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