These days, it appears that almost every private housing project is an en-bloc potential or in talks over an en-bloc deal.

These days, it appears that almost every private housing project is an en-bloc potential or in talks over an en-bloc deal.

Recently, some residents have been locked in battles over pricing.

The residents of Watten estate condo have a different headache. They can’t agree who should sell it for them.

So now, there are two sales committee, and two property firms trying to sell the 24-year-old estate in Bukit Timah.

This is likely to be a first, said industry watchers we spoke to.

The race is now for the pre-requisite 80 percent mandate.

One group, represented by DTZ Debenham Tie Leung, has proposed a straight cash payout.

The other group, represented by Dennis Wee Realty, is proposing a hybrid deal with the option of cash or a replacement unit from the potential developer.

There are 104 units in this freehold estate, with sizes ranging from 1,001sqft for the three-bedroom units to 2,500sqft for the townhouses.

A 1,001sqft unit there was sold for $640,000 last August, according to a URA caveat search.

In January this year, a similiar-sized unit was sold for $738,000 - a $100,000 jump in just five months.

The tussle between the two sales committee has made some of the residents there see red.

A resident, who wanted to be known only as Mr Chew, said he voted for the en-bloc a few months ago and is still awaiting the outcome.

The 60-year-old retiree bought his 2,500 sqft place about 10 years ago for about $1 million.

He said: ‘The first sales committee was set up earlier this year, and because of some conflict, the committee split up.’

Now, there are two committees and two agencies trying to get a piece of the en-bloc pie. It is a strange situation to be in and it’s quite confusing.’

Mr Chew voted for the en-bloc because of the payout and also to avoid paying more to upkeep his unit, such as the repairing of leaks and repainting of the place.

He signed with the first sales committee.

Other residents The New Paper spoke to also questioned the need for two different groups.

A committee was set up last year to put the place up for sale.

SPLIT UP

It split up soon after when they couldn’t agree on the sales method.

The two different camps started talking to residents in January this year.

So far, about 65 percent of the residents have signed the collective sales agreement (CSA) with the first committee, said DTZ.

The legal requirement is that, for properties more than 10 years old, 80 percent of the owners must sign the CSA before the sale can go through.

A member of this committee, which declined to be named, said: ‘This situation has indeed created some confusion among the residents.

‘ Our reasoning is that we get cash from the en-bloc and, if we’re interested, we can always buy a unit from the developer next time.

‘There’s no need to ask for a replacement unit now. We’d rather the developer give us a straight payout.’

Some of the residents we spoke to were unaware of the existence of two committees.

Others were confused as to who were doing what when The New Paper approached them.

All of those we spoke to didn’t want to be named, because they didn’t want to be seen as taking sides in this conflict.

There were three previous attempts to put the estate up for sale, dating back to the 1990s. But they all failed because they couldn’t get the necessary numbers.

The other sales committee, with en-bloc lawyer SKPhang of Phang & Co to aid them, was also set up earlier this year.

Dr Phang explained: ‘Owners who opt for the exchange would be allocated new units of the same sizes as their existing units. The value of the new units at current market value exceeds their share of the sale proceeds in a cash