Housing & estates — Topics

16 Sep 2013

Private Estates Selected for Estate Upgrading Programme

Dr. Lee Bee Wah asked about the average number of private estates selected annually for the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) and whether the pace can be increased.
Since its launch in 2000, the EUP has selected 54 private estates across eight batches, benefiting over 41,000 households, with each batch averaging six to seven estates.
The Ministry will soon call for nominations for Batch 9 but notes that community engagement, inter-agency coordination, and resource availability mean the pace must balance speed with practical constraints.

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16 Sep 2013

Fire Safety Plans for High-rise and High-density Public Housing

Mr Alex Yam Ziming asked whether the Ministry has considered fire safety plans for high-rise and high-density public housing to ensure residents are aware of evacuation routes and fire prevention.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that SCDF stipulates fire safety standards under the Fire Code, requiring alternate escape routes, refuge floors, and fire lifts for high-rise buildings, with all HDB blocks complying with these standards.
He noted that evacuation routes and staircases are displayed at lift lobbies, and SCDF and PA conduct regular awareness programmes, including Emergency Preparedness Day drills and the Community Emergency Preparedness Programme.
SCDF also provides a Civil Defence Emergency Handbook in multiple languages, available in hardcopy and online, to guide residents during emergencies.

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16 Sep 2013

Take-Up Rate for Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme

Mr Ang Wei Neng asked about the number of first-time married applicants and those with children who used the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), as well as the availability of rental flats versus applicants.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that 327 married couples had taken up PPHS rental flats, with 225 of them having children.
Over 800 vacant flats were available for rental under the scheme, with enhancements planned to support more families awaiting their new homes.

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16 Sep 2013

HDB Estates Selected for Home Improvement Programme (HIP)

Since 2007, the Home Improvement Programme has selected 119 projects, averaging 17 per year, covering over 100,000 flats.
About 207 projects involving 200,000 flats are currently awaiting HIP selection.
The government has increased the pace to 28 projects annually and plans to further raise it to 35 projects per year if budget allows.

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16 Sep 2013

Impact of New BTO Flats in Yishun Area on Public Transport Loads

Dr. Lee Bee Wah inquired about the expected increase in public transport commuters due to new BTO flats in Yishun over the next four years.
Lui Tuck Yew confirmed a 20% rise in Yishun's public housing units from 2013 to 2016, with corresponding increases in rail and bus ridership and plans to enhance transport capacity.
Measures include adding 41 new trains by 2016, upgrading the North-South Line signaling to reduce wait times, and planning the Thomson Line for future expansion.
The LTA will also introduce new bus services or reroute existing ones as needed to maintain adequate bus capacity in the area.

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16 Sep 2013

Waiting List for HDB Subsidised Rental Flats

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for National Development about the current number of applicants on the waiting list for HDB subsidised rental flats and when the list will be cleared.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that there are currently 1,900 registered applicants on the waiting list for public rental flats.
The average waiting time for allocation is 7.5 months, but actual times vary based on zone, flat type choice, and ethnic integration policy quotas.

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16 Sep 2013

Plans for Raising Total Fertility Rate

Teo Chee Hean explained that for Singapore to reach a total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1, each married citizen woman would need to have an average of 2.43 children, noting that married women aged 40-49 in 2012 had 1.99 children on average.
The government has enhanced the Marriage & Parenthood Package to support families by improving housing access, defraying medical and child-raising costs, and introducing paternity and shared parental leave.
Initiatives like the Social Development Network and the $40 million Family Matters! Initiative aim to encourage social interaction, family life education, and a pro-family culture.
Over 80% of Singaporeans aspire to marry and have two or more children, but trends show more people staying single and marrying later, impacting fertility rates.
The government is encouraging everyone to foster a culture that prioritizes marriage and parenthood as important life goals.

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16 Sep 2013

Flexibility in Ethnic Integration Policy for HDB Flats

The Minister of State for National Development affirmed that the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) remains necessary to prevent ethnic enclaves and promote racial harmony in HDB estates, noting it is applied uniformly and affects only 11% of neighbourhoods, with most sellers able to find buyers from eligible ethnic groups.
In response to concerns about sellers struggling to secure buyers due to EIP limits, the Minister stated that HDB reviews appeal cases on a case-by-case basis, but observed that most flat sales are influenced more by pricing and flat conditions than by EIP alone.
The Minister clarified that extending EIP to private housing is not under the Government’s purview, as private estates are managed by management councils, but expressed hope that the ethnic mix would naturally occur there as well.

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16 Sep 2013

HDB Rental Flat Applicants

The Minister reported that 48,200 households occupy HDB rental flats with an average stay of 11 years, and plans are in place to increase the total rental flat supply to 60,000 by 2017 to meet demand.
HDB provides financial grants and priority for rental tenants to purchase new 2-room flats, and since 2011, over 13,700 applications were rejected as they did not meet eligibility criteria or could afford alternatives.
Currently, 1,900 applicants are on the waiting list, with about 1,300 flats available for allocation, and the waiting time has been reduced from 21 to 7.5 months despite challenges like Ethnic Integration Policy quotas.
HDB collaborates with social agencies to address underlying socio-economic issues, such as unemployment and family conflicts, and uses financial counselling to help low-income families manage affordability.
The government uses a broad eligibility framework for rental flats, considering household income and family size, and aims to allocate flats expeditiously to the truly needy.

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16 Sep 2013

Housing Options for Divorcees with No Children

Dr Chia Shi-Lu inquired about expanding housing options for divorcees without children and shortening the debarment period for elderly, low-income divorcees.
The Minister of State outlined that such divorcees are treated as singles, with options including buying resale flats, Studio Apartments, or applying for 2-room BTO flats if they meet first-timer criteria, along with grants and rental schemes.
The debarment period for buying resale flats or Studio Apartments is waived, while for other cases it was reduced to three years, with flexibility for extenuating circumstances.
Dr Chia asked if these divorcees could be considered first-timers for BTO flats and if the rental debarment period could be further lowered for low-income cases.
The Minister clarified that first-timer status depends on previous housing subsidies, and rental debarment flexibility is considered case-by-case, especially for those without child custody.

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16 Sep 2013

Remuneration of Senior Management Staff at Town Councils

Mrs Lina Chiam asked about the average salary of the most senior management staff in Town Councils managed by MPs from the Government party.
The Senior Minister of State for National Development stated that his ministry does not regulate the employment terms of General Managers and does not collect data on their salaries.
Mrs Lina Chiam followed up by asking whether all General Managers or senior management officers are affiliated with a political party.
The Senior Minister of State responded that Town Councils typically appoint managing agents through open tender, and it is the selected agent who appoints their staff, which is done in the public interest.

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12 Aug 2013

Enhancement of Barrier-free Facilities on Roads and in Estates

Mr Png Eng Huat asked whether the Ministry will work with LTA and HDB to enhance barrier-free facilities in light of Singapore's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Government affirmed its commitment to creating an accessible environment through the Enabling Masterplan, citing ongoing improvements such as ramps, tactile paving, accessible public transport, and Universal Design in HDB flats.
MSF highlighted the $40-million Accessibility Fund and the ongoing review of the Accessibility Code to expand accessibility features for the disabled, elderly, and families.
The Minister stated that more can be done and MSF will continue collaborating with other agencies, businesses, and the community to address accessibility needs.

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12 Aug 2013

Implementation of Capital Gains Tax for Foreigners Purchasing Private Housing in Singapore

Mary Liew proposed a capital gains tax on foreigners buying private housing to curb rising prices.
Khaw Boon Wan highlighted that cooling measures have slowed price growth and reduced foreign buying, with prices rising only 1.6% in the first half of the year and foreign purchases dropping from 18% to 8% of total transactions.
The Minister stated the Government has no plans to introduce a capital gains tax but will continue monitoring the market to ensure affordability for Singapore Citizens.

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12 Aug 2013

Number of HDB Flats Owned and Sold by Permanent Residents

Minister Khaw Boon Wan stated that as of 30 June 2013, 51,000 HDB flats (6% of sold flats) were fully owned by Singapore Permanent Residents.
In 2013, 130 HDB flats owned by PRs were sold within three years of purchase, 320 within four years, and 490 within five years.
The Minimum Occupation Period for PR families buying unsubsidised resale flats was increased from one to three years in March 2010, and from three to five years in August 2010.
All HDB flat owners, including PRs, must complete the Minimum Occupation Period before selling their flats.
The information was provided in response to a parliamentary question by MP Gan Thiam Poh.

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12 Aug 2013

Installation of CCTVs in HDB Blocks and Multi-storey Car Parks

Since May 2012, Police Cameras have been installed at 350 HDB blocks and 28 multi-storey car parks, with plans to add another 650 blocks and car parks by the end of the year, including 10 blocks and 1 car park in Yew Tee, as part of the Community Policing System to be completed by 2016.
The cameras, placed at key ingress and egress points like staircase landings and lift lobbies, have helped solve 18 crime cases and provided investigative leads in 109 cases, with early signs of effectiveness in enhancing crime fighting and public safety.
Residents have reported an improved sense of safety and security, and the Police will continue evaluating the programme as it expands across Singapore.

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12 Aug 2013

Repair of Ceiling Leaks in HDB Flats

Baey Yam Keng asked about the number of uncooperative upper-floor HDB owners from 2008 to 2012, whether they should bear full repair costs, and if deadlines or reduced subsidies for delays should be introduced.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that ceiling leak repairs are a joint responsibility under HDB leases, with the Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme covering 50% of costs and the rest shared equally between upper and lower owners.
He noted that 99% of upper-floor owners cooperate, and HDB initiates legal action against the remaining 1%, averaging 100 cases per year over the last five years.
Khaw stated that HDB regularly reviews its policies and will consider Baey’s suggestions for potential updates to ensure resident needs are met.

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12 Aug 2013

Applications and Cancellations under HDB's Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme

In 2012, HDB received 19,600 flat applications under the Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme, with a consistent 2% annual cancellation rate over the past five years due to relationship breakdowns, and no rise in such cancellations was noted.
Applicants who cancel their flat booking must forfeit their Option Fee or 5% of the purchase price, which is lower than private developers' fees and intended to ensure seriousness in purchasing while prioritizing those with urgent housing needs.
The Ministry considers appeals for partial waiver of forfeiture fees on a case-by-case basis to assist couples facing relationship breakdowns.

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12 Aug 2013

Extension of Public Rental Scheme to 3-Room Flats

Lim Biow Chuan asked if HDB would allow larger families to rent 3-room flats, what plans exist for existing 3-room rental stock, and whether affordable rental options would be provided for those ineligible for the Public Rental Scheme.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that 3-room flats have not been rented out for over 30 years to promote home ownership, with focus on subsidised 1- and 2-room rentals for lower-income families to help them save and eventually buy homes.
HDB continues to assist the remaining 600 households in 3-room rental flats to upgrade or move to smaller units, while converting vacant 3-room flats for other uses or smaller rentals.
Eligibility criteria are in place to target the truly needy, but HDB may exercise flexibility for genuine hardship cases even if criteria are not fully met.
The government aims to balance housing affordability, home ownership goals, and support for the needy without expanding 3-room rentals broadly.

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12 Aug 2013

Employment Conditions for Additional CPF Housing Grant

Png Eng Huat queried whether National Service counts toward the 12-month continuous employment requirement for the Additional CPF Housing Grant to assist NSmen in buying their first BTO flat.
Khaw Boon Wan stated the grant requires steady employment to ensure housing loan repayment capability, and National Service is not a salaried job so it does not meet the employment criteria.
MINDEF is exploring ways to further recognize the contributions of National Servicemen.

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12 Aug 2013

Revising Income Ceiling for Purchase of HDB Flats

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar proposed revising the income ceiling for HDB flat purchases from gross household income to a per capita income limit to account for the higher expenses of married couples with children.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that the $10,000 ceiling ensures housing subsidies are prioritized for those in need, covering 80% of households.
He added that the government is open to reviewing cases of households exceeding the income ceiling if they face significant financial commitments such as medical or household expenses.

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