18th Dec Letter to Ministry of Trade and Industry

From: karen ho
Date: 2008/12/18
Subject: Re: Urgent Request to Review Extremely High Rental Renewal Rates for Existing Residents of Chip Bee Gardens
To: Chor Ling KUEK , lim_hng_kiang@mti.gov.sg
Cc: Swee Say LIM , linda_ng@pmo.gov.sg, dominic@sph.com.sg, twong@sph.com.sg,
Dear Ms. Chor and Minister Lim Hng Kiang -

Thank you for your prompt response to our heightened appeal.

Unfortunately we do feel that you have taken an incorrect perspective to the background you present below.

1. As a Residents' Group we are NOT arguing the context of prevailing market rates. ALL the examples you have indicated below refers to New, Incoming Tenants who bidded in a tender system and who understand their financial thresholds BEFORE entering into leases with the relevant landlords.
o For the INCOMING NEW TENANT at Halton Rd – they are paying $1.92 psf
o For the INCOMING NEW TENANT at Upavon Rd – they are paying $1.98 psf
2. The Residents Group is arguing the case of exorbitant, one-stage rental hikes for INCUMBENT/EXISTING TENANTS at the precise time of the bleakest economic downturn to face the world in 40 years!
o For an INCUMBENT/EXISTING Resident in Monk's Hill Terrace, Newton Circus) - LTA has only charged a 15% rental renewal increase for a 2000 sqft house in Dec'08 - taking the PSF for that household to $1.15 psf
o For an INCUMBENT/EXISTING Resident in Alexander Park - SLA will be charging a 14% rental renewal increase for a 2700 sqft house in Jan'09 - taking the PSF for that household to $1.48 psf
o For an INCUMBENT/EXISTING Resident in Chip Bee Gardens - JTC is charging a 76% rental renewal increase for a 1356sqft house in Dec'08 - taking the PSF for that household to $2.73 psf
To increase rentals by 76-80% as we enter into one of the worst recession the world has ever faced does not showcase any social and/or civic responsibilities that as a government agency, JTC should be demonstrating.
Particularly when JTC themselves announced a huge surplus profits this year (July 29, 2008: The Straits Times….total surplus of S $ 1.18 billion for the year ended March 31st, up to 50 % from the previous year).
To break up families and neighborhoods so that JTC can make more profit appears devoid of any social and civic obligations to the community.
During a time of extreme economic uncertainty and especially when the Singapore Government is represented daily in the press as encouraging companies big and small to look to cost-cutting measures where possible for the good of the community and its workers before resorting to retrenchment; and when other government agencies like the LTA, SLA and CAAS etc are demonstrating and balancing both social and fiduciary consciousness in their dealings with the public ….. WHERE is the social and civic consciousness in JTC's act of imposing extreme rental RENEWAL hikes of 76-80% to incumbent residents? Where the average tenancy tenure of those affected is 15-19 years. Where we are talking about homes and families and not just factories and office furniture.
We are confident that LTA and SLA are also managing their respective properties against market rates and maintaining their fiduciary duties. However, in addition, it would appear that LTA and SLA are also able to balance their social and civic duties when they deal with rental renewals for incumbent/existing residents.
Please re-evaluate your stance on this because the argument presented thus far totally ignores the point of our appeal which is for JTC to balance the social and civic aspect into their decision making for incumbent/existing tenants renewing leases.
In comparison of the Rental Renewal PSF's above, it would appear that there are significant inconsistencies with which the 3 separate government agencies execute their rental renewal policies in 2008. Based on our analysis of the previous rental renewal hikes in 2006; this inconsistency did not exist then.
On a last note, we would like to add that in the 30 year history that we can recall for Chip Bee Gardens; there has NEVER EVER been a One-Time Price Hike for Rental Renewals in excess of 20-25%. Why now in Oct/Nov/Dec 2008 to impose the severest one-time percentage price hike of 76-80%? Why now when we are facing the worst economic outlook the world has ever faced?
Sincerely,
The Residents of Chip Bee Gardens




2008/12/18 Chor Ling KUEK

Message Classification: Restricted

Dear Ms Karen Ho

1. I refer to your email dated 16 Dec 2008 to Minister for Trade and Industry, highlighting the concerns of some Chip Bee Gardens tenants over the high rental rates being charged for units in the estate.

2. We have looked into the matter and are satisfied that the rentals charged by JTC are fair and reasonable. Residental rental rates have increased significantly over the last two years. Based on URA's Rental Index, the average rental of terrace houses has risen by close to 60% over the last two years. Chip Bee Gardens, is a premium and well sought after location and the rental increase for the area would be even higher.

3. For example, houses at Changi (near Changi Camp) and Seletar were successfully tendered out by SLA one month back at about $2,560 to $4,620 per month (see Table 1 below). These houses are in an inferior location and of poorer condition compared to Chip Bee Gardens where rentals range between $3,400 to $3,850 per month for similar sized units. External valuers have also validated JTC's proposed rental for the units as being fair market rates.

Table 1: Recent Market Comparables
Error! Filename not specified.
4. You have indicated that residents were only given 7 days to accept the tenancy renewal and have appealed for an extension of the deadline for acceptance. JTC has clarified that the deadlines were only imposed after the affected tenancies had already expired. The tenants are thus actually over-staying. Under the terms of JTC's Tenancy Agreement, the onus is on the tenants to inform JTC at least 3 months before the expiry of their tenancies if they wish to renew their tenancies. Notwithstanding this, JTC would as a matter of practice remind tenants of the impending expiry of their tenancies some 2 to 3 months prior to expiry date and make an offer of renewal at prevailing rental rates. In contrast, the market practice for rental renewals amongst private sector landlords, is to give tenants only 1 to 2 months notice. Hence, JTC has given sufficient notice to affected tenants. Given that the rental contracts have already expired, a further extension of the deadline to accept the renewal offer would not be warranted. Tenants are advised to make their individual decisions and not prolong the matter further.

5. Chip Bee Gardens is managed commercially, with a long waiting list of potential tenants. It would not be justifiable for JTC to freeze or stagger the increase to market rates as this would be tantamount to subsidizing certain groups of tenants. As a government agency, JTC has the responsibility to ensure that they charge all tenants fair market rentals.

6. It was mentioned that there is a petition that residents would like to submit. You may send it or hand it directly to JTC at their office for their consideration and acknowledgement.

Yours sincerely

Kuek Chor Ling (Ms)
for Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Kuek Chor Ling ▪ Deputy Director (Corporate Communications) ▪ Ministry of Trade and Industry ▪ DID: +65 6332 7705 ▪ FAX: +65 6334 0306

Uniquely Singapore.....Chip Bee Gardens

Unlike most individuals and families that have posted comments/appeals on this site, I am not a resident of Chip Bee Gardens. I am, however, a frequent visitor as I have or perhaps I should say "had" many friends there.

I have read the comments/appeals posted on this site and agree that the current JTC management and those representing it do not understand the "value" Chip Bee Gardens residents have created over the years and, left to flourish, would continue to create for Singapore. I fully believe that the predecessor management of JTC understood the uniqueness of the neighborhood they helped create and encouraged/supported its development by keeping rents reasonably low and increases "predictable". Singapore uses the tag line "Uniquely Singapore" in many of its ads promoting Singapore. Clearly the current JTC management committed to raising rents at unprecedented rates and destroying this "uniquely Singapore" neighborhood by doing so. Moreover, this is occurring at a time when rents are and will continue on a downtrend throughout this small island.

Unfortunately, those "in charge" of interacting with the residents are acting on orders that were, correctly or incorrectly, issued many months ago in a completely different market situation. As with many organizations the "front line" staff seem to have no power/latitude to consider extenuating circumstances or exercise any judgement. It would be interesting to ask those in charge of implementing the increases if they or their supervisors could afford such increases in their own living quarters or, like many Chip Bee Garden residents be forced to move.

I'm confident those who invested thousands of dollars and hours upgrading their Chip Bee Gardens units, expected that future rent increases would be market justified and increased at a predictable rate. In this way, their "investment" could be both amortized and enjoyed over a number of years. Barring a hyper-inflation situation, there is no justification for one off increases of 70%, 80% or higher. Any "normal" landlord who tried to impose such increases would soon see his/her/its rental receipts plummet -- take a look at the number of empty rental units throughout Singapore for an example of those who tried and failed.

If not already considered, I believe residents should explore the option of seeking repayment (actual expenses and a value for time) of upgrades that were made under the assumption that the landlord would be reasonable and impose any rent adjustments on a gradual scale rather than in one fell swoop literally uprooting hundreds of people and destroying a unique neighborhood.

Roger Moore

Epitaph of a neighbourhood (extracted from an ex-Chipbee-ite's blog)

Epitaph for a Neighborhood – The Reinvention of Holland Village
Beijing isn't the only Asian city busily bulldozing its personality in the name of progress and development. After my recent week in Bali I spent three days in my former home of Singapore, where the long-threatened revamp of the Holland Village neighborhood has kicked into high gear. What a shame.
I spent my final three Singapore years in a Chip Bee Gardens terrace house. It was the best place I lived in Singapore, both because it was a quiet house with a yard and because it was five minutes walk from Holland Village. Here in my hermetically sealed high-rise flat in Beijing I sorely miss the squirrels, bulbuls and starlings (woop-woop birds my wife and I called them, and if you heard them you'd know why) that used to prowl the mango tree outside my second-floor study window.
Like pornography, good neighborhoods are hard to define, but you know one when you find it (apologies to Justice Potter Stewart). One thing that good neighborhoods seem to have in common is that they are not centrally planned, but come by their character organically over the years. That was Holland Village, a neighborhood that seemed to evolve over the years in spite of Singapore's planning, rather than because of it. In a town that increasingly pushes its personality to the fringes to build “new towns” that remind me of the domed arcology of Logan's Run, Holland Village was a pleasing mix of watering hole, bohemian enclave, teenage shopping district and large public-housing development. It's mixed character is nicely encapsulated in the slightly precious bar and restaurant street of Lorong Liput, which wraps around a completely local wet market and hawker center and ends at a ramshackle mosque built out of corrugated tin.
Holland Village was characters as well as places. The bent, old man who collects newspapers in his shopping trolley lined with dangling CDs (impromptu reflectors, we think) and lived off handouts from the hawker center. The old woman on the steps in front of the bank selling hand-made malt candy for a dollar, swirled out of a sterno-heated pot on two satay sticks. The cobbler plying his trade on the corner, wedged between the two competing, Indian magazine merchants. Bobby, the perpetually comatose dun-colored dog who lives at the hawker center. All were familiar, reliable and essential to the character of a neighborhood thriving in the shade of enormous angsana and rain trees.
The creeping revamp began about a year ago with the installation of an enormous, ghastly display advertisement with a Reuters crawl on the side of the Holland Village Shopping Center. (There had been earlier rumblings when the local cane merchant closed his store because he realized he could make much more money renting out his shop to a boutique than selling rattan boxes to tourists. But no one recognized that as a precursor to worse things.)
For the residents of Chip Bee Gardens, the next disruption was the re-opening of a long disused school campus as part of Singapore's private Anglo-Chinese School. The only motor access to the campus is through the tiny, narrow streets of Chip Bee Gardens, down which an increasing number of taxis and cars now speed. My ex-neighbors had to petition the LTA to place a speed bump in front of their house.
Now the excavation for the planned Holland Village subway station has begun. The magnificent trees have been cut down, the cobbler has left and auntie sells her candy in the broiling, tropical sun, bereft of shade. What little parking there was has been replaced with open pits and hydraulic excavators.
The hawker center and wet market have been closed to make way for a multi-storey parking lot. A Malaysian friend of mine who has lived in Singapore for years was lamenting the loss of the stalls where they knew her favorite dishes and were always ready to let her slide for a day if she forgot to bring cash. She also recalled how the old man with the shopping trolley was left stunned when the market was closed, with no one to provide him with the handouts he survives on. Even Bobby the dog, who is about the same age as the trolley man, was left in a panic, running between the empty market and the shops on the opposite side of the street, howling his discomfort.
Where will it all go? It's hard to argue with schools (even private ones) and public transportation without seeming like a nimby curmudgeon or a hopelessly pampered yuppie. In a year or two the hawker center will re-open in the base of the multi-storey car park. The subway station will be done, and I am sure it will be a tremendous convenience for the residents even though there are two existing stops within ten minutes walk. New seedlings will have been planted by Singapore's ever-conscientious National Parks Board.
But I can't help but feel that the government has decided that Holland Village needs managing. That it is an underexploited resource that should be developed in order to reach its full economic potential. In the age of the “integrated resort” (a euphemism designed to cause even a hardened PR man to grind his teeth) can we expect any less? Honestly, Holland Village's days were probably numbered about the same time that Mediacorp, Singapore’s state-owned television broadcaster, got around to making a soap opera called “Holland Village”.
Maybe it's just us overpaid yuppies who will lament the piecemeal dilution of Holland Village's character. Everyone else may be thrilled. But anyone who has strolled through the ghastly, disneyfied reconstruction of Singapore's Chinatown should have pause before getting too enthusiastic. My Malaysian friend referred to redeveloped Holland Village as “Ang Moh Kio New Town”. It was not meant as a complement.
Anyway, the world is a big place, and there is always a horizon to be crossed. A new and exotic place, steeped in culture, to help us recover some of what we feel has been lost. Like Siglap.

19th Dec 2008 Letter in response to Straits Times Article from Chipbee resident

Dear Ms Wong

First off, many thanks for highlighting the issues we are facing here in
Holland Village.

I would like to amplify your excellent article by highlighting a few
points that will further demonstrate the deep sense of frustration we
feel towards our landlord. We believe that JTC, as primarily a
commercial landlord, have little sense of managing residential
properties, particularly a unique environment like Chip Bee, where long
term residents have contribute significantly to its charm. They need to
appreciate that they have a coprorate responsibility to their residents
and this does not simply equate to maximizing rental increases from us.

1/ The article correctly identifies that the URA statistics show an
island-wide increase of 60% in rental. This proven statistic challenges
JTC to defend and justify its decision to request the 80-100% rental
increases from tenants. I have recently renewed my tenancy and offered a
65% increase. This was turned down and I renewed at a 90% increase.

2/ You may want to know that most of us have spent several thousands of
dollars improving what are very basic (and empty) houses. The look and
feel of the complex is a direct result of our investments in these
properties and in our community.

3/ With a clear downward trend in rental rates identified by URA from Q3
2008, perhaps you may want to ask why JTC is still insisting on these
penal rental increases.

You may feel free to use this letter as required.

With best wishes for the festive season
Vikram Aggarwal

Summary of selected comments / supporting remarks by Chipbee tenants when signing the petition:

Street: Jalan Hitam Manis

“Is the global economic crisis going to affect Singapore? Isn’t it a relief to see Singapore Government taking the lead in curbing increasing social and financial burden to average citizen?

Being a government link corporation whom has a good track record of corporate social consciousness and responsibility, will JTC be taking drastic actions to freeze all rental hike and reduce the high rentals to help us residents ride out this economic storm?

For almost 3 years, like all staying at Chip Bee Gardens, I have been a good tenant with prompt monthly payment of rental. Like many, I also endured a sudden spike of more than 50% increase in the rental when I renewed my contract early this year. Wouldn’t you agree that even though it’s difficult and seem unfair, we residents have ride out the good economy with JTC?

Now, with the doom and gloom economic hard ship and rise of unemployment rate, wouldn’t you agree that it’s just equally fair for JTC being a responsible corporate citizen, take actions to ease the increasing financial burden to all fellow tenants in Chip Bee Garden? Many now struggle with household, children and family expenses. Can you relate to that?

Appreciate your kind understanding and empathy to our hardship. We welcome your kindness”.
Lim Kian Wee
36 Jalan Hitam Manis
Singapore 278450
+65-9021-7773



“Given the current economic climate, slump in property prices and rental the recent increase in rent in % terms does not reflect market conditions. Tenants should be allowed to re-negotiate rental such that the increase from last contract to the rent is an accurate reflection of rental increases in the market environment.”
April Mckenna; 66 Jalan Hitam Manis


“I believe I’m the only remnant of the NUS faculty cohort that once represented at least a quarter of the population of Chipbee. My wife and I have lived here since July 1990; and would consider living no where else. I refused to move into university housing at considerable cost to remain in Chipbee because we did not want to live in an academic ghetto. As long-time residents, we not only receive no consideration but were treated with malice because we strongly objected to be arbitrary manner in which legitimate questions were treated. Only after much compliant did they extend our leased for ONE year + DOUBLE the rent. The implication being since you are troublemakers, we reluctantly give you another year! Then hit the road. The priority being from their apparatchik viewpoint-the need to renovate a unit by then own admission that requires NO renovation. If forced to move after the expiration of our lease in Aug 2009, my wife and I will move back to the U.S.A.”
Dr. Dan Crosswell; 80 Jalan Hitam Mamis


“I also find it unfair that JTC charges up to $ 500 for premium’ units when those of us who have lived here for 10+ years had no choice about the ‘upgrade’. Since said upgrade my living room gets very little light, my drive way is dangerous to walk on when wet and the wall around the house is so lowland poorly holding up that security or privacy is a joke.”
Gaye H. Kirby; 111 Jalan Hitam Manis


I wholeheartedly support the petition to bring down the rent and be reasonable with increases especially given the current market conditions.

I have been living in Singapore for over 10 years now and in spite of 2 overseas assignments in Korea and Thailand, I chose Singapore as my home and place I wanted to settle down in and got a Permanent residency in 2001 . I moved to Chip Bee in mid 2004 at a rental of 2000 per month. My rental was increased to 3600 per month in july this year - a huge jump that now amounts to a significant part of my earnings. Given the turbulent economy and the need to conserve and spend less - a key message from our senior minister and other dynamic leaders of singapore who I highly respect, I believe that the current rental is not justified. I am now re-thinking my long term plans of staying and contributing to Singapore as I do worry about my savings for my future and more importantly the short term view organizations like JTC are taking in quickly jumping on the 'perceived rental boom' which has now being adjusted downwards nationwide.
Another worrying point is that Chip Bee has all along been an art and bohemian center of this nation and one that nests some of the best artistic talents in the country - something that is rapidly disappearing. Unless JTC recognizes this disappointing trend and acts soon to fix it keeping in mind the long term interests of the Chip Bee and Singapore, I am afraid that the nation will be eroded of talent that it has slowly been building up over the years. My kind request to JTC and our honourable MP to kindly look at our petition in favourable light and revise to rental downwards to help us all meet our longer term objectives.

Harish Narayanan
50 Jalan Hitam Manis
Singapore 278464


“I have lived in Chipbee garden for 5 years now and I made an increment of almost $ 50,000 to upgrade and maintain the house. Many of us have done this and that’s why Chipbee looks great but now it’s so unaffordable and it’s driving the artistic community away and I fully support this petition and the reasoning behind it.”
Lynette Foo; 8 Jalan Hitam Manis


We received the notice for the renewal of the tenancy at 30 Jalan Hitam Manis. The new rent $ 3,800 is now a (72%) increase over the earlier rent of $2,200 per month. Ironically we received the rent increase notice the same week when the Singapore government announced the recession and means to make the effect less stringent.I urge you to consider maintaining the same rent i.e $2,200 per month - for another year until the economic situation gets better.I understand that when you called my wife Rehina a few weeks ago and she requested for a lower rent you suggested that she moves out of the current premises. We have lived in the same house for eight years now - and moved in at a time when there were several vacant units in Chip Bee. Kindly consider maintaining the current rent for a year. Our house is also due for renovation as we still have the old renovations and don't even have tiles on the second level. Since this is a year of recession I am willing to hold on to the renovation for another year too - till the economic situation gets better.
Sagar Pai & Rehina Pereira; 30 Jalan Hitam Manis


“My rent has been outrageously increased from July 2008 and finances for me very tight have to resort to making loans to stay affiant since I have no salary increase. My rent covers practically all my income. My friends, God bless them; have come to my aid concerning how I love my home in Hitam Manis, where I have been living since 1992. I have begged for reconsideration to no avail though I must say. The estate manager understood my plight and tried hard to state my case to the upper management unsuccessfully.”
Rose Borromeo; Dancer; 127 Jalan Hitam Manis

“I can’t agree more-the ‘bohemian’ element is eroding with neighbors moving over the past 6 months to be replaced with faceless characterless tenants who can afford the rent hikes. But this is Singapore…
My tenancy renewal also in doubt as our new agreements do not allow for any extension. There is no incentive to create a ‘home’ when there is such uncertainly.”
Robert Greg Shand; Architect; 90 Jalan Hitam Manis


“I would definitely like to highlight, that current economic situation should be given ample weightage. Also a 90% jump completely affects our financial planning and future. Kindly help in adjusting the rent downwards.”
Harish Narayanan ; 50 Jalan Hitam Manis

“Long stayers at Chip Bee are always at the mercy of whichever agency is awarded to run Chipbee. JTC or PREMAS, there is no continuity when the landlord changes form PREMAS to JTC and all the loyalty of long stayers are not treasured. I have stayed in Chipbee for 7 years and last year my rent went from 1,800 to 3,000, I only singed a 1 year lease, trying to play the game of hoping for a new and better rates during renewal. This game is getting old and it only penalizes the long stayers and leaves a sour table in our mouth. Every 4 years, I have landlord who does not appreciate that I have paid rent for the last 4 years and is only looking to earn a back from their tenant.
Since Chipbee belongs essentially to the Singapore government, there should be some guidelines to rental increase taking into account the following; (1) Length of stay in Chipbee ; (2) Max/ cap increase per year, i.e between 5 to 10 % for long stayers or 15% for newer residents. This should be written into contract with whoever is awarded the tender to run Chipbee. We are a residential community not commercial!
I have been through the last recession cycle where 60 % of Chipbee houses were empty and I was on of the few who continue to support and pay rent. However, during the good times, it seems like those on the waiting list gets more priority and there is pressure to replace us paying the lower rent with higher rent. I have no problem with this is a business or private owner. However, we are government land being managed by contractors! I have heard of cases where JTC refused to extend a rental to a long term resident in hope of getting then to move out and get a higher paying tenant.”
Lim Chin Chin; 16 Jalan Hitam Manis


“We agree to this petition, as we have been tenant since 2006 at a rental of S$ 2,000. By 2008 our rental increases to S$3,100. A whopping increase of $ 1,100!!! This is way too much! Please lower the rents!”
Jane Ong; Jalan Hitam Manis



Street: Jalan Puteh Jerneh

“My initial rent was S $ 1,800, and I have been a tenant here since 5 years. I fall into the artistic creative industry, as I run an events and entertainment company. If the rents go up, I presently at S $ 2,300, I will have no choice but to move out, with my children. They go to school which is close by and have friends in Chip bee which is their home neighbourhood”.
Kristina Gardin; 59 Jalan Puteh Jerneh ;M: 97921210


“I can’t afford agree with you more. In view of the fact that the stage of the recession is only in its infancy, more residents will be having difficulty in paying the increased rental”.
Ng Yeaw Sheng; 40 Jalan Puteh Jerneh

“The current prevailing value system of measuring Art + Culture is very myopic and short sighted. Cultures that have not respected, embraced and supported the above ‘alternative value systems’ have become increasingly one dimensional and homogenous. This necessary component of the social food chain is severely malnourished and underfed in Singapore, and I worry for long term consequences. This appeal is not just to reduce rents or freeze the rental increase, but it is an appeal for the protection of cultural ingredients that are necessary and contribute to a community’s holistic well being. To measure everything using the yardstick of money is downright boring, not to mention greedy and unjust. A rainbow is made up of many colours, and so is a healthy community. Believe it or not, ‘creativity’ can lead to all sorts of prosperity. Not everyone is a banker or a business man or a doctor. If you penalize the ‘rest of us’, it is only at the peril of the larger communal eco-system. Please remove your short sighted glasses and take the lead by helping everyone to see the bigger picture!

Ketna Patel, 33 + 35 Jalan Puteh Jerneh


“Do consider that there are also up and coming construction work along Hitam Manis, major housing project that will make a lot of noise and dust.”
Choi Tuck Heng; 11 Jalan Puteh Jerneh


“The recent increase was too drastic and was unfair to the existing tenants. Our rental was increased from S $ 1900- to $ 3,300, which is 73.7 % and is too much as compared to any previous increment. We may force to move-out if rental is not reduced”.
Lim Cheng Hock; 8 Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Note: Attached appeal


“A significant number of our friends and neighbors have left Chip Bee in the last few months due to the doubling of rents. The culture of this wonderful estate is rapidly dying-one of the main attractions. The reason we decided to return to Singapore’s creative hub after living overseas for 5 years. If Singapore is serious about creating and sustaining ‘little bohemias’ then the arts need to be supported at every level”.
Emma Kelly; 31 Jalan Puteh Jerneh



“Some of the people moving in Chipbee, seems to be waiting for their houses to be rebuilt and therefore do not contribute much to the community of Chipbee Gardens. Having such “transient” residents have this made this whole place cold and almost soulless since many of them are not bothered to integrate with the other residents. We’ve seen 3 0r 4 moves at the opposite side of our neighbourhood in the same length of time.
JTC has taken a very high-handed attitude in dealing with long-term tenants wanting to renew their tenancies. It’s more like a ‘’take it or leave it’ mentality and their excuse seems to be ‘since you enjoyed lower rents during the boom period, you now need to make up the difference over the next 2 years”. So much so that they are now trying to lock tenants at a higher rent for a longer period knowing that the next 1-2 years will be challenging. When JTC was renewing rentals in 2007 and early 2008, they were only willing to commit to a 1-year term in anticipation of the ‘rising’ rental market.
…that JTC is out to make as much money from their tenants as possible to the extent that they don’t really care whether the older (more loyal) tenants who’ve stayed in Chipbee have to move out after having spent a large part of their lives within this community. We’ve lost many friends in the neighbourhood solely due to JTC not wanting to make any concessions. We can understand that they need to make moderate gains but charging exorbitant rates are not the way to proceed, Singapore is undergoing a recession…”
Lynn Yeo; 12 Jalan Puteh Jerneh


“…our first confirmation of the rental figure was given 3 days AFTER the new price came into effect. Our lease ended 30/09/08.
…is also strange for another reason, whether or not renewal commissions actually exist or not, the standard Real Estate Agents practice is the tenant only pays a commission for monthly rental values below $ 2.5k.
Strongly endorse the petition on the grounds of being such an astronomical single increase during such as history market downturn, with little or no prior notice”.
Abdul Aziz; 7 Jalan Puteh Jerneh


“As an American citizen but a Singapore PR, I had committed myself to serving the educational community by teaching in the School of law of the SMU. It would appear that by making the rent unaffordable to me, the JTC would, drive away from Singapore foreigners who have devoted several years to making contributions to Singapore in various ways.
…saddens me about the policy of jacking up rents by massive amounts and giving leases for just two years at the time is that JTC is embarking on a short sighted market strategy that will have adverse long term consequences. Soon, if it has not already happened, the Chip bee complex will degenerate into a transient’s community. It is a common sight to see occupants who moved in a short while ago packing their possessions and moving out. Of the persons whom I asked why they are moving, it is because of an unconscionable rent increase.
No one will dispute the right if the JTC to charge any rent that it thinks fit either no thoughts of a consequences. While arbitrary and capricious can be made by the whim of the private landlord, it is questionable whether the sacrifice of the long-term goals is an appreciate strategy for a statutory body serving as landlord that is subject to fiduciary duties. By raising rents to unaffordable levels, the JTC may think that it is maximizing revenue but in the long run taxpayer dollars may suffer a net loss.”
Austin I. Pullě; 25 Jalan Puteh Jerneh


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Street: Jalan Kuning

“My family and I have been living in Chipbee for more than 14 years and have contributed to the developments of this estate. The community is very closely knitted and friendly. Sadly, due to the extortionate increase in rent, one by one, our neighbors (some have lived more 30 years) have left. This is our home and we have many fond memories of this estate. We are very keen to stay on but with the steep increase in rent and facing with the current economic recession, we are facing the same ‘faith’ as those of our neighbor who have left, not knowing what to do. Please help us and the residents of this estate to resolve this issue. I’m looking forward to hear the good news.”
Tang Pen San; 5 Jalan Kuning


“Please take into consideration when adjusting rent, the amount of money spent on each unit during maintenance. My household spent a fair sum doing upgrading and maintenance work and seldom request for any help from JTC. G\Having stayed for more than 7 years and not giving any trouble for landlord is an incentive which JTC have to consider.”
Chong Leng Hong; 19 Jalan Kuning


“Since 1974, we have been living the rental was $ 425. The same house, same condition but was run down over the years, but yet we paid the new increase which many of us are facing today. Just 3 months ago, we moved to the above because they wanted to renovate and increase more!!!
Meanwhile, we are looking to buy a HBD. Staying here until such time...we are really forced out…wishful that we could live our last days here after so many years, in fact the roof are deep- into this place. My husband is already 70 yrs. old, and I’m only a few years behind.”
Chan Chu Hin ; 28 Jalan Kuning


“ …90% increase is an exorbitant amount when we first moved it we took a lot of efforts with a alot of phone calls to push PWD to fix drains in this area and this finally done 3rd quarter last year. We too pushed LTA to fix the roads and entrance to house as there a lot of pot holes with bad drainage potential mosquito breeding and this too was done around June 2008. Alex, Chipbee agent is aware as I’ve highlighted to him I’ve contracted PWD + LTA-something Chipbee management couldn’t do to push LTA + PWD to tidy the whole area. Consideration must be given that we take initiative to beautify the messy garden with unsightly plants to contribute to more ‘livable’ place.
…with the steep increase, this looks not possible to stay on. We put a lot a effort and it would be grateful if JTC take this into consideration before they increase the rent.”
Tan Sian Hua; 4 Jalan Kuning

“I fully agree the rent of increment is too steep for this difficult time. Pay cut and job cut is definitely around the corner for private sector which don’t provide on iron rice bowl. The rent and property price in Singapore are due to speculation force. Why is the high net worth stop buying property suddenly? I though developer or government official say these high net worth are recession proof and will buy in good or bad times. It is definitely speculation and it only benefits the biggest landlord in Singapore.”
Tan Siang Teck ; 6 Jalan Kuning
]

“We need to brace ourselves in obtaining a reasonable treatment in rental charges by our landlord in views of coming recession.”
Ng Khong Bee; 28 Jalan Puteh Jerneh


Street: Taman Warna

“Assuming that many people budget no more than 30% of income for housing costs an increase to 60 % of income, as is the case with JTC rental hikes, will for many mean having to leave their home”.
Sean Francis Lee; 28 Taman Warna

“I have been living at Chipbee Garden for 14 years. I have gone to see Esther several times regarding the rental but she wasn’t budged.”
Tan Swee Leong; 35 Taman Warna


“Directly opposite to the construction site, Holland residence with daily construction activities and movements become noisy all day long. Need to compensate tenants once the street with further rental reduction until construction is completed.”
Wong Teck Fong: 22 Taman Warna

`

“I pleaded to keep the rent the same for 1 more year and got no response. I’m a single mother struggling to make ends meet.”
Taissa Matla; 18 Taman Warna


“I have lived in Chipbee for nearly 17 years. Now I’ am suddenly expected to pay the same rent as new tenants moving into a renovated unit. I cannot afford to stay here. I appreciate being given a 6 months extension to my lease (a bit at very short notice) but do nor appreciate being requested to pay at the new rate, an increase of over 75%. The new rate is higher than some because-I ‘am told- I’ am nearer Holland Village but, ironically, this is the noisiest stretch of road in Chipbee. I wonder who makes these decisions?”
Jill Shanmugaratman; 72 Taman Warna


“We are aware of the dramatic increase in rent in the road and given that all other areas in Singapore have no decrease rent and in view of the economic climate we think this shall be addressed and the rent lowered. We also note that’s some of our neighbors is paying up to $ 200 less than a month and we would like this to be acknowledged and the rent decrease accordingly.”
Dominic Godman; 54 Taman Warna





Street: Jalan Kelabu Asap

“Management to review recent rental increment imposed on tenants in view of financial crisis. Measures to reduce rental to reasonable level to existing and new tenants and amendment of rental agreement.”
Yong Fook Onn ; 40 Jalan Kelabu Asap


“We do agree. We are seriously considering of leaving Singapore as for these prompt increase are very difficult to cope with for a short notice.”
Vam Eyrett; Jalan Kelabu Asap


“I believe this is an honest effort and hope JTC or government does not misunderstood the cause. My view is that one should not fix rent (price) purely on supply and demand criteria, as then it cause high fluctuation and sometimes collapse; as happened in USA.”
Aroof Kuman Baneyee; Jalan Kelabu Asap


“At this time of economic uncertainly priority should be given to keep families secure in their homes, especially to long-term resident who are facing steep rent increase. Rent increase of 60-90% is simply inappropriate when people are struggling to make ends meet. We should encourage a more caring and compassionate society. As a government link company JTC has a responsibility to play its part.”
Mark Palmer; 53 Jalan Kelabu Asap


“I found an increase of 80% in rent is unacceptable and feels rip off by the JTC making taking advantage of the housing prince boom.”
Sandro Mazza; 36 Jalan Kelabu Asap












List of Chipbee Gardens Tenants who support the Petition to JTC for lower rentals


Jalan Hitam Manis



House / Unit No.
Address
Name of Tenant
2
Jalan Hitam Manis
Rehina Perrera
6
Jalan Hitam Manis
Ryan Bishop
8
Jalan Hitam Manis
Lynette Foo
14
Jalan Hitam Manis
Olivia Claire Lynn Warnock
16
Jalan Hitam Manis
Lim Chin Chin
18
Jalan Hitam Manis
Michael Pohl
17
Jalan Hitam Manis
Philippa Killen
20
Jalan Hitam Manis
M. Hohmann
21
Jalan Hitam Manis
Cehng Shiew Jeng
23
Jalan Hitam Manis
Sharon Wong
27
Jalan Hitam Manis
June Goh
34
Jalan Hitam Manis
Jeannette Lau
36
Jalan Hitam Manis
Lim Kian Me
42
Jalan Hitam Manis
John
44
Jalan Hitam Manis
Mrs. Jane Ng/ Koon Meng Ng
50
Jalan Hitam Manis
Harish Narayanan
52
Jalan Hitam Manis
Lee Lon Teng
Lee Lon Teng
Lee Lon Teng
Lee Lon Teng
54
Jalan Hitam Manis
56
Jalan Hitam Manis
58
Jalan Hitam Manis
62
Jalan Hitam Manis
Laina and Armando Beer
64
Jalan Hitam Manis
Andrew Lim
66
Jalan Hitam Manis
April McKenna
71
Jalan Hitam Manis
Dramusic Vesna
72
Jalan Hitam Manis
Stephen Caffyn
73
Jalan Hitam Manis
Sohali
75
Jalan Hitam Manis
Smett
76
Jalan Hitam Manis
Khoo Lang Kian
79
Jalan Hitam Manis
Leo
80
Jalan Hitam Manis
Dr. Dan Crosswell
83
Jalan Hitam Manis
Jolene
87
Jalan Hitam Manis
Kevin Timmons
90
Jalan Hitam Manis
Robert Gerg Shand
91
Jalan Hitam Manis
W.C.J. Leyen
93
Jalan Hitam Manis
Ryan Clift
97
Jalan Hitam Manis
Paul Ng Ngow Chye
98
Jalan Hitam Manis
Chen Mun Seng
101
Jalan Hitam Manis
Jeffrey Oon
105
Jalan Hitam Manis
Yong Foo Onn
107
Jalan Hitam Manis
Priscilla Ng
109
Jalan Hitam Manis
Josephine Frankin
111
Jalan Hitam Manis
Gaye H. Kirby
119
Jalan Hitam Manis
Yap Sha-Li Audrey
121
Jalan Hitam Manis
Tan Kia Joo/JaCob Son
127
Jalan Hitam Manis
Rose Borromeo





Jalan Puteh Jerneh




House / Unit No.
Address
Name of Tenant
1
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Normini Abdul Aziz
2
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Simon Kornberg
3
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Ong Poh Choo
5
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Bronia Birkbeck
8
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Lim Chong Hock
11
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Choi Tuck Heng
12
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Lynn Yeo
14
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Nats
15
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Lim Eu Seng Vincent
16
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Takeo Matsuokja
18
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Peter Ochman
19
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Gina Tauzon
20
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
J. Remington
24
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Diana Francis
25
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Austin I. Pulle
27
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Tan Winnie
28
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Ng Choong Bee
31
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Emma Kelly
33
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Ketna Patel
35
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Ketna Patel
36
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Jonan Boreghin
37
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Thauh Hu Larsson
39
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Jose R.Ortega
40
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Ng Yeow Shang
43
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Teng Sai Gek
45
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Leslie Tan Wee Ming
47
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Ng Siew Wong
50
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Scott Hessels
52
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Suja Michelle Sasidhatan
55
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Dave Low
57
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Mishmaki Shoichi
59
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Kristina Garden
61
Jalan Puteh Jerneh
Lim Enpkhoon


Jalan Kuning
`



House / Unit No.
Address
Name of Tenant
1
Jalan Kuning
Rejected
3
Jalan Kuning
Annonymous
4
Jalan Kuning
Tan Siang Hua
5
Jalan Kuning
Tang Peng San /Sally Tan
6
Jalan Kuning
Tan Siang Tech
8
Jalan Kuning
Ms. Meghan Sander
10
Jalan Kuning
Ng Kian Peng
11
Jalan Kuning
Leong Kah Wah
12
Jalan Kuning
Catherine Lai
15C
Jalan Kuning
Leong Kah Wah
16
Jalan Kuning
Wong Ah Chye
18C
Jalan Kuning
Anastasia Toumasatos
19
Jalan Kuning
Ringo Chong
20
Jalan Kuning
Hwang Fong Boon
22
Jalan Kuning
Helena Lim
23
Jalan Kuning
Naoko
24
Jalan Kuning
Pandora
26
Jalan Kuning
Annonymous
28
Jalan Kuning
Chan Chua Hin
30C
Jalan Kuning
Mr. /Mrs. Parry
31C
Jalan Kuning
Mr. Ng
33
Jalan Kuning
Lim Khonh Shee
35
Jalan Kuning
Raoul Fenianos
39
Jalan Kuning
Liu Woon Li
41
Jalan Kuning
Nijen Twilhaar
45
Jalan Kuning
Philip Kurien Jacob
47
Jalan Kuning
Philip Kurien Jacob



Jalan Kelabu Asap
`



House / Unit No.
Address
Name of Tenant
2
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Woodware
5
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Raymond Lim
6
Jalan Kelabu Asap
J.W. Holden
7
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Victoria Bowers
8
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Christople Neverburg
14
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Oliver Pearson
15
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Troy Sullivan
16
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Tang Wai Meng and Mike
20
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Hans Erick Schwidt
22
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Jimmy Ong
24
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Cathy and David West
25
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Rsukuia
26
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Lanyi G.
28
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Mustafizur Rahman
29
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Choonh henh Kok
31
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Lay Bih Lim
32
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Birch
33
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Alflo Goufa
34
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Queenie Ong
36
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Sando Mazza
37
Jalan Kelabu Asap
M. Maharroy
38
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Ruchard Koong, kockette
39
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Marco Merito
40
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Yong Fook Onn
41
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Tim Ross and Marisa Bertocchi
43
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Loretta Bertocchi
48
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Van Eyrett
51
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Amelia Wallace
52
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Natasha Hamilton
53
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Mark Palmer
54
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Marco Frisckneght
55
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Wong Ka Ching
58
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Luke Clark
59
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Victoria Willis
60
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Ching Toh Kar
61
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Yukio Rai
65
Jalan Kelabu Asap
D. Wilcox
66
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Birch
67
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Marc X. Grogorott
72
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Ong Chin Ngoh
81
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Elizabeth Anne Logie
87
Jalan Kelabu Asap
Tania Wu




Jalan Merah Saga
`



House / Unit No.
Address
Name of Tenant



Blk.44 # 03-12
Jalan Merah Saga
Ben Fones
Blk.43 # 02-70
Jalan Merah Saga
Philip Ng
Blk. 43 # 02-68
Jalan Merah Saga
Dominic Teo








Jalan Rumia
`



House / Unit No.
Address
Name of Tenant
3
Jalan Rumia
Wong Yin Wan
5
Jalan Rumia
Wong Yin Wan
6
Jalan Rumia
Suzzanne Sng
9
Jalan Rumia
Bjorn Skurch
17
Jalan Rumia
Joselito Dela Cruz
21
Jalan Rumia
Brian Wee
23
Jalan Rumia
Kwong Leong Onn
25
Jalan Rumia
Edmund Lim / Anthony huang
27
Jalan Rumia
Foo Say Hoe
29
Jalan Rumia
Mina Koshinen
31
Jalan Rumia
Ng Koon Yee Mickey
33
Jalan Rumia
F. Berger
35
Jalan Rumia
Lim Puay Keem
37
Jalan Rumia
B. Ross
39
Jalan Rumia
Loh Chon See
41
Jalan Rumia
Klomp Jan Jaap
43
Jalan Rumia
Aggarwal
47
Jalan Rumia
Suherwan Abu
57
Jalan Rumia
Ho Juan Nui
59
Jalan Rumia
Arnold S. Widjanarko


Taman Warna
`



House / Unit No.
Address
Name of Tenant
4
Taman Warna
Jerry De Souza
12
Taman Warna
Misliaty
18
Taman Warna
Taisa Matla
20
Taman Warna
Patrick Evans
22
Taman Warna
Wong Teck Fong
28
Taman Warna
Sean Francis lee
30
Taman Warna
Joseph Carter
33
Taman Warna
Ginny Nhang
34
Taman Warna
Paulla Lee Tee Mui
35
Taman Warna
Tau Swee Leong
36
Taman Warna
Paulla Lee Tee Mui

42
Taman Warna
Maribel Deken
44
Taman Warna
Mylene
54
Taman Warna
Dominic Godman
58
Taman Warna
Ng Kean Seen
68
Taman Warna
Lianne Tjio and Family
72
Taman Warna
Jill Shanmugaratnam
78
Taman Warna
Khoo Lang Kian
80
Taman Warna
Kelly Tan
86
Taman Warna
Hujaidi Mat Rajali
88
Taman Warna
Cathy Li

17 Dec 2008 Urgent Request for Deadline Extension: Re: Review of Rental Renewal Rates for Existing Residents of Chip Bee Gardens

Dear Mr. Lim Swee Say -

We greatly appreciate your continued assistance on the overall appeal.

However, one area of immediate concern to the residents which we seek your urgent help in is with regard to the legal deadlines (18-20Dec) currently being imposed on those residents who's tenancy agreements have expired Oct, Nov and Dec'08.

We seek your urgent help to persuade Minister Lim Hng Kiang to permit the deadline extension till end Jan 2009 as requested in our email to him. Thus allowing the residents more time to engage with MTI and JTC on the subject appeal and petition.

If MTI does permit the extension, we would greatly appreciate if your office/MTI or JTC could advise us via email within next 24 hours. Otherwise, some of us may be forced to sign the new tenancy agreements at 76-80% increases or risk losing our homes. As an individual residents, we really do feel cornered in this matter and your urgent help in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Residents of Chip Bee Gardens
2008/12/16 Swee Say LIM <SSLim@pmo.gov.sg>
Got your email. Thanks.

Dec 16, 2008 Letter to Mr Lim Hng Kiang

To : Mr Lim Hng Kiang
Minister; Ministry of Trade and Industry
Cc: Mrs Ow Foong Pheng, CEO, JTC Corporation
Mr Lim Swee Say, MP for Holland and Bukit Timah GRC
Mr Han Chiaw Juan, Director of Housing Development Group
Ms Lisa Toi

Dear Minister Lim Hng Kiang,
Subject:
Urgent Request to Review Extremely High Rental Renewal Rates for Existing Residents of Chip Bee Gardens in a period of unprecedented global economic strife

You are our very last resort on the subject that has caused immense concern and emotional turmoil for our community of residents at Chip Bee Gardens.
For the past 2 weeks and after 2 email appeals on 2nd Dec and 15th Dec to JTC, our community of long-term residents at Chip Bee Gardens have tried unsuccessfully to engage with your statutory board, JTC, to work with us as a community to find a socially responsible and fair solution to the subject during a period of intense economic hardships that is expected to worsen even further in 2009.
We are also appealing to our Member of Parliament, Mr. Lim Swee Say for his support and assistance on this matter.
We seek your ministry's assistance to help us mediate what we believe to be an extremely harsh commercial decision by JTC to impose exorbitantly high rental renewals for existing tenants of Chip Bee Gardens during a period when Singapore is in an economic recession and even the World Bank acknowledges that the world is facing its bleakest growth outlook in 40 years!
To showcase this, below please find a table that compares past (2006) and current (Dec08-Jan09) examples of Residential Rental Renewal Rates from 2 other government agencies; SLA and LTA; in addition to JTC.
Government Agency (Landlord):
JTC
Singapore Land Authority
Land Transport Authority
Managing Agent:
EM Services
DTZ
PREMAS
Property Project:
Chip Bee Gardens
Alexander Park
Monk's Hill Terrace (Newton Circus)
House Type:
1. 1356sqft corner-terrace
(Tenant is a Small-Biz PR with 7.5yrs in Chip Bee)
2. 1356sqft intermed-terrace
(Tenant is a Sporean Retiree with 16.5yrs in Chip Bee)
· 2700sqft bungalow with 5000sqft garden
· 2000sqft terrace
2-yr Rental Renewal Rates for:
Oct 2008 – Jan 2009
1. Dec08: From $2100 to $3700
2. Oct08: From $2000 to $3550
Jan09: From $3500 to $4000
Dec08: From $2000 to $2300
May08: From $2000 to $2300
Percentage Rental Increase for 2-yr Renewal Tenants in 2008:
1. 76% increase
2. 78% increase
14%
15%
Previous 2-yr Rental Renewals in:
2006
1. From $1900 to $2100
2. From $1800 to $2000
From $3100 to $3500
From $1800 to $2000
Percentage Rental Increase for 2-yr Renewal Tenants in 2006:
1. 16.6%
2. 11%
13%
11%

The data above clearly shows that at a time when the Singapore Government is expounding to businesses big and small to do all they can to help their employees by looking to cost-saving measures first before facing the last resort of retrenchment; and government agencies like CAAS is taking proactive steps to provide assistance to its partner airlines; JTC, our very own government agency taking care of our residential project is deviating significantly from this stance of social and civic responsibility during this time of economic hardship. At this bleak economic window; SLA and LTA are only imposing 14-15% rental increases on their existing residential tenants; JTC on the other hand is imposing 76-80% rental increases on their existing residents at this window.
The average tenancy tenure of the residents being affected directly is 15-19 years. Some even as long as 32 years. These are people's homes we are talking about; not merely office space and office furniture.
Minister Lim, we are not asking for a charity handout. All we are seeking is for your compassionate help on the following:
For JTC to officially take receipt of our Community Petition (signed by over 190 residents) representing the majority voice of the Residents of Chip Bee Gardens. Many petitioners have taken the time to elaborate and expand in the petition on their personal appeals.
The residents had chosen the path of the petition as we felt it was the most democratic and fair to assess the majority sentiment of our community. To date, JTC has chosen NOT to acknowledge this petition.
Failing which we feel we will have no further avenue but to escalate to higher authorities and rally the support of the press and the public.
For JTC to extend the current 18-20 Dec legal deadlines being given to existing residents (those with tenancies ending Oct, Nov & Dec 2008) to sign their new tenancy agreements at the high rates indicated earlier or face legal penalties. Many affected residents had seeked JTC's support for a temporary tenancy freeze until an amicable solution could be reached with JTC on the Official Petition and Appeal we mentioned in (1). These residents were given very short notices of 7-10 days only to make this very significant life-impacting decision.
Given that a resolution is unlikely to be reached by the deadlines imposed, we seek your compassionate consideration to request JTC to allow these residents to extend the deadline till the end of January 2009 and allow these affected residents to continue paying their old rent until a solution is concluded.
In light of the depressed economic environment and the severe economic tsunami we are all going to face in 2009; suggest to JTC to either freeze any increase for at least a 1-year renewal window or to revise the rental renewal rate for existing residents by 15-20% (in line with the more moderate increases being shown by SLA and LTA above) instead of the current massive 76-80% increases being imposed by JTC on the existing residents.
· We appreciate that JTC wants to bring all the properties in Chip Bee Gardens up to prevailing market rates and as residents we are not fighting that. All we seek is for JTC to please work with the existing long-term residents and perhaps develop 2-4 year renewal plans that gradually takes the rent up to market rates. This will enable affected tenants to have sufficient time to be able to plan and absorb this additional financial burden in such a challenging economic time and/or seek alternative accomodation.
For existing tenants that are not able to financially meet even the revised and/or gradual rental rate increases seeked in (3), we request for JTC to give them at least 3 months notice at their previous rental rates to allow them adequate time to be able to find other suitable homes to move out to.
We believe the timing of JTC's decision to impose these extreme 76-80% rental renewal rate hikes and the continued failure by JTC to engage in dialogue with the residents of our community to reach an amicable solution on this matter is void of any social, civic or moral responsibilities that as citizens and permanent residents we would expect from a Singapore government agency.
Minister Lim, please help us in this matter at a time when we are all facing the worst economic recession of our lives. As a residents' community, we will want to take the right course of action to ensure the signed petitions from the majority of the Residents of Chip Bee Gardens gets a proper and compassionate hearing from the relevant authorities from the Government of Singapore. This letter was compiled as a collaborative input of the resident-representatives in the cc list.
Yours sincerely,

Residents of Chip Bee Gardens

16th Dec 2008 Cover note to Mr Lim Swee Say

Dear Mr Lim Swee Say,
Thank you for taking the time to meet with us last evening for a second time and thank you for your advice.
Enclosed please find our email sent this evening to Minister Lim Hng Kiang.
We have enclosed a comparative table of current Residential Rental Renewal Rates being practiced by SLA, LTA and JTC. The data clearly shows that at a time when the Singapore Government is expounding to businesses big and small to do all they can to help their employees by looking to cost-saving measures first before facing the last resort of retrenchment; JTC, our very own government agency taking care of our residential project is deviating significantly from this stance of social and civic responsibility during this time of economic hardship. At this bleak economic window; SLA and LTA are only imposing 14-15% rental increases on their existing residential tenants; JTC on the other hand is imposing 76-80% rental increases on their existing residents at this window.
The average tenancy tenure of the residents being affected directly is 19 years. Some even as long as 32 years. These are people's homes we are talking about; not merely office space and office furniture.
The 4 requests we have made to Minister Lim Hng Kiang are as follows
1. For JTC to officially take receipt of our Community Petition (signed by over 190 residents) representing the majority voice of the Residents of Chip Bee Gardens. Many petitioners have taken the time to elaborate and expand in the petition on their personal appeals.
· The residents had chosen the path of the petition as we felt it was the most democratic and fair to assess the majority sentiment of our community. To date, JTC has chosen NOT to acknowledge this petition.
· Failing which we feel we will have no further avenue but to escalate to higher authorities and rally the support of the press and the public.
2. For JTC to extend the current 18-20 Dec legal deadlines being given to existing residents (those with tenancies ending Oct, Nov & Dec 2008) to sign their new tenancy agreements or face legal penalties. Many affected residents had seeked JTC's support for a temporary tenancy freeze until an amicable solution could be reached with JTC on the Official Petition and Appeal we mentioned in (1). These residents were given very short notices of 7-10 days only to make this very significant life-impacting decision.
· Given that a resolution is unlikely to be reached by the deadlines imposed, we seek your compassionate consideration to request JTC to allow these residents to extend the deadline till the end of January 2009 and allow these affected residents to continue paying their old rent until a solution is concluded.
3. In light of the depressed economic environment and the severe economic tsunami we are all going to face in 2009; suggest to JTC to either freeze any increase for at least a 1-year renewal window or to revise the rental renewal rate for existing residents by 15-20% (in line with the more moderate increases being shown by SLA and LTA above) instead of the current massive 76-80% increase being imposed by JTC on the existing residents.
· We appreciate that JTC wants to bring all the properties in Chip Bee Gardens up to prevailing market rates and as residents we are not fighting that. All we seek is for JTC to please work with the existing long-term residents and perhaps develop 2-4 year renewal plans that gradually takes the rent up to market rates. This will enable affected tenants that to have sufficient time to be able to plan and absorb this additional financial burden in such a challenging economic time and/or seek alternative accommodation.
4. For existing tenants that are not able to meet even the revised and/or gradual rental rate increases seeked in (3), we request for JTC to give them at least 3 months notice at their previous rental rates to allow them adequate time to be able to find other suitable homes to move out to.

Your compassionate assistance on working with Minister Lim Hng Kiang on the above is sincerely appreciated.
Yours sincerely,

Residents of Chip Bee Gardens

15th Dec 2008 Second Appeal Letter to the CEO of JTC

To : Mrs Ow Foong Pheng
Chief Executive Officer
JTC Corporation.
Cc: Mr Lim Swee Say, MP for Holland and Bukit Timah GRC
Mr Han Chiaw Juan, Director of Housing Development Group
Ms Lisa Toi, Ms Esther Stanley

Dear Mrs Ow,
Subject: Review of Rental Renewal Rates for Residents of Chip Bee Gardens
On 12th Dec, 2 separate reports in The Straits Times (ST) showcased examples of various government bodies making concerted efforts/recommendations to find ways to help buoy the Singapore economy and community during this unprecedented economic tsunami which the world is facing and our island state will not be spared:
At a dialogue session with about 400 unionists, Mr Lim Swee Say, our MP and Singapore's labour chief, shared an urgent message for his union leaders: He asked them to take the initiative and meet bosses to find out what can be done to cut costs to save jobs. According to the ST, his call is prompted by what he says is the worst global recession he has seen in his working life.
2. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced a renewed $130 million relief and incentive package for Changi Airport's airlines and airport partners. The CAAS is proactively offering a helping hand to the aviation industry to cope with the global economic downturn. The report quotes CAAS's Director-General and Chief Executive Officer Lim Kim Choon: "CAAS recognises the tough operating environment that airlines and airport partners are currently operating under".
On the very same day, 12th Dec, Ms. Ketna Patel, our community-resident representative, received a hand delivered letter signed by Mr Han Chiaw Juan dated 10th Dec stating that JTC, our very own government agency overseeing the management of our residential community in Chip Bee Gardens WILL NOT engage in dialogue with its concerned residents in the review of extremely high (60-80%) rental hikes at a timing when Singapore has officially declared it is in an economic recession and despite The World Bank forecasting the bleakest economic outlook that the world has faced in 40 years!
As a residents-community; the majority of whom are Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents; we are deeply disappointed to the insensitive stand that JTC has chosen to take on the subject.
As a community and after seeking advise on 1st Dec from our MP Mr. Lim Swee Say, we took what we believed to be the correct channel in writing officially to you on 2nd Dec to raise our collective concerns and to also share with you that we had supporting documents from a majority of the residential community (over 190 residents have signed the petition to date) in Chip Bee Gardens on the subject.
More than 10 days passed since our collective concerns were raised in official notification to your office and we did not receive any acknowledgment nor notification from JTC until:
1. THE letter of 12th Dec stated above which if we may summarise in 2 words states "Non Negotiable"; and
2. Representatives from EM Services (on behalf of JTC) individually visited several residents with the same message of "Non Negotiable" plus a notification of 7-10 day deadlines to make a decision on their lapsed tenancy agreements or face legal penalties.
The shared sentiment of all residents whom we have shared the information with resonates with the perspective that JTC is taking a highly insensitive and rather heavy handed approach to address this matter. Instead of dealing with the community as a collective and engaging us in dialogue to find a socially responsible and fair compromise during these very difficult economic times; it seems like JTC is taking a "divide and pressure" stance by approaching residents individually.
Instead of extending us a supportive hand and a listening ear, most of the residents that are waiting for an outcome from the submitted appeal were given what we perceive to be letters threatening the word of the law and with very short deadlines between 18th to the 20th Dec to comply or face legal consequences.
Dear Mrs Ow and the management of JTC; these are people's lives and homes you are talking about. We are not factories and furniture in an industrial park.
In one anecdotal conversation that transpired last week between one of your officers and one of our residents who has made Chip Bee Gardens their home for over 30 years; it might have seemed "practical" to the JTC officer to suggest that he could try to find a "cheaper" rental apartment in HDB for this resident but to the recipient of that news it comes across as very callous; as though it was an office and furniture they were discussing rather than someone's HOME.
As mentioned, JTC has not made any single attempt to officially receive and review the contents of our community petition. The signed petition represents the majority voice of the residents of Chip Bee Gardens. Please engage in dialogue with us.
Please allow us to reiterate, as a community, we would like to seek a group meeting with the decision makers of JTC to hear us out on our appeal and petition. We hope that JTC will listen to our appeal compassionately and kindly in view of the serious economic tsunami that has already started and is expected to worsen and affect us all severely in 2009.
In view of the tenancy deadlines imposed by JTC, we do urgently seek an audience with you, not later than 16 Dec, so that we may hand over the signed petitions to JTC. The residents group has planned for two possible timeslots that you could meet with us:
one being at 9pm on Monday in Block 32, Holland Close, #01-134 in our MP's office/Community Centre; or
the second is at 9pm on Tuesday in 35, Jalan Puteh Jerneh
If we are not able to have a proper meeting and discussion with you, we will present our case to the two ex-prime ministers who have spoken so proudly of our world class creative community in Chip Bee Gardens that has made Singapore proud. We will also be presenting our case to other relevant Ministries in hope for more sympathetic ears and will rally the press and public support to have our voices heard.
Again, we appeal to JTC to withdraw the threatening legal letters and to give us a proper opportunity to present the signed petitions to you and to seek your agency's compassionate support and kind consideration to engage in dialogue with our community to find a socially responsible and fair compromise on this subject. In the Chip Bee Gardens context, JTC is dealing with individual families that have varying economic thresholds and limited monthly income. To have to suddenly deal with significant rental increases of 60% to 80% under such a short notice period in this unprecedented economic downturn is an extreme financial burden for many residents.
When the Singapore government is expounding to companies to be humane where possible to its employees in cost-cutting and retrenchment measures and when its ministers and other government agencies are taking proactive steps to buoy the local economy and community, we appeal to JTC, as a government agency, to take a humane and socially responsible approach to working with our community during these difficult economic times.
Some options we would like JTC to explore:
For new tenants entering Chip Bee Gardens, JTC should maintain prevailing market rates as these individuals/households will be making tenancy decisions based on their in-coming financial thresholds.
For existing tenants, we would like JTC to review if they can maintain the rental increases for existing tenants to the same pricing thresholds that was extended to tenancy renewals transacted in the June-July 2008 window; that is, when the rental renewal window was between the $3000 - $3200. Rationale:
The pricing thresholds during this period was commercially viable for JTC and so it should not be financially disadvantageous to JTC to maintain them for current renewals
It reflects some level of financial thresholds of the existing residents during a window when the economy was still thriving
We would like JTC to make a further analysis if it might actually save JTC more money by renewing the existing tenancy agreements with marginal increases in rental rather than bringing in new tenants at the new market rate. Rationale: with new tenants; JTC potentially incurs additional costs for re-renovating the housing units and some corresponding loss of 2 to 3 months rental income to JTC whilst renovations ensue.
Dear Mrs Ow, we hope to receive your positive response today (via copy of all residents on the email distribution list) and look forward to meeting with you this evening at 9pm at our MP, Mr. Lim Swee Say's Meet the People office or at 35 Jalan Puteh Jerneh tomorrow evening at 9pm. We sincerely wish to engage with JTC on this subject very close to the community's heart.
As a residents' community, we will want to take the right course of action to ensure the signed petitions from the majority of the Residents of Chip Bee Gardens gets a proper and compassionate hearing from the relevant authorities from the Government of Singapore. This letter was compiled as a collaborative input of the residents representatives in the cc list.
Yours sincerely,
Residents of Chip Bee Gardens
Please respond to : 35 Jalan Puteh Jerneh, Chip Bee Gardens and residents on the cc list.

Nov 23rd 2008 Petition Letter (To print, sign and return)

November 23, 2008
To : All tenants of Chip Bee Gardens
RE : IMPORTANT -- Petition to JTC for lower rentals at Chip Bee Gardens.

Dear Tenants,
1. Your support for the petition.
Most of the older tenants that have being living in the estate from between 2 years to 16 years and above, have received notice from our landlord, JTC, on the steep increase in rents from [S$2,000 -- S$2,200] to [S$3,400 -- S$4,000]. This is a 90% increase during financially challenging times. Tenants are given less than 3 months notice on the increase, and this does not give us decent lead time to seek out alternative housing arrangements as the new rates apply immediately.
We are petitioning against the rental increase and appealing to the senior management of JTC and our Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit-Panjang, Mr Lim Swee Say, to reconsider and not to increase the rental for the older tenants and to consider to reduce the current rental of newer tenants that had recently moved into the estate as we enter the current economic recession.
We would like to seek your support in this petition. All you have to do is to sign this support document (first page) and return by hand to 35 Jalan Puteh Jerneh by
28-Nov-08 (Friday), 6.00pm. You may slip your signed copy into the letter-box.
Kindly refer to the enclosed copy of the petition which will be sent to JTC and Mr Lim Swee Say. If you have any feedback or input towards our cause, please include your comments on the form below.
2. Residents Meeting.
There will be a meeting to discuss the actions going forward. You are invited to join us.
Details are as follows :
Date : 30 Nov 2008 (Sun)
Time : 11.30am
Venue : 35 Jalan Puteh Jerneh

------------------------------------------------------ Form -------------------------------------------------------------
To : Mr Lim Swee Say (MP for Holland Bukit Panjang);
Mrs Ow Foong Pheng (CEO of JTC).

I / We support this petition. We are appealing to JTC to review the recent rent adjustments and NOT to increase the rent for Chip Bee gardens.

Name : _____________________­_______________________Signature : _________________
House / Unit :______Street : ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________­­­­­­­­______Date: _____________

Other comments / supporting remarks : (Please continue on another sheet if you need to, or attach a copy of any recent correspondence you might have had with JTC regarding this matter) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Nov

















23rd, 2008

To Mrs. Ow Foong Pheng, CEO of JTC and
Member of Parliament for Holland Village Mr Lim Swee Say,

Dear Madam / Sir,

As Singaporeans and your residents enter this current economic recession, this is a letter of collaboration, and, in effect a petition, by tenants of the estate at Chip Bee Gardens to address the justifications for the recent request increment of rent by your government body, JTC.

In point form here is a summary of the following petition drawn up by residents of Chip Bee Gardens to bring to the attention of the Government and JTC, factors which we consider to be the unreasonable to its residents.

Unjustifiable near doubling of rental fees to tenants at a time of financial credit crisis and recession.

The lack of sufficient notice to tenants with regard to the rental increase.

Tenants who required more time to relocate themselves were given extensions of their leases but told to pay the new rental charges.

The insufficient consideration for adjusting rents for loyal and long term tenants.

Eroding of creative artistic / creative suburb and lack of foresight and support for the artists and long term tenants who helped created the original vision of Holland Village as a creative hub.

Relevant practical suggestions for Government run bodies such as JTC / Premas in managing their schemes and tenants with more flexibility and compassion.




Unjustifiable near doubling of rental fees to tenants at a time of financial credit crisis and recession.

In a time in which all Singaporeans are entering a period of prolonged constraint, it appears that there has been a professional oversight leading to the assumptions of market forces being the apparent rationale for rent hikes. In our opinion the high rental environment has softened tremendously in the last few months and JTC should take the new economic circumstances into consideration.

In some cases tenants paying a monthly rent of $2,000 have had their rents increased to $3800, an increase of 90%. In the rest of the world where market forces predominate, Government bodies are taking ownership through bail outs and fiscal measures. Here, the governing body appears to be doing the opposite by doubling the rents. At this time of a credit crunch and liquidity crisis it is surely a time when we should all be expecting rent reductions.

For many people Chip Bee Gardens has been home for as long as ten to fifteen years, and these individuals have contributed much to the culture and the creative environment. We hope that JTC and the government can offer the tenants of Chip Bee Gardens some compassionate considerations in our rental renewal.

· The lack of sufficient notice to tenants with regard to the rental increase.

If it was JTC’s intention to implement such large increases to the rent at Chipbee Gardens, then residents should have been given ample notice to look for alternative accommodation.
With such an unforeseeable significant increase to our rents, a notice period of 6 months would have seemed more reasonable. A lot of us were not given enough advance notice. (One tenant received only 2 weeks notice!) In our opinion, this very short notice is unreasonable and should be reviewed in context of the current financial environment.

The insufficient consideration for adjusting rents for long term tenants.

For example: There are old tenants that have lived in Chip Bee Gardens for over 15 years and peacefully co-operated with your body and had contributed to the wonderful culture and success of Chip Bee Gardens. Despite their long term patronage, there seems to be no concession for them. After many pleas / requests, they have been granted only a short term extension on their lease, at the new increased rents.

In one particular case, the tenant has had to apply and wait through balloting to buy an HDB and is over 6,000 on the list and deemed too old and weak to move herself and her belongings to a new rental position prior to the permanent residency of an HDB. She feels forced to stay in Chip Bee until the HDB comes through. But despite pleading her case to JTC for the old rental prices until an HDB is found, JTC have not moderated its rule on their policy of charging on new rentals under the guise of market forces.

We also feel that JTC may be carrying out these new policies based on ‘market statistical research’ that is not relevant anymore. For tightly knit communities like Chipbee, it is short sighted indeed to dismantle long term inter-neighbourhood relationships on a value system solely based on ‘Market forces’.

This generalized and overbearing treatment by the JTC for long term, loyal tenants is insensitive and unfair, and detrimental to the larger social objectives that Singapore wishes to implement. It is recommended that JTC can look at all these considerations on a case to case basis instead of a ‘blanket - one for all’ policy.

We find that many people are moving into Chipbee for a few months, or one or two years, almost as a ‘stop gap’ temporary measure. If too many people do this, there are long term negative consequences to the identity of a community such as Chipbee.

Surely we should be encouraging Management Services to nurture the interests of the tenants and the community? Many of us feel that the previous management under Premas was much more understanding, and easier to talk to.


Tenants who required more time to relocate themselves were given extensions of their leases but told to pay the new rental charges.

Some tenants that were unable to meet the new rent increases were granted short term extensions on their leases; however they were told that they would be charged at the NEW rental prices and NOT their CURRENT ones; this appeared almost callous considering we are at the juncture of an economic recession. We hope that JTC will allow the existing tenant sufficient time to look for alternative and allow those that wanted to move out an extension of 6 months with the old rent.


Senior Minister Mr. Goh Chock Tong in his recent article explained about the ingredients for governance... he mentioned social justice as one of the four ingredients for any governance for now and the future, with the supervisory and regulatory mechanisms in place.


Eroding of creative artistic suburb and lack of foresight and support for the artists who helped the original vision of Holland Village as a creative hub

An article in the Straits Times by Minister Mentor Mr. Lee Kuan Yew “Orderly Singapore needs a few little Bohemias” illustrates the working backdrop behind Chipbee’s success. Neighbourhoods like ours are essential for nurturing the magic ingredients that ‘grow’ creativity. To not understand this in lieu for a heavy handed, short term value policy designed around ‘market forces’ (that are not relevant anymore!) increases the gap of misunderstanding between JTC and its tenants. We hope that JTC can help make Singapore more vibrant, innovative and encourage national identity building by looking closely and understanding more deeply the dynamics of social cohesion through the venues that it promotes.

Chip Bee Gardens was once a magnet for people in the creative industries and housed artists, play writes, authors, actors, film makers and professional world class dancers.
Systematically, one by one, these people have been driven out from the neighborhood by the extortionate increases in rents....many of them have left the country. These were the very people who gave the estate its appeal, motivated the concept of the work lofts, and made the estate a popular place to live; exemplified in numerous newspaper / magazine articles and TV documentaries. Most of these people were long time tenants who were shown no gratitude or appreciation for their contributions to the community but, on the contrary, were told that if they are unable to afford the rent increase, would have to move out as others were waiting in line for their units. It is ironic to note that whenever a marketing angle was employed by the Management agencies, the stories of these ‘bohemian’ tenants were used again and again.

Relevant practical suggestions for Government run bodies such as JTC in managing their schemes and tenants with more flexibility and compassion

A symbiotic relationship between the creative, scientific, artistic and business entrepreneurs could be harnessed such that after the economic turn around, all of the above sectors could complement each other by co-creating a vibrant, well rounded Holland village scene. Foreign, creative and scientific people desire environments that are conducive to their personalities. There are many collaborations and working relationships that can emerge from such a rich mix of individuals.
In the Government’s long term plans for Holland Village / Buona Vista and in making Singapore entrepreneurial and innovative, it makes sense to protect and keep artistic people in the area.

In closing it is our sincere request that JTC will review their decision to increase the rentals at Chip Bee Gardens and consider the points mentioned and not only adjust but reduce existing rentals in keeping with the current financial situation.

Thank you for your attention.

Dec 1st 2008 letter to the CEO of JTC

Dec 1st, 2008
To : Mrs Ow Foong Pheng, Chief Executive Officer, JTC Corporation
Cc: Mr Lim Swee Say, MP Holland-Bukit Timah GRC

Dear Mrs Ow,
Trust that this email finds you well.
As you may be aware, there is growing concern amongst the majority of tenants at Chip Bee Gardens regarding the rental increase in our estate.

A group of forty families representing the Chip Bee community met up with our MP, Mr Lim Swee Say, this evening. We were there to present our case, accompanied with almost 200 copies of petitions and personal letters / remarks of concern regarding this matter. At the advice of Mr Lim, we are putting in a formal appeal to JTC regarding the recent steep rent increase.

In order for JTC to get the full picture of the situation and the challenges the community is facing, we would like to request a meeting between yourself and a few representatives of our community.

The appended letter will provide a more detailed overview of the situation and challenges that the community is facing.

We look forward to a face-to-face meeting with you at your earliest convenience. In the meantime, if your office should require more information, please feel free to contact our co-ordinator, Ms Ketna Patel (tel : 9735-0901; email : contact@ketnapatel.com).

Sincerely,
The Residents
Chip Bee Gardens

-------------------------- Appended : Appeal for lower rents for Chip Bee Gardens --------------------------

Dear Mrs Ow,
We are a group of residents in Chip Bee Gardens, a bohemian housing enclave in the Holland Village neighbourhood. We recently conducted a survey with the residents of the estate on the issue of the high rental increase imposed by JTC. From the survey and communication with the residents, we have collected close to 200 signed petitions within 3 working days (making up more than half of the housing community here) from the residents of Chip Bee Gardens urgently requesting lower rentals. In reality, we are certain that given more time, the actual number of residents favouring this petition would be a lot higher.
We hope that JTC will listen to our appeal compassionately in view of the serious financial turmoil and economic recession that is engulfing the whole world. The Singapore economy is expected to be so badly affected that Singapore’s Cabinet has taken a pro-active exemplary step of taking a substantial pay cut recently. Most of the residents of Chip Bee Gardens are equally concerned with our financial challenges during this serious economic down turn.
There have been cases in the past wherein rentals had been reduced by over 40% - a case in point would be the last financial crisis of 1997 where the management under ‘Premas’ reduced our rents from S $ 2500 to $ 1800.
Petitioners are not averse to a small increase to their old rents; but to impose an increase of rent from 70 – 90 % at a time like this is very harsh, and throws us into turmoil. Most of us are totally unprepared for this, and we did not see this coming. The new proposed rentals are the highest ever in the history of Chipbee Gardens, and approximately 52 % higher than the last recorded high ever. We also request for JTC to review the rental for those tenants that have recently renewed their lease, as many of them were forced to due to no choice. Many individuals have moved out of Chipbee in the last nine months, and unfortunately, it is too late to appeal on their behalf.
Many of us have made Chip Bee Gardens our home for many years. We have put in our own interior fittings, AC systems, landscaping and furnishings with our hard earned money, heart and soul with the very clear intention of making this our home. Most of the residents we have spoken to have lived here for more than 7 years with some more than 14 years and to our surprise there are even some that have lived here for more than 30 years. It is this blend of long term residents, varied nationalities and professions and age groups that has made Chip Bee Gardens into an exceptional community. This Estate has been described by our previous Prime Minister Mr Goh as a fine and unique example of a colourful, vibrant, bohemian community blending in the best of Singapore and World culture. We appeal to JTC to preserve this unique bohemian enclave in Singapore that has served as a national show case to the world.
We believe that if JTC continues to enforce a pure market economic model of higher rentals and lets out the properties to new tenants that are prepared to pay higher rent, many of the long term residents will have no choice but to move out. Many of our closest friends that have lived here for very long time have already moved out. Often, many of the new tenants that are moving in are ‘transients; i.e they are downsizing from larger properties and use Chipbee as a stop gap measure until their circumstances change. We appeal to JTC to review the current management policy and to lead by example in demonstrating their understanding and appreciation for our much loved estate and the dynamics behind its success.
To not be sensitive to this issue would contradict the social and cultural wish list of so many senior Politicians and Visionaries of Singapore. This rather short sighted ‘market forces’ only viewpoint is not only outdated in context of the recession we are entering, but it would also herald the slow demise of a unique social phenomenon that has been publically talked about by two previous Prime Ministers, countless newspaper and magazine articles and films. Some of the most celebrated members of the Singaporean Creative Community have at one point lived here, and our networks and friendships with them still remain.
We look forward to having an audience with you to share our opinions and suggestions from the majority of the residents of Chip Bee Gardens and hope that you will consider our input and appeal. This will give you the full picture of our sentiment and enable you to make an appropriate decision to make the necessary changes to the current management policy of Chip Bee Gardens. We will make available all the signed petitions with the attached letter dated 23rd Nov and some of the personal stories and comments by many of the tenants of Chip Bee Gardens. We hope to hear from you on the decision of JTC on our petitions for lower rental.
Since this appeal is ongoing, we are also asking for an unconditional freeze on tenancy renewal for tenants that have their tenancy agreements expiring at the end of October, November and December 2008 and for those that have not signed the new tenancy agreements. There is a legitimate and necessary process that this appeal has to go through before we all come to a fair and just conclusion on the way forward. In the meantime, we shall continue to pay our current rentals.
Kindly let us have your comments / acknowledgement at the soonest. We would also like to extend to you an invitation to one of our homes so that you can meet some of the residents and experience for yourself the community spirit.
Yours sincerely,
Residents of Chip Bee Gardens
Please respond to : 35 Jalan Puteh Jerneh, Chip Bee Gardens on behalf of the petitioners
Mobile : 9735 0901
Email: contact@ketnapatel.com