Lessons from Experiences of Residents Living in Blocks with Rental and Sold Units and Efforts at Integration

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development (a) what are the lessons learnt from the experiences of residents currently living in integrated blocks with both rental and sold units in promoting integration; (b) what steps have been or will be taken to promote integration between residents of purchased and rental flats living in the same blocks; and (c) what are the Ministry's plans in respect of existing blocks of exclusively rental flats.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) has commissioned a study on the lived experience of residents in blocks which have both BTO flats and rental flats on the same floor. The study is still ongoing, but the early findings are that:

(a) residents are more likely to form ties with neighbours living on the same floor than with others living further away, and building sold and rental flats on the same floors has brought about interactions and ties between owners and tenants;

(b) block designs that minimised visible differences between sold and rental flats better facilitated interactions and ties;

(c) shared amenities, such as playgrounds, are important for social interactions; and

(d) social activities organised by the community are also important, and a critical factor is to treat everyone as equal participants and not differentiate between tenants and owners.

The findings thus far are encouraging and reaffirm that mixed blocks are important for inclusive public housing. We have launched a total of 20 mixed blocks, of which three are completed and 17 are under construction.

The findings will also inform the design of future mixed blocks. For example, we plan to continue building mixed blocks with sold and rental flats on the same floor, and minimise differences in the external appearance of units. That said, blocks with only rental flats still have a place in our housing estates, as they facilitate social service delivery to rental households.