Housing Minister for Rent Bonus to rain-affected: ‘The law only allows us to deliver money to landlords’

The government announced last week that it would provide an “emergency leasing bonus” of S$500 for those affected by heavy rains and floods, but not all those affected were able to receive this financial support.

Minister living placeBuilding and Sanitation (MVCS), Chania Pérez de Cuellar, clarified that the subsidy that will be provided will only apply to the owners of the affected houses.

“The bonus is guaranteed to all owners who have lost their homes either because they were declared uninhabitable or because they were completely destroyed (…) Currently, the law only allows us to provide an emergency rental premium owners”, – explained in the RPP.

Pérez de Cuellar noted that victims who do not receive an emergency rental bonus will be offered a housing module.

“We are already in the process of acquiring housing modules emergency room with associated bathrooms. We offer people who can’t use the voucher a housing module, it’s not a shelter, it’s something more structured than a tent or a shelter,” he said.

When victims who have not completely lost their home, but who have suffered, it is indicated that an improvement link will be included.

The minister specified that the mayors of the districts should fill out registers to find out which of the victims needs this financial support.

“If these registries are not filled, we cannot activate the bonus (…) As the registries are cleared and they come in, we are making calls to connection”, he pointed out.

To surrender the bail, the head of the Ministry of Housing Committee indicates that the process lasts at least 10 days.

“Bonds are issued as registers are filled. The process lasts more or less than 10-15 days between the publication of the register and the opportunity for families to find rental housing or a place to live. It fluctuates, there are legal deadlines that must be met,” he said.