HDB to Poise Punggol Buyers With Sweet Compensation After the “Oops!” Delay
Good news, Punggol! The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has finally decided to put a dent in the mint‑money woes of buyers dealing with the Waterway Sunrise II BTO project. They’re stepping in to make sure that anyone who’s been left hanging for more than a year will receive a tidy pay‑back for the added hold‑up.
What’s Going on With Waterway Sunrise II?
- Project size: 7 blocks with 1,014 units – a full‑blown residential block set.
- Launch: Signed up back in February 2017, but all paths leading to this finish line have been slowed.
- Delay timeline: We were originally giddy about a delivery in Q1‑Q2 2019, but life (and a contractor fiasco!) had other plans.
- Reason for the hitch: The first contractor, Lian Ho Lee Construction, ran into a mess in August 2021. Then the pandemic froze up manpower, disrupted supplies, and added to the chaos.
- New contractor: Expand Construction grabbed the reins in October 2021, but even the ‘new’ diesel engine needs a few more ticks before it revs.
How the HDB Is Adding the Right Amount of Sweetness
Under the Covid‑19 (Temporary Measures) Act, HDB will be handing out a one‑off refund that covers the whole period from the original Delivery Possession Date (DPD) to the actual key‑handing date. No claim‑form fuss. Just a straight‑forward payment in about two months after each flat’s keys are handed over.
The compensation will be variable, adjusted according to both the selling price of the unit and how long the delay stretches beyond the promised DPD.
- Estimated payment range: $700 to $10,500.
- Projected average benefit: roughly $5,000.
What’s the New Expected Family Calendar?
- Flat delivery now slated for Q4 2023 through Q1 2024 – a waiting window of about 5½ years from when the project originally kicked off.
- These blocks are now likely to finish six–nine months after their DPD, which is a tiny bit smoother than the original script.
Special Offer for the Unreliable Resale Seekers
HDB even considers waiving forfeiture fees and giving a one‑year break for anyone who opts to cancel their booking in order to snag a resale unit.
Keeping the Construction Momentum Going
Final word from the board: they’re putting the gravitas of manpower allocation on this project, with the aim of spurring the contractor to speed up and get buyers moving rightaway. They’ll keep everyone in the loop as things progress, so no more “where’s my house?” after this.
There you have it – all the onion‑topped details, a sprinkle of warmth, and a little bit of humor to soften the wait. Happy house‑hunting, Punggol!
