First-timer HDB BTO Applicants Who Were Unsuccessful for More than Four Times and Subsequently Bought a Resale Flat

Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for National Development (a) from 2017 to 2022, how many first-timer HDB BTO applicants have been unsuccessful in their flat application and have tried more than four times; and (b) what percentage of these unsuccessful applicants turned to the resale market for their HDB flats.

Between 2017 and 2021, about 2,200 first-timer (FT) families were unsuccessful after more than four tries for a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat. Ninety-nine percent of such FT families were applying for BTO flats in the mature estates. Application data for 2022 BTO exercises are not yet available as flat booking exercises are still ongoing. Among the 2,200 FT families, about 14% of them subsequently bought a resale flat.

To improve their chances of securing a BTO flat, applicants are encouraged to apply for flats in the non-mature estates (NMEs). FT families who have been unsuccessful in two or more attempts for a BTO flat in the NMEs receive an additional ballot chance for each subsequent NME BTO application. As a result, virtually all FT families have been given a chance to select a flat within their first three tries for an NME BTO flat, and almost 90% have been given a chance to select a flat within their first two tries for an NME BTO flat.

Applicants are also encouraged to apply for a flat in a town, or a flat type that has relatively lower application rate. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) regularly updates the application rates during the application period of a BTO exercise and this information is displayed on HDB InfoWEB for applicants' reference. In the recent November 2022 BTO sales exercise, there were projects where application rates for certain flat types were as low as 1.7 and below. Applicants in these projects stand a good chance of securing their flats.