SHAH ALAM : Recipients of the state government's Skim CERIA no longer need to pay a deposit before repairs and upgrades on their flats can begin.
State executive councillor for Housing, Building Management and Squatters, Iskandar Abdul Samad, said repairs could begin as long as the management committees, joint management bodies or residents' associations signed agreements to pay the amount owed.
"Previously, they had to pay five per cent advance on their share of 20 per cent for repairing low-cost flats," he said, adding that the state had decided to relax the scheme's criteria during an exco meeting that was held recently.
The residents could later pay the balance 15 per cent with a monthly maximum repayment of RM50 over a number of months or years, while the state bears 80 per cent of the costs. The flats' committees or associations can also choose to repay their debt using their sinking funds.
An exco meeting will be held to discuss whether the same terms can be applied to medium-cost homes.
Currently, residents have to pay a five per cent advance on their share of 40 per cent of the cost of repairs. The government will bear the rest of the cost. The monthly repayment in this instance is up to RM100 per person.
The recent exco meeting also decided that the state Housing Board and the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) would co-manage the fund. Previously, it was solely handled by PKNS.
Iskandar added that contractors and developers outside PKNS would also be allowed to bid for contracts through open tenders.
"We would begin advertising for tenders for phase three in a month's time," he said, adding that it was targeting to complete repair and upgrade works in 100 homes by year-end.
The scheme is open to all low-and medium-cost flats and apartments in Selangor. Skim Mesra has so far completed works on 17 flats under Phase 1 of the project and 34 under Phase 2. In Phase 3, it would be giving a facelift to 70 flats and apartments.
"The flats are selected based on our own site visits and through the recommendation of assemblymen. However, those who want to apply to the scheme can write to us," he said, adding that based on the state's observation, most rundown flats were in Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya - Veena Babulal, NST.