Housing & estates

David Hoe asked if the Government would consider reintroducing larger-format HDB flats for families with young children to promote marriage and parenthood, and what alternatives are being explored for larger families' space needs. Chee Hong Tat responded that the HDB currently offers 5-room and 3Gen flats designed for larger families and allows for the combination of smaller flats through the HDB Conversion Scheme. Additionally, the Third Child Priority Scheme allocates priority for flats to families with three or more children. The Ministry of National Development will continue to assess housing policies to address the needs of various family sizes in Singapore.

He Ting Ru asked about guidelines for social service agencies collaborating with town councils to enhance community reach and awareness of their services. Masagos Zulkifli clarified that town councils focus on managing common property in HDB estates and that while social service agencies can work with them on estate management, outreach and service delivery fall outside the town councils' mandate.

Yip Hon Weng questioned the rationale for treating secondhand smoke, classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, as a neighbourly dispute rather than a public health issue and asked if penalties would be introduced for smokers affecting neighbouring units. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the Ministry takes secondhand smoke seriously, having prohibited it in over 49,000 public places, including common areas of residential buildings. She noted that regulating smoking in private residential spaces requires careful consideration, and a community-based approach is being adopted to promote social responsibility among smokers. The Ministry will continue to monitor best practices and review policies based on public feedback.

Gho Sze Kee asked the Minister for National Development about the extent of discriminatory practices in the private residential rental market, particularly regarding the exclusion of Singaporeans. Chee Hong Tat responded that the Council for Estate Agencies requires property agents to adhere to guidelines promoting sensitivity to Singapore's multicultural society and prohibits discriminatory advertising. Agents violating these guidelines may face enforcement actions, and the public can file complaints regarding discriminatory practices.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye raised concerns about the structural load capacity of existing HDB multi-storey car parks in light of the increasing adoption of heavier electric vehicles. He asked about the design live load standards for HDB car parks, their safety margins given current and projected vehicle weights, and differences in load capacity between older and newer car parks. Chee Hong Tat confirmed that HDB car parks adhere to building codes for vehicles weighing up to 2,000 kg and that current structures remain within safety margins. Agencies are reviewing potential enhancements for car parks to better accommodate heavier vehicles in the future.

Liang Eng Hwa questioned the National Development Minister about the number of homeowners who have taken three or more HDB loans, the appeals for a third loan in the past three years, and whether HDB considers prior loan tenures in granting a third loan. Chee Hong Tat responded that HDB typically offers two loans, but can provide a third on a case-by-case basis for those in urgent need. Currently, approximately 11,000 households are servicing their third or subsequent loan, with about 1,000 households appealing each year for a third loan. HDB does not factor in the tenures of previous loans in its evaluation for further loans, focusing instead on the household's credit standing and ability to make payments.

Diana Pang Li Yen expressed support for the Budget, highlighting its "we first" approach that prioritizes shared responsibilities and community support amid global uncertainty. She raised concerns regarding transitional risks for families moving from public rental to home ownership under ComLink+, advocating for a safer, more predictable transition process. Pang addressed the need for greater engagement from small and micro-SMEs in policy feedback to ensure their needs are adequately represented, despite their lack of mandatory association membership. She criticized the abrupt changes to the Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) and questioned the lack of transitional safeguards for buyers who committed to vehicle purchases before the policy announcement. Pang emphasized the importance of trust and transitional fairness in policy changes to avoid negative impacts on ordinary families.

Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi affirmed that fire safety standards remain adequate despite the temporary increase in occupancy cap for larger private residential estates. The higher occupancy rates apply only to properties of at least 90 square meters, which is comparable to a typical four-room HDB flat. A written correction was issued to clarify the minimum area requirement for these properties. The discussion took place during Question Time on 25 February 2026.

Valerie Lee inquired about the trends in official disputes with the Strata Titles Board and the Commissioner of Buildings from 2021 to 2025, as well as government support for Management Corporation Strata Title councils. Chee Hong Tat reported that applications to the Strata Titles Board have remained stable at around 120 annually. Disputes reported to the Commissioner of Buildings have significantly decreased, from over 3,000 cases in 2021 to under 900 in 2025. The government is reviewing the Building (Strata Management) Act to enhance financial oversight, self-governance, and dispute resolution in strata developments, with further details to be provided later.

Valerie Lee questioned the Minister for National Development regarding appeals from HDB flat owners facing challenges selling their properties due to the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP). Chee Hong Tat emphasized the importance of the EIP for racial harmony and outlined various assistance measures provided by the HDB for affected owners, including extending selling time and waiving EIP limits in exceptional cases. In 2025, HDB received 657 EIP-related appeals and approved 208, with five cases assisted through the buyback program. As of December 2025, HDB owned about 100 units bought back under this assistance, which will be progressively reoffered for sale.

Valerie Lee asked for updates on the Courier Hub Scheme, including the number of applications received, its effectiveness, and the possibility of mandatory compliance for parcel sorting activities in HDB estates. Chee Hong Tat explained that the scheme was launched in September 2024 to improve last-mile delivery efficiency amid growing e-commerce. The scheme now includes 89 multi-storey car parks for courier companies, with 30 applications received so far and reported efficiency gains for faster parcel deliveries. However, there are constraints on the number of car parks available, necessitating prioritization of residents' parking and consideration of noise impacts. The Ministry will continue to monitor and review the scheme and explore additional solutions for parcel sorting.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked about the effectiveness and user experience of the new barrier-free parking system in HDB carparks and how it will be improved for users. Chee Hong Tat responded that HDB is trialing this system in eight car parks, which includes sending pre-enforcement alerts to motorists parked in unauthorized lots, significantly reducing illegal parking by nearly 60%. HDB plans to continue refining the system and exploring other technologies to enhance the parking experience for users.

Elysa Chen asked about the current stock of unselected Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) by flat type and estate, as well as any quarter-on-quarter increase in this stock over the past two years. Chee Hong Tat revealed that there are nearly 900 unselected flats from SBF exercises, primarily consisting of 2-room Flexi and larger flats. He indicated that tracking quarter-on-quarter changes in unselected SBF stock is not meaningful due to three exercises taking place in 2024 and 2025. The take-up rate for flats offered in SBF exercises has remained stable at approximately 90%.

Jessica Tan Soon Neo raised concerns about fire safety and evacuation risks associated with the temporary relaxation of the occupancy cap for private residences, questioning the safeguards in place due to increased occupancy. Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi assured that fire safety standards remain adequate with the higher occupancy cap and outlined that larger properties must register with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to qualify for increased occupancy. He emphasized the role of Management Corporations Strata Title (MCSTs) in monitoring liveability and safety standards within residential estates, alongside public education efforts by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to raise awareness and preparedness among residents.

Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh raised questions about the differentiation of wealth in public versus private housing in measuring household wealth inequality and its impact on economic resilience. Mariam Jaafar inquired about measures to sustain upward mobility for children from lower-income households, referencing findings that a significant portion of these children moved to higher income tiers. The Senior Minister of State for Finance, Jeffrey Siow, addressed ongoing improvements to wealth data measurement and emphasized that the Gini coefficient does not differentiate between asset types or housing ownership in its calculations, as it represents a stock measure rather than liquidity. He outlined various government strategies aimed at supporting lower-income families, enhancing education access, and adapting to technological changes impacting job availability to ensure sustained social mobility. Finally, there was discussion on the balance of property taxation and its progressive nature, with considerations for asset-rich, income-poor seniors, as well as openness to exploring future shifts in tax burdens.

Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for National Development about the current utilization rate of public study spaces near rental estates, including details on user demographics and average usage. Chee Hong Tat responded that the Government offers various study spaces but lacks specific data on their utilization. He also mentioned that lower-income households needing assistance can seek help from Social Service Offices or community charities.

Fadli Fawzi asked the Minister for National Development about the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) regarding participation and average payouts from 2009 to 2025. Chee Hong Tat responded that approximately 16,000 households have participated in LBS, with around 6,000 being single-person households and 7,000 two-person households. Homeowners must retain a lease that lasts until the youngest owner is at least 95 years old, and the payouts vary greatly based on factors like flat type and market conditions. About 90% of participants received between $100,000 and $300,000, with potential cash bonuses for topping up their CPF Retirement Accounts.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked about the timeline for constructing a permanent staircase linking Block 377B Hougang Rivercourt to the nearby carpark, expressing concerns about resident safety and amenity. Chee Hong Tat responded that a temporary metal staircase has been in use since its installation about four to five years ago. The construction of a permanent staircase is scheduled to begin by the end of March 2026 and is expected to be completed by the end of July 2026.

Cai Yinzhou asked for data on HDB public rental households with primary schoolers, including breakdowns by grade levels and average occupancy rates for 1-room and 2-room flats. Chee Hong Tat reported that by the end of 2025, around 5,300 rental households (10%) will have primary school-aged children, with nearly equal distribution among different grade levels. The median occupancy is two for 1-room flats and four for 2-room flats. The Government has implemented initiatives like ComLink+ to support lower-income families and help them eventually buy their own flats.

Gho Sze Kee asked the Minister for National Development about the number of flats sold to HDB under the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) and the average remaining lease portion by flat type. Chee Hong Tat responded that approximately 16,000 households have participated in the LBS since its launch in March 2009. The scheme allows eligible senior homeowners to sell a portion of their lease while retaining enough to ensure housing until at least age 95, with retained lease durations typically ranging from 15 to 35 years, depending on individual circumstances.