With the government spending around $2.9 billion on Home Improvement Programme (HIP) for Housing board flats, around 170,400 units have had the upgrade works completed, while 132,300 are still undergoing upgrade works as of 31 October, reported The Straits Times.
In a release, HDB revealed that a total of 320,000 HDB units under the 1986 age-band were eligible to undergo HIP. It noted that they will implement the remaining works progressively.
Announced in 2007, the programme is aimed at improving the resident’s quality of life by enhancing their comfort and safety at home.
While it was previously offered to flats built up to 1986 that had not benefited from the previous upgrading programme, the scheme was extended to flats built from 1987 to 1997, which additionally benefited around 230,000 HDB households.
The HIP focuses on essential improvement related to public health and safety. Fully paid by the government, works include repairing structural cracks, upgrading electrical load and replacing waste or soil discharge stacks that are parts of pipes.
Flat owners can also opt to have optional improvements, which include metal grille gates, new decorative doors and refuse chute hoppers. The flat owners pay for their share of works within their flats.
The programme can only proceed when at least three-quarters of the eligible households within a block have consented to the works.
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Upgrading also targeted at seniors
An upgrading option is also available for the elderly and vulnerable residents whose blocks do not qualify for it.
Dubbed the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme, the scheme enables seniors to select from elderly-friendly fittings like installation of grab bars in ramps and toilets as well as slip-resistant treatment for floor tiles of bathrooms.
About $80 million has been spent by the government on EASE as of 31 March, while over 206,000 households applied for the programme as of 31 October.
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Kyle Leung, Digital Content Manager at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email kyle@propertyguru.com.sg
