Debated in Parliament on 2 Jul 2024.
Ms Ng Ling Ling asked the Minister for National Development what options can HDB provide for the immediate or interim housing needs of (a) middle-aged Singaporeans who need to obtain a HDB flat after the sale of their flat due to a divorce; and (b) retirees who have run out of their savings due to unforeseen hardships and need to sell their HDB flats to downgrade but cannot afford the open market resale flats.
Ms Ng Ling Ling asked the Minister for National Development what is the estimated waiting time for a successful ballot for a Built-To-Order or Sale-of-Balance HDB flat in non-mature estates for second or third-time HDB applicants who are (a) middle-aged Singaporeans who need to obtain a HDB flat after the sale of their flat due to a divorce; and (b) retirees who have run out of their savings due to unforeseen hardships and need to downgrade.
Divorcees can apply for a new flat once they have obtained an Interim Judgment of divorce and have settled the ancillary matters regarding their matrimonial property and children. Divorced parents with care and control of a child can qualify for the same housing access and subsidies as other families, including the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme, if they require interim housing while waiting for their Build-to-Order (BTO) flats to be completed. Second-timers buying 2-room Flexi or 3-room BTO flats in non-mature estates are also accorded priority under the Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/Widowed Parents). In the last five years, second-timer divorcees who booked the Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats in non-mature estates were generally able to do so within two tries.
Seniors who need to monetise their homes to supplement their retirement income have several options. First, those who prefer to remain in their existing flat can tap on the Lease Buyback Scheme to sell the tail-end lease of their flat to HDB and join the Central Provident Fund (CPF) LIFE. In turn, they will receive a cash bonus and a stream of income in their retirement years. They can also seek HDB's approval to rent out spare bedrooms in their flat.
Second, seniors who wish to sell their existing flat and right-size to a smaller new or resale flat can benefit from the Silver Housing Bonus of up to $30,000. They can consider buying a new 2-room Flexi flat on a shorter lease or a Community Care Apartment (CCA), which are also available to seniors who have already bought two subsidised flats in the past. In the last five years, second- and nth-timer seniors who booked 2-room Flexi flats or CCAs in non-mature estates were able to do so within 1.5 tries on average.
Divorcees and seniors who require assistance with their housing options may approach HDB.
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