Housing & estates — Topics

8 May 2017

Safeguarding Minimum Void Deck Space for Community Use

Liang Eng Hwa asked whether HDB will safeguard a minimum void deck space per precinct for community use and to fund amenities like Senior Activity Centres and Residents' Committees.
Lawrence Wong stated that void decks are common spaces enhanced since 2014 with "community living rooms" and pavilions for social activities, and Social Communal Facilities are integrated into new housing developments with funding from relevant ministries.
HDB safeguards space in void decks or car parks for future community facilities when needs are not yet established, and collaborates with agencies to find additional space in community areas if needed.

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8 May 2017

Non-citizen Quota for Subletting of Flats

Melvin Yong inquired about the number of HDB subletting applications rejected due to the non-citizen quota over the past two years and whether concessions exist for long-term non-citizen tenants.
Lawrence Wong explained that the non-citizen quota aims to prevent foreigner enclaves and preserve Singaporean character in HDB heartlands, with no new or renewal subletting allowed once a block's quota is reached.
HDB allows flexibility for renewals in limited cases, including for non-citizen tenants who have stayed in the same flat for many years, even when the quota is reached.

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8 May 2017

Schemes to Help Owners of Older HDB Flats to Sell their Homes

Foo Mee Har asked whether HDB will introduce schemes to help owners of older flats who struggle to sell due to buyers’ concerns about short remaining leases.
Lawrence Wong noted that older flats are still sellable, with demand from elderly right-sizers, families not ready for longer leases, and buyers attracted to central locations and established amenities.
He highlighted alternative monetisation options for elderly owners, such as subletting spare bedrooms or entire flats, or applying for the Lease Buyback Scheme.

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8 May 2017

Number of Electoral Divisions Taken Care of by Each HDB Branch

The average number of electoral divisions each HDB Branch is responsible for is about three, with no one-to-one mapping of electoral boundaries to HDB Branch locations.
HDB manages and reallocates manpower resources across its 21 Branches based on the number and profile of HDB developments, and has implemented self-help and online options to optimize workload.
HDB will continue to review resources, streamline processes, and leverage technology to enhance operational efficiency and ensure timely service delivery amid increasing development projects.

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8 May 2017

Applications for Extension of Lease Period for Residential Properties

Gan Thiam Poh asked for statistics on applications for extending residential leases to 99 years, how many had 50 or 60 years remaining, and how land rent is computed and reviewed.
K Shanmugam stated that land reverts to the government upon lease expiry but renewals are considered case-by-case to support planning and economic goals.
Since 2008, seven residential developments had their leases renewed to 99 years to enable redevelopment and land intensification.
If a renewal is granted, owners must pay an upfront lease renewal premium assessed based on prevailing market value by the Chief Valuer's Office.
The response did not directly provide the statistics or details on rent computation and periodic review requested in parts (a), (b), and (c) of the question.

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8 May 2017

Lease Extension under Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme

Leon Perera asked about extending leases for families under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) when their new BTO flats are due within three to six months of the lease expiry.
Lawrence Wong explained that PPHS provides interim rental housing and HDB can extend tenancies if the site is not due for immediate clearance, but extensions beyond the site expiry date are not possible due to redevelopment plans.
Families are informed of site availability periods and advised to choose flats aligning with their new flat timelines, with HDB sending reminders ahead of expiry.
HDB assists affected families by helping them transfer to other available PPHS flats when their current site expires.

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8 May 2017

Applications for Shelter for the Homeless

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the most common reason for rejecting shelter applications and the waiting time for placement, to which the Ministry explained that rejections occur when applicants have alternative accommodation options or are not suitable due to health conditions, and that waiting times are typically three days to a week with same-day admissions possible for urgent cases.
The Ministry outlined that homeless individuals and families are assisted through coordination between government agencies and social service centers, with transitional shelters admitting those who have exhausted all other housing options and crisis shelters temporarily housing women and children when interim accommodation is unavailable.
The Ministry highlighted that the public can help by offering assistance to those in need or referring them to hotlines and social service offices, while case workers continue to support families in securing long-term housing and improving their situations.

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8 May 2017

Change in Proportion of HDB Flats, Private Flats and Landed Properties

Between 2006 and 2016, the proportion of HDB flats fell from 78% to 73% of total dwelling units, while private properties rose from 22% to 27%.
The government projects the HDB proportion to remain stable at around 72% in 2020, though long-term trends are uncertain.
The Minister clarified that while dwelling unit proportions have shifted, 80% of households still live in public housing, and the commitment is to provide stable and affordable HDB flats.

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8 May 2017

Reasons Given by Applicants for Rental Flats

An average of 3,000 households successfully apply for HDB rental flats annually, with about 2,600 moving in and the rest finding alternative housing.
Reasons for applying include financial inability, divorce, job loss, or medical issues, but a precise breakdown is not available due to overlapping factors.
Around 1,600 households per year return their rental flats after achieving home ownership.
Currently, about 56,000 rental flats exist out of one million HDB flats.
HDB previously allowed tenants to buy their rental flats but now encourages them to move to other flats to preserve rental stock for others.

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8 May 2017

BTO Flat Buyers Delaying Collection of Keys to Sell Existing Property

Between 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, less than 2% of BTO flat buyers invited to collect keys requested a deferment due to difficulties selling their existing property, with no observed increase in such cases.
Of those who requested a deferment, 45 eventually cancelled their BTO flat bookings and forfeited their deposits, primarily due to changes in financial circumstances or personal reasons.
HDB already exercises flexibility by granting time extensions on a case-by-case basis, and for buyers facing financial hardship, the forfeiture may be waived.
The Minister advised flat buyers to plan prudently, considering market conditions and using HDB’s updates on completion dates to time the sale of their existing flat.
A Member of Parliament suggested that HDB could exercise more leniency and improve credit modelling to help buyers manage risks in a slow resale market.

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4 Apr 2017

Five- and Ten-year-old HDB Flats Sold in Last Five Years

Minister Lawrence Wong stated that nearly 33,000 HDB flats aged five to ten years were sold in the open market between 2012 and 2016, averaging about 6,600 flats per year.
Sellers of resale flats are not required to disclose their reasons for sale to HDB, so specific reasons and breakdowns by reason are not available.
The Minister's response addressed the number of flats sold but could not provide data on the reasons for sales or a count per reason due to the lack of disclosure requirement.

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4 Apr 2017

Investment in Infrastructure to Support Social and Economic Development as Population Ages

The government has adopted a whole-of-government approach through the Action Plan for Successful Ageing to support Singaporeans in an ageing society, overseen by a ministerial committee.
Investments include continuing education and training infrastructure, SkillsFuture initiatives, and the WorkPro scheme to keep older workers employable and support mid-career changes.
Infrastructure and programs for seniors’ social needs are being expanded, such as HDB’s housing options, Active Ageing Hubs, and enhanced home safety measures.
Healthcare and aged care infrastructure has been growing since 2012, with additional hospital beds, nursing home places, and community care facilities.
Efforts are also being made to make housing, transport, parks, and buildings senior-friendly, including barrier-free designs, accessibility funds, and therapeutic gardens.

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4 Apr 2017

Large Air-con Ledges and Balconies at Non-Landed Residential Properties

Ang Wei Neng questioned whether URA is reviewing rules that allow developers to build large air-con ledges and balconies without counting them as gross floor area, and if developers must state such outdoor spaces in floor plans during launches.
The Minister clarified that URA exempts narrow air-con ledges from gross floor area to encourage neat housing of condensers, but balconies are included in gross floor area and subject to development charges, with full pricing and area breakdowns already mandatory for buyers before purchase.
Ang Wei Neng highlighted concerns about the Balcony Bonus Gross Floor Area scheme leading to excessively large balconies that cause buyer dissatisfaction, urging regulation of balcony sizes.
The Minister emphasized that the bonus scheme aims to enhance building aesthetics and landscape, and stressed the importance of clear disclosure of balcony and usable space to help buyers make informed decisions.

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4 Apr 2017

Incidence of Cracking or Popping of Floor Tiles in HDB Flats in Woodlands Town

Mr Vikram Nair inquired about the number and percentage of flats in Woodlands Town with cracked or popping floor tiles, their causes, and whether HDB will assist affected owners in the future.
The Senior Minister of State for National Development stated that HDB does not track this data for flats built more than 15 years ago, so no figures are available.
Mr Nair suggested that over 50% of units may be affected due to workmanship issues and proposed a one-off grant for residents to replace tiles themselves to prevent recurring problems.
The Minister noted that HDB already provides free tile replacement for cases reported within 15 years, beyond the standard Defects Liability Period, and acknowledged the suggestion for future consideration.

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3 Apr 2017

Applications from Single Unwed Mothers Aged 35 and Below to Purchase or Rent an HDB Flat

Louis Ng asked for data on how many single unwed mothers under 35 applied to purchase or rent an HDB flat with their children over the past three years and how many were approved.
Lawrence Wong reported that from 2014 to 2016, about 100 single unwed parents under 35 applied to buy a flat and about 300 applied to rent one, both with their children and without other family members.
HDB approved about one-fifth of these applications, with the remainder able to live with parents, afford other housing, or already be co-owners of a flat.

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3 Apr 2017

HDB Flats Reaching Minimum Occupation Period of Five Years from 2017 to 2020

Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for National Development about the number of HDB flats reaching their five-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) in 2017 and the following three years.
Lawrence Wong stated that approximately 12,000 flats bought directly from HDB would fulfill their five-year MOP in 2017.
Another 56,000 HDB flats purchased directly from HDB will meet their MOP from 2018 to 2020.
For flats bought from the resale market, about 22,000 will complete their MOP in 2017.
An additional 56,000 resale flats will satisfy their MOP between 2018 and 2020.

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3 Apr 2017

Criteria for Classification of HDB Estates as Mature or Non-mature

HDB classifies estates as "mature" if there is limited land available for public housing development, and "non-mature" if there is more land available for new development.
The classification is used to guide applicants in Build-To-Order and Sale of Balance Flats exercises, and these classifications are disclosed in HDB press releases and e-sales brochures.
The criteria are publicly stated in official HDB communications to ensure transparency for potential flat applicants.

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3 Apr 2017

Inspections Conducted on Accommodation for Foreign Workers

From 2014 to 2016, the Ministry of Manpower conducted nearly 4,000 foreign worker housing inspections, with the annual number increasing from 700 to 1,800 to cover both large dormitories and suspected poor-condition housing.
Most infringements involved private residential units housing multiple workers, while larger purpose-built and factory-converted dormitories were generally in better condition; the number of public complaints about housing fell from about 600 in 2014 to 500 in 2016.
For about 4,000 employers and dormitory operators found in violation, MOM issued warnings, composition fines, or prosecuted them, and required immediate rectification such as housing improvements or relocation of workers to approved accommodation.

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3 Apr 2017

Contractors Penalised for Poor Quality of Home Improvement Programme Works

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked how many contractors were penalised for poor quality works under the Home Improvement Programme over the past three years.
HDB sets quality standards and reports that at least 90% of residents are satisfied with HIP works.
In the past three years, 19 contractors were penalised with demerit points.
Five of these contractors faced administrative charges, and three were restricted from tendering for HDB projects for a period.

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3 Apr 2017

Community Improvement Projects Committee Funding for Town Councils

Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for National Development about the amount of Community Improvement Projects Committee funding provided to each Town Council through Citizens' Consultative Committees in the 2015/2016 financial year.
He also inquired whether there is a standardised way for Town Councils to present CIPC funding under Town Improvement and Project Funds in their gazetted annual estimates.
The Minister explained that CIPC funding supports HDB estate projects like covered walkways and playgrounds, with funds disbursed through CCCs based on HDB residential units, and CCCs can prioritize projects locally.
The Minister noted that Town Councils may work with CCCs on projects but there is no prescribed standard for presenting CIPC funding in Town Council annual estimates.

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