Are HDB Grounds public spaces?

[brian_singapore]

A couple of weekends ago we took our daughters to a park which is next to an HDB complex. It had a really nice jungle gym and we eventually migrated over to that one. Next to this was a little food court (would it qualify as a hawker center?) where we had lunch. The food court was squarely on the HDB grounds, not facing a road.

So our question is: Are HDB grounds publich spaces and is it permissible for us to use the playground and eat at the food court?

No one seemed to bat an eye and everyone in the food court was very friendly. We were the only ones playing on the jungle gym. But I'm not clear if we're infringing on people's private areas and whether we should be staying out of HDB blocks if we don't live there. (i.e. is the standard the same as private condo grounds)

My daughters love the playground and want to go back and with easy access to local lunch it's a very pleasant day out.

[PNGMK]

I don't seen an issue.

HDB property is usually under the control of the lessee (flat owner, stall holder) but in the case of a food court they seem to be treated as a quasi public space.

[brian_singapore]

Thanks. And what about the jungle gym?

I couldn't see the stall owners being unhappy ith more customers. I was more concerned with whether it was permissible to use the jungle gym and play area.

[PNGMK]

Thanks. And what about the jungle gym?

I couldn't see the stall owners being unhappy ith more customers. I was more concerned with whether it was permissible to use the jungle gym and play area.

Oh Jungle gyms in HDB areas are public for sure. No one can stop you using them. You don't need to be resident at that HDB block to use one.

[zzm9980]

Yes, what PNGMK said. Those little mini-hawker center things you see under HDBs are generally called "coffee shops". I assume it is because they're almost always anchored by an uncle and auntie selling local coffee and runny eggs and toast.

Everything in an HDB is public property, feel free to use it all. Basket ball courts, jungle gyms, etc.

[beppi]

You should get out of your all-fenced-up condo enclave more often and see the open and tolerant "real Singapore" culture of the HDB heartlands!

[brian_singapore]

You should get out of your all-fenced-up condo enclave more often and see the open and tolerant "real Singapore" culture of the HDB heartlands!

Not only do we try to get out at every opportunity but - holy crap - we take the BUS when we do it!! (My daughter loves the bus)

[Wd40]

Brian, in that case, you might as well move to a HDB, you save a lot of money as well

We actually had a choice of renting a 1 bd condo in Loyang/bayshore for ~2.2k v/s a 2 bedroom HDB in Tampines for similar rent where we have been living for the past couple of years. I chose HDB instead because of the convenience, wet market, fairprice, playgroup, schools, doctors and most importantly so many friends in the area.

I think we are blessed to be in Singapore at the moment considering the property cycle, the rents will only go down for the next 2 years atleast. Contrast this with London or Sydney where prices have now started moving up. I was talking to my cousin in Sydney yesterday and he mentioned that he changed houses and now his rent has increased to $450 per week in Chatswood suburb, I was like WTF, for all the hype that we are the most expensive city, we are actually better off in Singapore, we pay much lower taxes as well.

[brian_singapore]

Brian, in that case, you might as well move to a HDB, you save a lot of money as well

The conversation came up between my wife and I over the weekend as our kids played on the playground and we had a Kope.

But we decided we needed to hang onto at least some of the expat trappings lest our daughters dis-own us.

Namely the swimming pool

[PNGMK]

I love how WD40 tries to talk rents down.

[Aragorn2000]

Brian, in that case, you might as well move to a HDB, you save a lot of money as well

We actually had a choice of renting a 1 bd condo in Loyang/bayshore for ~2.2k v/s a 2 bedroom HDB in Tampines for similar rent where we have been living for the past couple of years. I chose HDB instead because of the convenience, wet market, fairprice, playgroup, schools, doctors and most importantly so many friends in the area.

I think we are blessed to be in Singapore at the moment considering the property cycle, the rents will only go down for the next 2 years atleast. Contrast this with London or Sydney where prices have now started moving up. I was talking to my cousin in Sydney yesterday and he mentioned that he changed houses and now his rent has increased to $450 per week in Chatswood suburb, I was like WTF, for all the hype that we are the most expensive city, we are actually better off in Singapore, we pay much lower taxes as well.

2.2K per month vs 450 per week? I don't see much difference. Btw, how big is your cousin house in Chatswood?

[zzm9980]

Brian, in that case, you might as well move to a HDB, you save a lot of money as well

We actually had a choice of renting a 1 bd condo in Loyang/bayshore for ~2.2k v/s a 2 bedroom HDB in Tampines for similar rent where we have been living for the past couple of years. I chose HDB instead because of the convenience, wet market, fairprice, playgroup, schools, doctors and most importantly so many friends in the area.

I think we are blessed to be in Singapore at the moment considering the property cycle, the rents will only go down for the next 2 years atleast. Contrast this with London or Sydney where prices have now started moving up. I was talking to my cousin in Sydney yesterday and he mentioned that he changed houses and now his rent has increased to $450 per week in Chatswood suburb, I was like WTF, for all the hype that we are the most expensive city, we are actually better off in Singapore, we pay much lower taxes as well.

2.2K per month vs 450 per week? I don't see much difference. Btw, how big is your cousin house in Chatswood?

WD40 has a very "unique" perspective on almost everything.

[Wd40]

Brian, in that case, you might as well move to a HDB, you save a lot of money as well

We actually had a choice of renting a 1 bd condo in Loyang/bayshore for ~2.2k v/s a 2 bedroom HDB in Tampines for similar rent where we have been living for the past couple of years. I chose HDB instead because of the convenience, wet market, fairprice, playgroup, schools, doctors and most importantly so many friends in the area.

I think we are blessed to be in Singapore at the moment considering the property cycle, the rents will only go down for the next 2 years atleast. Contrast this with London or Sydney where prices have now started moving up. I was talking to my cousin in Sydney yesterday and he mentioned that he changed houses and now his rent has increased to $450 per week in Chatswood suburb, I was like WTF, for all the hype that we are the most expensive city, we are actually better off in Singapore, we pay much lower taxes as well.

2.2K per month vs 450 per week? I don't see much difference. Btw, how big is your cousin house in Chatswood?

1 bedroom flat. He works in Vodafone and walks to office. Yeah, exactly my point, not much difference in rent. Considering Singapore, less land and high population density blah blah, here the rent should be much higher than Sydney.

[ecureilx]

1 bedroom flat. He works in Vodafone and walks to office. Yeah, exactly my point, not much difference in rent. Considering Singapore, less land and high population density blah blah, here the rent should be much higher than Sydney.

if your wish is for HDB rental to go up, it may happen soon with newer laws restricting rental to foreigners ...

why not compare condo rental in SG vs Sydney ...

[Wd40]

I am comparing with Sydney apartments, they dont have swimming pool and other amenities.