HDB should explain restrictive rules for studio apartments

I would be the first to agree that no one can doubt the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) sincerity and objective to help seniors monetise their assets (“Buying studio unit one of several ways for seniors to monetise flats”; May 5).

My point, though, in “Studios for seniors are too restrictive” (April 30) is that the rules for studio apartments are particularly restrictive, which the HDB did not address in its reply.

Why a lease of only 30 years? Why must a flat be returned to the HDB on a pro-rata basis and not at market prices? Why must the full sum be paid without any loan?

The HDB stated that “the studio apartment has been a well-received housing option” and that “only a small proportion of ... applicants have been invited to select a unit thus far” for the three recent projects.

It should give us the numbers. New flats would be oversubscribed, but this is different from the actual take-up. How many have been invited so far? How long is the selection exercise and how many have accepted and chosen a unit?