First batch of 460 households get keys to gov’t housing

Starting yesterday, a total of 460 households waiting for access to an economic rental housing unit from the government will get the keys to their new homes by the end of this month, the Housing Bureau (IH) announced in a statement.

This is the first batch of residents to be granted housing units under the new permanent tender system that lists candidates by priority of access through a points system.

From May 3, these candidates are being called in to sign their rental contracts and receive keys to housing units available under the government’s first level of the public housing system.

According to the IH, since the implementation of the permanent application system for social housing on August 20, 2020 until April 29 this year, the bureau has completed the assessment of qualification, classification, and admission of 2,400 households. 900 of these households, after re-examination of their applications, were found to meet the requirements.

As the allocation procedures for units are completed, applicants will be notified to sign their lease agreements and move in to their new houses.

The IH also reminded the public that allocation of social housing units is carried out fairly via a computerized drawing system.

The bureau also noted that only five applications had been excluded for not meeting the requirements, and about 30 others were withdrawn by the applicants after contact with the IH.

Of the approximately 1,500 remaining households applying for social housing, around 260 have already been provisionally admitted and they are currently undergoing a re-examination of their applications to ensure that they still meet the legal requirements before being granted a unit.