that can be done. I'll get the key and move in, but I might not stay there for long."
This article was first published on February 24, 2015.
Thursday, Feb 26, 2015
The Straits Times
Source: AsiaOne