THE state government has introduced several additional schemes to help Selangor residents buy a property; including programmes for newlyweds and retired police officers.

“We have set aside RM7mil for the Smart Saver scheme to help newlyweds save more money.

“Under the scheme, a couple will be allowed to rent a state-owned house for a maximum of five years. The state government will then return 30% of their total rental paid, which the couple can then use to buy a home under the Rumah Selangorku scheme.

“The Rumah Selangorku affordable housing scheme has a 30% quota for Selangor civil servants. Effective Sept 1, a 10% quota will also be allocated for retired or veteran police and army officers who do not own any property in Selangor,” said Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

He added that from next year, the existing Smart Selangor First Home Deposit scheme will be expanded to include Type B and Type C houses under Rumah Selangorku.

“Under the present scheme, the state will pay the 10% deposit for Type A homes, capped at a price of RM42,000 per unit. This scheme will soon be expanded to include Type B and Type C houses, with prices ranging from RM100,000 to RM200,000.

“It will only be given to qualified applicants, who are expected to return the deposit later,” said Azmin.

He said all these efforts fall under the state’s “house owning democracy” concept to encourage property ownership among Selangor folk, particularly for first-time housebuyers from the low- and middle-income groups.

“We will continue setting a ceiling price of RM250,000 per unit for affordable housing, despite a recent Federal Government circular to all states that the ceiling price be capped at RM300,000.

“But I urge Bank Negara to review its guidelines on household debt to give first-time buyers the opportunity to own a house,” he said.

He was speaking after launching the latest Rumah Selangorku project in Taman Putra Impiana, Puchong.

Built by Acmar Group subsidiary Usahasama Utama Sdn Bhd, the 18th scheme offers 380 units on a 2.9ha site.

There are 328 apartment units under the scheme, with sizes ranging from 70sq m to 84sq m (750 sq ft to 900 sq ft) and prices ranging from RM100,000 to RM180,000 per unit.

There are also 52 townhouse units under the same scheme. They are priced at RM250,000 each for a 93sq m (1,000sq ft) unit.

Selangor Housing and Real Property Board (LPHS) executive director Norzaton Aini Mohd Kassim said application for Rumah Selangorku was based on a merit system.

“The computer will determine the applicant’s qualification using a points system,” she said, disclosing that there were presently 70,000 applicants on the waiting list.

“Higher points are given, for example, if the person has a lot of dependants or if he has all the necessary supporting documents,” she added.

Also present at the launch were Selangor Housing Committee chairman Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad, state financial officer Datuk Noordin Sulaiman, Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd representative Mohd Yusof Joned, Sepang Municipal Council deputy president Muhammad Hafiz Shaari, Acmar Group chairman Datuk Abdul Samad Maharudin, managing director Datuk Steven Tee and executive director Johnson Tee.