Debated in Parliament on 4 Oct 2023.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for National Development from July 2022 to date (a) how many requests has HDB received for priority allocation of new HDB flats; (b) how many of such appeals have been acceded to; and (c) what are the main reasons for acceding to those appeals.
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) allocates Build-To-Order (BTO) flats through a computerised balloting system. The ballot system is designed to allocate flats efficiently while ensuring fairness to all flat applicants.
HDB also provides additional support to households with more pressing housing needs. For example, eligible married couples and parents with young children will receive three ballot chances when they apply under the First-Timer (Parents and Married Couples) applicant category. Priority schemes, such as the Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/Widowed Parents) and the Senior Priority Scheme, also provide support to different buyer groups.
As such, HDB accedes to requests for priority flat allocation on an exceptional basis and only to home seekers who face very extenuating circumstances and require special assistance. From July 2022 to August 2023, HDB received about 8,400 appeals for priority flat allocation. After carefully assessing each household’s unique circumstances and finances, HDB acceded to about 130 appeals, most of which involved home seekers who faced severe financial hardship and had no other housing options.
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