Debated in Parliament on 6 Jul 2023.
Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for National Development (a) how quickly do HDB officers contact a public rental flat tenant who is in arrears; and (b) when a tenant dies or relocates, how many months does it take before a new tenant moves into the flat.
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) takes a compassionate approach towards public rental tenants in arrears. When tenants default on their rents, HDB will send SMS and letter reminders in the first two months and encourage tenants to approach HDB if they face difficulties paying their rent. From the third month onwards, HDB officers will reach out to tenants through other channels, such as phone calls and house visits, to better understand their individual circumstances.
The time taken for a vacated rental flat to be tenanted again varies, starting from two months. It depends on the extent of sprucing up works required, the demand for rental flats in that location and whether it has been set aside for tenants affected by redevelopment of existing rental blocks. Flats set aside for tenants affected by redevelopment will be vacant for a longer period, as HDB sets aside these flats in advance so that affected tenants can move in once they are ready.
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