SHAH ALAM, Nov 3 — Young couples struggling to afford their first home can turn to Selangor's Smart Sewa Scheme, which offers below-market rentals and refunds of up to 30 per cent of rental payments to help them save towards homeownership.
Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS) acting executive director Mohd Hafiz Hassan said the scheme serves as a bridge for those who are not yet financially able to purchase a home.
He said young couples, new families and low- and middle-income households were among the groups best suited to the scheme, which was introduced in 2017.
Under the scheme, tenants can receive a refund equivalent to 30 per cent of their rental payments, subject to certain conditions, which can be used as savings, including towards a house down payment.
"This allows young couples and families who cannot yet afford to buy a home to secure accommodation while giving them time to stabilise their finances before moving towards homeownership," he told Media Selangor.
Mohd Hafiz explained that monthly rental rates under the scheme range from RM450 to RM1,300, depending on the unit and project, with a maximum tenancy period of five years.
"If they (young couples) cannot afford to buy a house, we have a special programme called the Smart Sewa Scheme. Those who cannot afford to purchase a home can rent one first.
"The maximum rental period is five years. During that time, we hope tenants will be able to strengthen their financial position and eventually afford to buy a home," he said.
He explained that those aged between 18 and 35 were among the groups showing the greatest interest in the scheme.
As of August, 1,326 housing units had been made available under the scheme, with 935 tenants benefiting from the initiative so far.
Under the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2), the state aims to increase the number of units to 3,000 by 2030 to assist those who have yet to qualify for housing financing.
A portion of the rental payments is retained by LPHS before being refunded to tenants to help them make a down payment on a home.
