Housing & estates — Topics

14 Nov 2012

HDB Concessionary Loans for Second-time Applicants

Lim Biow Chuan raised concerns about applicants being denied HDB loans after taking two previous loans, querying the numbers, policy review, and financial cost to the government.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan stated that 2% of recent HDB loan applicants were rejected due to having two prior loans, explaining the policy aims to manage subsidies and that exceptions are considered case-by-case.
Lim Biow Chuan highlighted specific cases like family transfers or divorce where the two-loan rule causes hardship, urging a review to help more residents own homes.
Liang Eng Hwa noted that some applicants cannot secure bank loans due to income levels and struggle to afford market rentals, suggesting a need for better support for home ownership.
Khaw Boon Wan emphasized balancing home ownership with prudence to avoid sub-prime risks, while noting a 36% success rate for appeals on mortgage matters.

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12 Nov 2012

Non-Resident Population in Singapore

Mrs Lina Chiam queried the breakdown of Singapore's non-resident population as of 31 December 2011 by category (dependents, students, foreign manpower) and their housing types.
Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin stated the non-resident population was 1.46 million, with foreign students at 6% and dependents at 15%.
He noted work pass holders (excluding domestic workers) comprised 66% of non-residents, with 21% in HDB flats, 15% in private housing, and the rest in dormitories or other housing.

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12 Nov 2012

Proportion of Students in Top Primary Schools Living in HDB Flats

Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Education about the proportion of students in six top primary schools who live in HDB flats and how this compares with the national average and neighbourhood schools.
Heng Swee Keat replied that around 40% of students in the named top primary schools live in HDB flats, reflecting the residential mix near those schools.
The national average shows about 80% of all primary school students reside in HDB flats.
The Ministry of Education stated it does not have a definition for "neighbourhood schools," so no comparison with such schools could be provided.

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12 Nov 2012

Private Property Ownership by Foreigners and Singapore Permanent Residents

Mary Liew asked the Minister for National Development about the number of foreigners and Permanent Residents who own more than one private property in Singapore and their market share.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that about 5,000 Permanent Residents and 2,000 foreigners own more than one private residential property.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that these owners collectively hold about 6% of Singapore's private housing stock.
The response clarified the scale of foreign and Permanent Resident ownership in the private property market.
The data highlights a relatively small share of private properties owned by non-citizens and Permanent Residents.

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12 Nov 2012

HDB/Executive Condominium Owners and Occupants Owning Other Properties

Mrs Lina Chiam asked for the numbers and proportions of HDB/Executive Condominium (EC) owners and authorized occupants who own private residential, commercial, or industrial properties in Singapore as of 1 October 2012.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan provided specific figures, such as 47,118 HDB/EC owners (3.1%) owning private residential properties and 15,077 HDB/EC authorized occupants (1.5%) owning such properties, along with numbers for commercial and industrial properties.
The data for ECs pertains only to La Casa EC, which is still within the 5-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), during which owners and occupants cannot own private residential properties but may own commercial or industrial ones.
After the MOP, the Ministry of National Development does not track the number of EC owners and authorized occupants who own other types of properties.

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12 Nov 2012

Shutting Down Lift Shafts

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked about the rationale for shutting down existing lifts after new ones are installed and why some precincts are unaffected.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that the total number of lifts after the Lift Upgrading Programme will not be less than before, considering safety, service levels, and block design.
Optimizing lift numbers reduces maintenance and replacement costs for Town Councils, leading to lower service and conservancy charges for residents.

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12 Nov 2012

Waiting Time for HDB Rental Flats

The HDB Public Rental Scheme currently has 49,300 units, up from 45,500 two years ago, with plans to increase to 57,000 by 2015.
The average waiting time for a rental flat is about six months, though it can be longer for applicants insisting on specific locations or blocks.
The government is building more rental flats but emphasizes strict assessments to ensure they serve the vulnerable, while discouraging Singaporeans from selling their HDB flats expecting subsidized rental options.

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12 Nov 2012

Property Price Differences Based on Proximity To MRT Stations

The Minister explained that new private housing in the Central Region costs 44% more per square foot than similar housing outside the Central Region, while new 3-room public housing flats in the Central Region are about 40% more expensive than comparable flats elsewhere.
Housing projects, both public and private, located near MRT stations typically command a price premium, though the exact amount varies depending on factors like specific location and nearby amenities such as schools and shopping centres.
The response highlighted that price differences are influenced by multiple variables beyond just MRT proximity, including the broader regional context (central versus suburban) and the presence of additional facilities.

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12 Nov 2012

Change in Property Buyers' Profiles

Gan Thiam Poh questioned the effectiveness of property cooling measures introduced in January 2011, asking for data on purchases by Singaporeans, permanent residents, and foreigners, and whether the measures have stabilized prices.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that private housing purchases totaled about 19,000 in 1H2011, 17,000 in 2H2011, and 22,000 in 1H2012, with cooling measures targeting speculation and complementing a supply ramp-up of 94,000 units over five years.
He noted the measures have reduced price growth from 18% in 2010 to 1% in 2012, lowered foreign buyer proportion from 18% to 6%, and kept sub-sales at 6%, though prices remain firm due to global liquidity and low interest rates.
Khaw emphasized the situation is dynamic, and the government remains vigilant and ready to act if needed to restore equilibrium in the housing market.

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12 Nov 2012

HDB Loan Criteria for Second-Time Applicants

Tin Pei Ling asked about the number of second-time BTO applicants, how many are divorced single parents, and whether HDB should exclude single parents with custody from being classified as second-timers.
Khaw Boon Wan stated there are 16,900 second-time BTO applicants this year, with 1,400 (8%) being divorced single parents with children.
He explained that the second-timer status ensures priority for first-time applicants but acknowledged financial difficulties faced by divorced single parents.
HDB offers support such as budget-friendly flat options, resale levy incorporation, extended loans, interim rental housing, or public rental flats for those unable to purchase a home.

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12 Nov 2012

Home Ownership Plus Education (HOPE) Beneficiaries

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap inquired about the number of families benefiting from the HOPE scheme since its start, the ethnic breakdown of beneficiaries, and the scheme’s relevance given Singapore’s declining population.
Chan Chun Sing stated that 2,674 families were on HOPE as of September 2012, with ethnic breakdown based on mothers’ ethnicity: 45% Malay, 33% Chinese, 15% Indian, and others.
He noted that HOPE is a voluntary scheme for young low-income families, providing cash grants, housing, training, education support, and mentoring.
Chan Chun Sing mentioned that the Ministry of Social and Family Development will review the scheme to consider refinements or improvements.

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12 Nov 2012

Housing Grants for First-Time Flat Buyers

Intan Azura Mokhtar asked whether HDB could provide higher housing grants for first-time flat buyers of both resale and BTO flats, and if the grant could be a percentage of the purchase price rather than a fixed amount.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that housing subsidies are regularly reviewed to ensure affordability, with recent adjustments including the Special CPF Housing Grant.
For first-time buyers, grants can reach up to $60,000 for BTO flats and $80,000 for resale flats, in addition to market discounts for BTO buyers.
Khaw noted that pegging grants to a percentage of purchase price would be inequitable, as higher-income buyers of expensive flats would receive more subsidies than lower-income buyers of cheaper flats.
The government's approach remains to provide substantial, fixed grants to support first-time buyers while maintaining equity across different income groups and flat types.

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12 Nov 2012

Leasing of Toa Payoh Flats to House Foreign Workers

Mrs Lina Chiam questioned why HDB leased Blocks 32 and 33 in Toa Payoh to Resorts World Sentosa for foreign workers at below market rates and why the flats were not used for needy Singaporeans under the Interim Housing Scheme.
Khaw Boon Wan clarified that Block 31 remains for needy Singaporeans, while Blocks 32 and 33 are vacated SERS flats leased to EM Services at market rates, with RWS subleasing them as a commercial arrangement without rental concessions.
HDB's lease with EM Services ends in December 2012, after which the flats will be demolished for redevelopment.

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12 Nov 2012

Take-Up Rates of Different Flat Types in BTO Exercises

In 2010 and 2011, BTO take-up rates were above 90% for all flat types except 2-room flats, which had lower rates of 29% and 44% respectively.
Resale transactions in 2010 and 2011 were dominated by 3-room and 4-room flats, each comprising about 30% and 36% of total transactions in both years.
HDB no longer builds Executive Flats and has consolidated the small number of repossessed units with 5-room flats to provide more choices to applicants.

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12 Nov 2012

Approval for Use of Community Space

Mrs Lina Chiam inquired about the roles of Town Councils and MPs in approving the use of community spaces like void decks by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs), questioning the process and recent changes in Potong Pasir.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary clarified that HDB allocates void deck spaces to VWOs based on need, with input from the supervising Ministry, Town Council, and Constituency Office, ensuring alignment with community plans.
Mrs Lina Chiam expressed concerns about resident consultation and transparency, emphasizing that residents should be informed and engaged when void decks are allocated to VWOs.
The response assured that the process is not unique to Potong Pasir and involves engagement, but decisions may prioritize the larger community's needs, such as elderly care services.
Sitoh Yih Pin noted that the VWO had been operating in Potong Pasir for 10 years prior, countering the suggestion that it was a recent change.

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16 Oct 2012

Speculative Element in Prices of HDB Shophouses

Ong Teng Koon raised concerns about potential speculation, citizenship eligibility, and stricter rules for HDB shophouse purchases.
Khaw Boon Wan noted that 95% of HDB shophouses are owned by Singaporeans or Singaporean companies, with low resale activity indicating minimal speculation.
He added that HDB shophouses are sold without restrictions like private properties and that imposing stricter citizenship criteria is not tenable.

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16 Oct 2012

Building of HDB Executive Maisonettes

Gan Thiam Poh asked if HDB will consider building executive maisonettes again.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that HDB stopped building executive maisonettes in 1995 when Executive Condominiums were introduced.
He explained that Executive Condominiums offer a wider range of unit sizes and design features, including duplexes that serve a similar purpose to maisonettes.
He noted that Executive Condominiums come with initial eligibility restrictions and grants to keep prices affordable, eventually becoming unrestricted private property.
He concluded that Executive Condominiums better meet diverse housing needs, so there is no need to reintroduce executive maisonettes.

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16 Oct 2012

Enforcement of Guidelines on Use of HDB Corridor Space

Town Councils are empowered to create by-laws regulating HDB common spaces like lift lobbies, typically aligned with SCDF guidelines requiring a 1.2m clear passage for emergencies and prohibiting combustible items.
The Minister emphasized that resident compliance is crucial to prevent fire hazards and ensure safe evacuation, with Town Councils also discouraging clutter to avoid disputes and maintain a pleasant living environment.
While the primary focus is on safety and evacuation, the guidelines and by-laws also consider the practical need for wider passageways to accommodate residents waiting for lifts.

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16 Oct 2012

Singles Buying Resale HDB Flats

Singles have been able to buy resale HDB flats since 1990-1991 under two schemes, with annual purchases averaging 4,600 flats between 1992 and 2011.
The number of singles buying resale flats has fallen, from an average of 5,600 a year in 2002-2006 to 4,300 a year in 2007-2011.
Singles have been allowed to buy any flat type since 2004, with 3-room flats remaining the most popular, though purchases of 4-room and 5-room flats have increased.

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16 Oct 2012

Public Consultation Process for Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act

The public consultation on the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA) in 2012 had 1,325 participants, with 350 in online surveys and 975 in face-to-face interviews.
Since 2005, the number of strata-titled developments increased by 28%, from 2,271 to 2,916, while managing agent companies grew by about 18% from 2011 to 113 companies in 2012.
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is conducting education campaigns, including a guidebook and training courses, to increase awareness of the BMSMA among residents and management personnel.

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