Debated in Parliament on 3 Mar 2014.
Mr David Ong asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the rationale for ensuring that a co-tenant of a subsidised HDB rental flat must be aged 35 years old and above; and (b) whether the HDB will consider relaxing such requirements where the co-tenants are young children or adults under the age of 18 years who live with and are financially dependent on a low-income single parent who is the main tenant of the subsidised rental flat.
Mdm Speaker, our public housing policy is pro-family, with priority allocation of HDB flats accorded to families. The minimum age of 35 is applied to all singles who wish to rent or buy a HDB flat, so as to encourage family formation.
A widowed or divorced parent with children under custody, care and control, can rent a HDB flat as a family nucleus. An unmarried parent is considered a single and will need to pair up with another eligible single to rent under the Joint Singles Scheme (JSS).
On a case-by-case basis, HDB may exercise flexibility in allocating a flat to an unmarried parent and a child.
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