THE EDGE. 21ST AUGUST: The Perak government is expected to review the eligibility of low-cost house buyers in the state by raising the household income threshold from RM3,860 to RM5,000 a month.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the proposal would be presented to Lembaga Perumahan dan Hartanah Perak (LPHP) during a state council meeting for approval.
“The percentage of increase for applicants to apply for low-cost houses is still in the drafting stages, but the state has no issues, because Perak has a vast land bank.
“Therefore, we are not going to have problems with availability of land at our disposal, especially for the purpose of building low-cost houses for the needs and benefit of the people,” he said during a ceremony to hand over keys for the Rumah Perakku project in Taman Perakku Serdang here on Monday (Aug 21).
The menteri besar added that the review of eligibility also had the potential of increasing the number of eligible buyers under low-cost house schemes, because there would be additional opportunities for those in the bottom 40% household income group to apply.
Saarani added that the state government would also launch the Perak Sejahtera Rental Scheme to offer houses for rent at lower than the market price, and that 12 units of affordable houses in Taman Perakku Serdang would be reserved for the purpose.
“The rental offered will be 20% lower, and would benefit those who are unable to own their own houses or not ready yet to buy their own houses,” he said.
In another development, Saarani said LPHP had allocated RM55.3 million to build 100 units of low-cost houses and 347 units of affordable houses that would cost between RM70,000 and RM168,000 each.
He added that the project would be carried out on a 12-hectare site and completed in 26 months.
“The Rumah Perakku in Taman Perakku Serdang is the fourth housing project completed by LPHP this year. This is a successful venture, and reflects LPHP’s capabilities and the developer’s credibility to carry out such projects,” he said.