Sandwiched between towering HDB blocks, a cluster of landed properties, and the Punggol River, is Lorong Buangkok, Singapore’s longest-standing kampong. Known for being a gateway into the past, Lorong Buangkok is a rustic and tranquil neighbourhood. It defies the norms of Singapore’s high-cost living – especially with its incredibly low rental rates that have stood the test of time – and inflation.
Here’s what we know – property-wise – about Singapore’s last kampong and its homes.
Where is Lorong Buangkok?
Image credit: Pohboon Yeo via Google
If you happen to live in one of the HDB blocks of Buangkok Crescent, then you might have caught a glimpse of a plot of green nearby peppered with low-lying zinc roofs that have worn the test of time.
As its name suggests, Lorong Buangkok is situated within the estate of Buangkok. It occupies 12,248 square metres of land – that’s approximately 1.2 hectares, which is bigger than the site of some new HDB BTO projects. But who owns this land? According to official sources, the entire plot belongs to the late Sng Teow Koon, a businessman who made his money from the trade of Chinese medicine in Singapore.
Image credit: @eddielimcs, @akigonringon10969
However, the land didn’t always resemble the kampung it does now. The area was merely a swamp when the late Mr Sng purchased it in 1956. Nevertheless, its value quickly increased once the land was sectioned and rented out to families to live on. All of the original tenants built their homes by themselves. There was no contractors or IDs to do all of the heavy lifting for them.
If you take a trek or cycle through the area, you’ll find that only a smattering of homes remain. Yet, all these homes are true markers of a time in Singapore’s history that has long passed.
How much is the land estimated to be worth?
Image adapted from: Google Maps
The most interesting thing to note about Lorong Buangkok is perhaps the fact that the entire plot of land is privately owned by the Sng family. As reported in The Straits Times some 16 years ago, the entire plot was valued at $33M.
Lorong Buangkok sits on freehold land. In other words, this means that, unlike other residential property areas with 999-year and 99-year leaseholds, Lorong Buangkok’s land can not be reclaimed by the government or a land developer at the end of its tenure.
Image adapted from: Property Guru
The mortgage bankers that the Uchify team reached out to for an updated valuation weren’t able to provide one. However, we did some very rough calculations. If we look at landed property listings of the adjacent Gerald Drive and nearby Mugliston Park, the psf price for 999-year leasehold homes there that have roughly the same land area as some of the kampung homes ranges from $1,200-$2,300.
Image adapted from: Property Guru
Assuming the lowest psf price for Lorong Buangkok, the property value of the entire kampung would amount to an estimated $158.2M.This is nearly 5 times the price it would have sold at in 2007.
This amount is really something to marvel at. However, Ms Sng Mui Hong, the landlady, isn’t interested in trading in her family’s quaint history for a slice of the Good Class Bungalow pie. Selling their family’s land wasn’t on the cards for the Sng family 1.5 decades ago. Seeing as the kampong still remains standing, that probably won’t change anytime soon.
How much is the rental at Lorong Buangkok?
While some Singaporean landlords were licking their lips at the inflated rental rates thanks to the surge in demand for rental properties in recent years, Ms Sng could easily bag the award for being Singapore’s best landlady.
Despite the ever-increasing cost of living in Singapore, the rental she charges her fellow tenants in the kampong has barely increased since the early beginnings of the kampong. Her tenants were said to be forking out between $6.50-$30 monthly back in 2007.
Image adapted from: Property Guru
The latest rental rates in the kampung haven’t been reported. However, if Ms Sng’s kind-hearted stance towards her tenants is anything to go by, rental prices would not be drastically different from what they were 1.5 decades ago.
Image adapted from: Property Guru
As a stark contrast, rental rates of the neighbouring Buangkok Crescent stand at $4,000/month and above for a 5-room flat. In addition, rental rates for landed semi-detached houses along Eaton Park are priced upwards of $7,999/month. Granted, staying in a worn kampong house doesn’t offer as many conveniences as that of a new HDB flat or landed house, but Lorong Buangkok’s rental is pretty unbeatable.
Image credit: @icha_yeol
While all this makes living in Lorong Buangkok sounds incredibly appealing, there’s a catch. It’s not easy to rent a house in Lorong Buangkok. New tenants will need to have a connection to the current or previous tenants.
Living in Lorong Buangkok, Singapore’s last kampong
@uchify.sg Explore SG’s last kampung with me 🔗link in bio🔗 #sghome #lorongbuangkok #tiktoksg #exploresg
Lorong Buangkok retains much of the kampong spirit. The residents here continue to look out for one another and grow their own produce in their backyards. And what makes the kampong so attractive is its proximity to urbanisation. There are numerous amenities such as Buangkok Square Mall and public transportation options within walking distance.
Those interested to explore the kampong a little more can embark on a VR tour, courtesy of the Singapore Institute of Technology.
Image credit: Singapore Institute of Technology
You might not be able to rent a kampong house today, but you still can still soak up all vibes in a 2-hour tour of the area via tour operators such as Let’s Go Tour Singapore. In the meantime, hopefully, mainland Singapore’s last kampong will be conserved for a long while to come – for its simple way of life, rich heritage, and representation of Singapore’s history.
Read more of our articles here:
- Woodleigh HDB Neighbourhood Guide
- Ridout Road Has Bungalows Bigger Than Raffles Hotel With Estimated $50K/Month Rent
- Newton Condo The Atelier Has Up To $400K Off Its Last 9 Units
- 5 Safest HDB estates
Cover image adapted from: @to_o_mazzsi, Pohboon Yeo via Google
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