Shunfu Ville is set to be privatised - by narrow vote

Shunfu Ville is set to be privatised - by narrow vote

HUDC estate secures more than the required 75% votes in second mass signing exercise. -myp
Claire Huang

Wed, Apr 09, 2008
my paper

SHUNFU Ville is one step closer to becoming the first HUDC estate in the last nine months to be privatised.

Industry sources told my paper that the 358-unit estate located along Marymount Road has secured "slightly more" than the required 75 % of votes since its second mass signing exercise five weeks ago.

This comes after the 528-unit Laguna Park in Marine Parade was converted into a strata-titled estate last July, the last HUDC estate to do so.

Mr. Philip Liau, chairman of the Shunfu's pro-tem committee, said yesterday that they are waiting for the HDB to confirm the estate's eligibility in filing for privatisation.

Another HUDC estate, Serangoon North, also looks set to be privatised.

The 244-unit estate had held its first mass signing exercise at the end of last month, and more than half the residents have given their thumbs up to the idea so far.

The legal representatives for both pro-tem committees, from Tan & Au LLP, confirmed that they have started the process of privatisation for both Shunfu Ville and Serangoon North.

The firm added that there has been strong response from both estates and the residents have appeared to be "very enthusiastic".

Should Shunfu Ville qualify for privatisation, the residents will not only be eligible for a collective sale, they will also be able to purchase a second property.

In privatisation, residents essentially pay the HDB to take over the ownership of common property such as carparks and landscaped areas.

They will also replace the town councils in managing the estate.

The committee had initially amassed about 67 per cent of the votes, but Mr. Liau, 57, said they managed to meet the stipulated 75 per cent after going door-to-door.

But he said: "We still have to garner more votes because some of the owners are selling their flats."

"We need to get the new owners to vote as well."

Shunfu residents' earlier attempts at privatisation did not succeed.

In August 2001, the estate conducted its mass signing exercise, but only half of the residents voted in favour.

Not wanting to give up, some residents sought for a privatisation-cum-collective sale in July last year, but this was also rejected.

Over at Serangoon North, the lawyers have declined to reveal the exact number of votes obtained, but mentioned that the response thus far is considered good for a first attempt.

This latest turn of events leaves one other HUDC estate, Eunosville, in the cold, as they lag behind in the privatisation race.

There are 18 HUDC estates in Singapore and 11 have already been privatised.

HUDCs were built in the 1970s and 1980s to cater to those who were not eligible for HDBs, yet could not afford private housing.

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