Unfair, contradictory treatment of DBSS flats

I read the report “Tying HDB flat prices to market conditions a fair practice: Minister” (Feb 8) and take this opportunity to ask about the double standards in the treatment of Design, Build and Sell Scheme flats.

According to the Central Provident Fund Board, the valuation limit applies to DBSS flats but not Build-To-Order flats because, unlike the latter, DBSS and resale flats are sold at market rates.

The Housing and Development Board, however, considers that anyone who has bought a new DBSS flat has used one of the two chances to buy a subsidised flat from the Government.

These CPF and HDB practices are contradictory and unfair to DBSS owners. Our flats are classified together with resale flats when it comes to our CPF usage, but are considered to be subsidised flats when it comes to HDB restrictions.

This has resulted in DBSS flats having the same restrictions as BTO flats but without their benefits, while having to follow the payment arrangements for Executive Condominiums and resale flats but without their privileges.