mr funny
13-03-07, 13:05
March 13, 2007
Rising rentals may stem flow of immigrants
I READ with interest the article, 'Immigrants needed for economy to grow by 6%' (ST, March 9).
I am an expatriate and my husband works for a Singaporean international company. With our two children, we have been living in Singapore for almost three years, which we really enjoyed for all the obvious reasons: low crime, efficiency and cleanliness, etc.
We have been lucky to have been able to afford to live in District 9 or 10. The company gives us a housing allowance and we pay the balance. However, our apartment has just been sold and the new owners have informed us that there will be an almost 30 per cent increase in rent, which is now totally out of our budget.
How does Singapore expect to attract 87,300 people into its workforce when prices in the housing market have soared over the last year?
If Singapore needs to attract new citizens and immigrant workers to its shores, then surely something has to be done about the rising housing costs.
Also, as many condominiums and houses have been sold en bloc this year, there could possibly be a severe shortage of affordable housing across the island.
Suzanne Shields (Ms)
Rising rentals may stem flow of immigrants
I READ with interest the article, 'Immigrants needed for economy to grow by 6%' (ST, March 9).
I am an expatriate and my husband works for a Singaporean international company. With our two children, we have been living in Singapore for almost three years, which we really enjoyed for all the obvious reasons: low crime, efficiency and cleanliness, etc.
We have been lucky to have been able to afford to live in District 9 or 10. The company gives us a housing allowance and we pay the balance. However, our apartment has just been sold and the new owners have informed us that there will be an almost 30 per cent increase in rent, which is now totally out of our budget.
How does Singapore expect to attract 87,300 people into its workforce when prices in the housing market have soared over the last year?
If Singapore needs to attract new citizens and immigrant workers to its shores, then surely something has to be done about the rising housing costs.
Also, as many condominiums and houses have been sold en bloc this year, there could possibly be a severe shortage of affordable housing across the island.
Suzanne Shields (Ms)