Housing Options for Divorcees with No Children

Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether more housing options may be made available to divorcees who have no children living with them; and (b) whether the debarment period may be shortened or lifted for elderly, low-income divorcees who may have more limited housing options.

Mdm Speaker, HDB treats divorcees who have no children in their custody as singles. There are a few housing options available to them.

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They can buy a new HDB flat if they form a family nucleus with their parents. Those who prefer to live independently or with another single under the Joint Singles Scheme, can purchase a resale flat if they are 35 years or older. If they are 55 years or older, they can buy a Studio Apartment. If they are HDB first-timers and earn not more than $5,000 per month, they can now also apply for a 2-room Build-to-Order (BTO) flat in a non-mature estate.

Eligible divorcees can get housing grants and a HDB loan to help in their flat purchases. As for those who have no other housing options or family support, they can then apply for a public rental flat with another single.

A divorcee who wants to buy a resale flat or Studio Apartment is not affected by any debarment period. For others, the debarment period was reduced from five years to three years in March this year. If there are extenuating circumstances, HDB is prepared to exercise flexibility. Such flexibility is exercised on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances of each case.

I would like to thank the Minister of State for his very comprehensive reply on the options that are available to this group of Singaporeans. I have two supplementary questions. The first is considering the new BTO for Singles Scheme, could I clarify whether this particular group of single divorcees with no custody of their children can be considered also as first-timers or will they only be considered as second-timers? The second question is with regard to the debarment period for rental housing. For some of them who may not be prepared or be in a state to apply to buy a house – whether it is resale or BTO – whether the debarment period for rental housing for this particular group of low-income or single divorcees can be further lowered.

Mdm Speaker, for the first question, on whether we regard divorcees as first- or second-timer, it really depends on whether they have been tagged as having taken the first subsidy on their matrimonial home. Sometimes, they may have purchased a home but not tagged as a residential occupier or as a first-timer. As long as they are first-timers at the point of divorce, then they are eligible to purchase the 2-room BTO flats that we just allowed for singles, and they have to meet the eligibility criteria like age and income.

Secondly, on the issue of whether the debarment period for divorcees for rental flats can be reduced or waived, it really depends first on whether they

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have custody of the children. We are more sympathetic towards to divorcees who do have custody of the children and when they form a family nucleus. They are bound by the demand debarment, but we have seen cases that require some further assistance and we are prepared to look at those. If they do not have custody of the children, we treat them as singles and we hope that they can also try to look for housing options on their own. If they are above 35 years of age, they can always apply for rental flats under the Joint Singles Scheme.