‘Developers need to re-submit plans for affordable housing’
KUCHING: Developers with approved project plans have to re-submit them to the authorities with amendments that meet the requirements outlined under the new affordable housing policy.
Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association ( Sheda) advisor for Kuching branch Sim Kiang Chiok said this followed the new specifications and pricing of affordable housing units under the new policy which was announced by Housing and Urbanisation Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg at the just- concluded State Legislative Assembly sitting.
Under the new policy, affordable houses are divided into two categories – People’s Special Housing Scheme ( Spektra) Lite and Spektra Medium.
The pricing for any Spektra Lite terraced unit must not exceed RM100,000 for intermediate lot, and not over RM120,000 for corner lot; while Spektra Medium terraced unit must not go more than RM135,000 (intermediate lot) and RM168,000 (corner lot). For affordable flats, the price must not exceed RM120,000 per unit.
The size of each unit under the new policy has also been enlarged, fromtheoriginalminimumof444sq feet under the old low-cost housing policy, to the present minimum of 700 sq feet – making each new unit more spacious, comfortable and conducive to living, in that it can now accommodate three bedrooms instead of two previously.
Sim said Sheda supported the
Previously, developers used to be asked to build twobedroom low-cost houses and sell them at RM50,000 each, even though the cost might reach RM100,000. The RM50,000 would then be transferred to standard houses (not low-cost houses) and be borne by the buyers. Sim Kiang Chiok, Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Sheda) advisor for Kuching branch
new affordable house policy as the cross subsidy from medium cost housing would be reduced to meet the latest requirements.
“Previously, developers used to be asked to build two-bedroom low- cost houses and sell them at RM50,000 each, even though the cost might reach RM100,000. The RM50,000 would then be transferred to standard houses (not low- cost houses) and be borne by the buyers.
“Now with the new policy, we are required to build three-bedroom, affordable units and sell each beginning from RM100,000. The cost might be RM120,000 – meaning for each unit of affordable house, the subsidy is now RM20,000, instead of RM50,000 like before.
“With lessened burden on the developers, there will also be less (costs) transferred to buyers of standard houses, and there will be more reasonable house prices,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Sim also expressed his support for the new policy of increasing the density of residential units in urban centres namely Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu.
Previously, the density rate was eight units per acre – under the new policy, it allows for 10 units per acre. For high-rise flats, apartments/condominium and townhouses, the new policy allows for 30 units per acre versus the old density rate of 24 units per acre.
“Now, the developers can reduce the average cost of land per unit of house, while landowners can demand a bit more for their land as more units can be built there. And with more houses to be built on a specific land size, developers can set a price that is more reasonable than before,” said Sim, adding that the announcement of the new policy had been timely, as Sarawak had to balance between catering to housing demands and achieving reasonable pricing and costs, in view of population growth and impact of rural-urban migration.