Housing & estates — Topics

13 Apr 2015

Housing and Development (Amendment) Bill

The Housing and Development (Amendment) Bill grants HDB officers powers to enter flats without a warrant for urgent repairs in cases of imminent danger to public health or safety, and with a Court warrant for serious issues like persistent ceiling leaks, after a 24-hour notice and exhausting engagement efforts.
It introduces stricter penalties for unauthorised renovations, including higher fines and potential jail terms, to deter structural compromises, and enhances investigation powers for lease infringements like illegal subletting, allowing evidence collection and witness statements.
The amendments include safeguards such as requiring HDB officers to show identification, having at least one officer present during entry, and establishing protocols for harassment or misuse, while addressing concerns about notice periods and potential abuse.

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13 Apr 2015

New Requirement in Building Code for Minimum Clearance along Corridors

The revised Building Code requiring a 1.5-metre minimum corridor clearance applies to new buildings and existing buildings undergoing major retrofitting works with plans submitted from 1 April 2014.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force guidelines still require a minimum 1.2-metre clearance for fire safety, and Town Councils must comply with both BCA and SCDF requirements.
Town Councils do not need two sets of by-laws; they can adjust their by-laws to meet both sets of requirements, and residents are encouraged to keep corridors clear of obstructions.

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13 Apr 2015

Take-up Rate for Home Protection Scheme for HDB Flats

HDB flat owners using CPF to service loans must take up HPS unless they have alternative mortgage reducing insurance, with 43,610 allowed to opt out; those not using CPF can voluntarily opt in, with 142,366 having done so.
The Ministry is studying whether to make HPS compulsory for all flat buyers servicing loans, following concerns that owners might drop coverage after opting out, leaving families unprotected.
HDB actively promotes HPS benefits at purchase and distributes booklets, with plans to improve awareness and coverage in collaboration with the CPF Board.
HPS provides grace periods and reminders for premium payments, with coverage status included in annual CPF statements to alert owners of any lapses.
A member highlighted a case where a deceased flat owner’s family was unprotected, urging compulsory HPS for CPF users to ensure continuous coverage for families with outstanding loans.

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13 Apr 2015

Planning of Childcare Places in New HDB Estates

Dr Lee Bee Wah questioned how the Ministry determines the number of childcare places in new HDB precincts and whether current planning parameters are sufficient, citing long queues in Nee Soon South.
The Minister of State clarified that the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) plans the number and size of childcare centres based on projected demand, while HDB sets aside space and works with agencies to construct them.
Dr Lee expressed surprise at this division of responsibility and argued that the current allocation of about 100 places per 1,000-unit BTO is insufficient, urging a review of planning parameters.
The Minister of State assured that HDB works closely with ECDA to anticipate demand and accommodate requests for more facilities, noting ongoing and planned centres in Nee Soon South.
Another MP suggested that for in-fill BTO projects, HDB and ECDA should consider demand from existing neighbourhoods to compensate for any gaps in childcare facilities.

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13 Apr 2015

Criteria for Selecting HDB Blocks for Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme

The Minister for National Development outlined three criteria for selecting HDB blocks for the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS): availability of suitable rehousing sites to preserve community ties, economic viability considering redevelopment potential and acquisition costs, and availability of financial resources.
In response to a query about polling residents in older flats, the Minister explained that while community input is valued, SERS decisions are primarily top-down and depend on meeting the three criteria, including financial viability, which may not align with resident preferences.
The Minister confirmed that residents affected by SERS would receive priority in selecting replacement flats near their original homes, addressing concerns about rehousing continuity.

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13 Apr 2015

Applications for BTO and Sale of Balance Flats under Married Child Priority Scheme

Ms Tin Pei Ling asked for statistics on BTO and SBF applications under the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) from 2011 to 2014, success rates, average unsuccessful applicants, plans to help couples live near parents, and whether flat supply meets demand.
The Minister replied that MCPS applications were about 14,000 in 2011, 18,100 in 2012, 15,700 in 2013, and 8,400 in the first nine months of 2014, with success rates averaging 59% and increasing success in non-mature estates.
The average number of unsuccessful MCPS applicants per exercise dropped from 724 in 2011 to 578 in 2014, with BTO applications falling from 511 to 241.
Over 100,000 new BTO flats were offered from 2011 to 2014, clearing the backlog for first-timers, and MCPS was converted to a quota-based priority scheme in November 2014 to better support families staying near parents.
Additional support includes the Higher-Tier CPF Housing Grant for resale flats to help couples stay near or with their parents.

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12 Mar 2015

Housing and Development (Amendment) Bill

The Housing and Development (Amendment) Bill was introduced to amend the Housing and Development Act (Chapter 129 of the 2004 Revised Edition).
The bill was presented by the Minister of State for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee, and read for the First Time in Parliament.
The bill was scheduled for a Second Reading at the next available sitting of Parliament and was to be printed.

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11 Mar 2015

Committee of Supply – Head T (Ministry of National Development)

The debate focused on housing support for vulnerable groups, with the Minister outlining measures for divorcees and low-income families, including priority for BTO flats, public rental options, and the P4650 pilot program, while noting concerns about families who sell flats unwisely.
Environmental issues were addressed, including responses to fish farm losses from plankton blooms, plans to improve aquaculture resilience, and efforts to maintain Singapore's green cover through tree conservation and skyrise greenery initiatives.
Administrative matters were discussed, such as the allocation of Community Improvement Projects Committee funds through Citizen Consultative Committees rather than Town Councils, and disagreements over project management in specific constituencies.

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10 Mar 2015

Committee of Supply – Head T (Ministry of National Development)

MPs raised concerns about housing affordability, questioning how public housing prices have changed for different buyer groups and flat types, and what further measures will ensure affordability for Singaporeans.
Several members highlighted specific challenges faced by singles, divorcees, and middle-income couples in accessing HDB flats, calling for longer lease tenures, higher quotas, and income ceiling adjustments.
The Minister emphasized that HDB flats remain affordable, with prices for new BTO flats often below market expectations, and outlined initiatives like enhanced lease buyback schemes and new housing projects to meet diverse needs.
The Municipal Services Office (MSO) was discussed as a coordinating body for inter-agency municipal issues, with the launch of the OneService app to streamline feedback and improve service delivery.
Proposals were made to address heavy vehicle parking shortages, construction industry productivity, and the revitalization of commercial shops in HDB estates, with commitments to review and enhance existing programs.

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5 Mar 2015

Town Council Managing Agents and Rates Charged Per Residential and Commercial Unit

Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for National Development to provide details on managing agents and their rates per residential and commercial unit for Town Councils from 2011 to 2013, as well as the contracted rates for the former Aljunied Town Council from 2010 to 2012.
The Ministry of National Development noted that Town Councils are required to appoint managing agents via open tender, but pre-2014 contracts were not submitted until a 2015 request; the submitted data showed most contracts charge a single rate, except for FMSS’s 2011 contract with AHPETC, which had three separate cost components.
The Ministry could not compute an effective rate for AHPETC from its submission alone, but based on the Auditor-General’s report, FMSS’s 2011 contract had an effective rate of $7.87 per unit without distinguishing residential and commercial, and its fees were 20% higher than CPG’s 2010 rates, leading to an estimated $1.6 million annual overpayment by 2014.

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23 Feb 2015

Renting Out Void Decks in Potong Pasir and Lorong 8 Toa Payoh for Commercial Use

Mrs Lina Chiam asked the Minister for National Development about the number of void decks rented out for commercial use in Potong Pasir and Lorong 8 Toa Payoh since 2011 and the total rental collected in the last four years.
The Minister of State for National Development replied that 101 commercial premises are rented out across 12 void decks and three standalone blocks, with no new premises developed since 2011, and average rents range from $37 to $52 per square metre.
Mrs Lina Chiam further asked for the percentage of void deck space used for commercial purposes in the two constituencies.
The Minister of State provided that in Potong Pasir, commercial space occupies 1.1% of void deck space, social and communal facilities take 10.4%, and 88% remains available for residents’ use.
The debate concluded with the suspension of the sitting and subsequent resumption.

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23 Feb 2015

Completion of Lift Upgrading Programme in Potong Pasir

Mrs Lina Chiam inquired about the status of the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) in Potong Pasir, specifically the number of precincts still undergoing work, reasons for delays, and the timeframe for remaining installations.
The Minister of State responded that all new lifts in the six precincts of Potong Pasir were completed and operational by the end of 2014, with remaining work focused on upgrading existing lifts and shutting down obsolete ones, to be finished by the end of the current year.
Mrs Lina Chiam sought clarification on the timeframe and reasons for any delays, emphasizing that many flats still appeared to be undergoing LUP work.
The Minister of State clarified there was no delay, reiterating that all new lifts were already installed and operational, and that the remaining work on existing lifts would be completed within the year.

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23 Feb 2015

Beneficiaries of and Amount Spent on Neighbourhood Renewal Programme

Mrs Lina Chiam asked for the number of constituencies that benefited from HDB’s Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) from 2007–2014, which constituencies benefited after 2011, and the total amount disbursed during that period.
The Minister of State replied that 100 NRP projects were selected, benefiting 22 constituencies, with 41 projects chosen since 2011 and at least one project per Town Council selected after 2011; about $150 million was disbursed from FY2007 to FY2013.
The Minister clarified that NRP projects are selected at the Town Council level rather than by constituency, with a two-stage consultation process and a typical timeframe of four to five years from nomination to completion.
Mrs Lina Chiam asked additional questions about the first constituency chosen in 2007, the committee deciding eligibility, why Toa Payoh Lorong 8 was prioritised, and the public consultation timeframe, with the Minister noting the programme focuses on blocks built before December 1989 that haven’t undergone other upgrading programmes.
The Minister reiterated that all Town Councils have nominated projects since 2011 and at least one project per Town Council has been selected, but the list of specific constituencies after 2011 is not detailed at the constituency level.

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13 Feb 2015

Auditor-General's Report on the Audit of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC)

The Minister for Education accused the Workers’ Party-run AHPETC of betraying public trust by failing to act in residents’ interests, lacking transparency, and mismanaging funds, including underpaying its Sinking Fund by $12 million and overpaying its Managing Agent by an estimated $1.6 million annually for four years.
WP leaders countered that the Managing Agent was selected through an open tender after due diligence, explaining higher costs were due to operational factors, and that Sinking Fund transfers were delayed due to accounting complexities but have since been addressed, though they admitted to late account submissions.
The debate centered on accountability, with PAP ministers emphasizing that WP must take responsibility, conduct a forensic audit, and recover overpayments, while WP accused the government of politicizing the issue and defending its own actions.
The Motion, noting serious governance lapses in AHPETC, was passed with 85 votes in favor, calling for higher standards across all Town Councils and stronger legislative accountability.

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13 Feb 2015

Auditor-General's Report on the Audit of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC)

The debate centered on the Auditor-General's findings of serious deficiencies in AHPETC's financial management, including weak accounting systems, unreliable accounts, lack of oversight on related-party transactions, and risks to public funds.
Ministers and PAP MPs criticized AHPETC for systemic governance failures, citing examples like overpayments to its managing agent and improper use of sinking funds, while WP MPs acknowledged lapses but attributed some to transition challenges and defended their actions.
The motion called for higher standards across all town councils and strengthened legislation to ensure accountability, with WP supporting it while disputing some allegations and committing to improve processes.

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13 Feb 2015

Private Property Owners who Make Appeals to Buy HDB Flats

In 2013 and 2014, 1,587 Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents appealed to buy an HDB flat while owning private property, with 486 owning local and 1,101 owning overseas properties, and 606 appeals were approved, all from Citizens.
HDB evaluates each appeal on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as financial hardship or extenuating circumstances like the private property undergoing mortgage sale.
The Minister clarified that the criteria for approval are individualized, ensuring that specific situations are assessed for each applicant.

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13 Feb 2015

BTO Applicants who Give Up Allocated Flats Before Key Collection

Minister of State Desmond Lee reported that from 2010 to 2014, about 10,000 out of 113,000 BTO flat applicants (9%) did not complete their purchase, and 460 appeals for delayed key collection were received, peaking in 2014.
The appeals for delayed key collection increased yearly, with about 180 from first-timer applicants, and 4- to 5-room flat types having more first-timer appeals.
HDB assesses each applicant’s circumstances individually and offers assistance for financial hardship, as noted in the response to concerns about affordability and key collection delays.

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12 Feb 2015

Applications for Built-To-Order and Rental Flats

Khaw Boon Wan stated that HDB received 17,900 BTO applications in 2008, rising to 55,000 by 2012 before dropping to 34,200 in 2014, with supply increased from 2011 to clear queues so most first-timer families now succeed on their first try.
For rental flats, an average of 9,000 applications were received annually from 2008 to 2014, with about one-third successful as HDB prioritizes those in genuine need.
Applications for rental flats are assessed on needs, with many rejected due to family support or ability to buy a flat, though flexibility is applied in hardship cases.

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12 Feb 2015

Number of HDB Flats and Private Condominium Units Built in 2013 and 2014

In 2013 and 2014, a total of 31,644 private residential units were completed.
Over the same period, 44,488 public housing units were completed, with 43,307 for sale and 1,181 for rental.

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12 Feb 2015

Municipal Development Plan for Bukit Batok

David Ong inquired about the municipal development plan for Bukit Batok and the surveys ensuring adequate infrastructure, amenities, and traffic flow amid new residential projects.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that HDB plans towns comprehensively, working with agencies to provide facilities and land for commercial, educational, and community uses, with new BTO projects launched in Bukit Batok.
He noted that infrastructure like MRT stations, a bus interchange, and road networks are in place, with a traffic consultant assessing road capacity to prevent gridlock as the population grows.

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