Shop rentals: HDB replies

Shop rentals: HDB replies

WE REFER to the letter from Mr Heng Mok Koon ("Allow flexibility in HDB shop rentals"; Feb 27).

Under HDB's e-bidding system for letting shops, details of properties available for bidding are posted online. Bidders can submit their own bids and view all other bids at the same time.

This allows them to make timely and informed decisions on any needed adjustments to their bids, while offering transparency and preventing speculative bidding.

To further help bidders who may not be familiar with the market, a minimum bid is set. This serves as a useful guide for bidders to place a more informed bid.

Commercial and other facilities in HDB towns are planned comprehensively from the outset and developed progressively as the towns grow.

In new estates, HDB shops are located in clusters, within a short walking distance of the residential blocks.

To ensure that the daily needs of residents are adequately met, HDB designates the trades for the shops.

Besides shops, there are usually also eating houses, minimarts, supermarkets and clinics.

These shops complement the shopping malls in the town centre and neighbourhood centres, which offer more shopping and dining choices to residents.

The Straits Times / Forum Letters                                Published on 13 March, 2015

Ng Leong Keng
Director (Policy and Planning)

Housing and Development Board