Forum: Ensure accuracy of rental rates on HDB website
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The recent reaction over an $8,000-a-month rent for a three-room HDB flat reflects the importance of having trusted data published on official databases.
HDB says the rental data on its website serve as a “useful reference point for home owners and renters”. The figures given are not fact-checked against a tenancy agreement, as the rental agreed “is a private matter between owners and tenants”.
Owners and renters of public flats rely on HDB’s published rental rates to work out a mutually agreeable tenancy.
Those buying or selling HDB flats may also use the published rates as a reference point for their transactions.
If the rental data for private housing can be collated by the Urban Redevelopment Authority from actual tenancy agreements, I do not understand why the same cannot be done for HDB flats.
As the majority of Singaporeans live in Housing Board flats, the impact of such data will be more pronounced.
Both the HDB resale prices and rental rates published on official databases must be transparent, accurate and trusted.
Foo Sing Kheng
