Housing & estates

• Patrick Tay Teck Guan inquired about the total number of car-owning households in HDB versus non-HDB categories as of 2025, specifically for those with at least one, two, or three cars.
• Jeffrey Siow provided a breakdown of household car ownership by property type, referencing a table for detailed information.

• Ms. Nadia Ahmad Samdin inquired about the reasons some neighbour disputes are not escalated to the Community Relations Unit (CRU) and the measures in place to inform residents about dispute resolution pathways.
• She also asked if the government plans to implement engineering interventions in new Build-To-Order (BTO) housing designs to reduce inter-floor noise and how current materials compare to global standards for noise insulation.
• Chee Hong Tat referenced a previous response from the Ministry of National Development regarding the criteria for CRU intervention and its effectiveness in resolving neighbourly disputes.

• Mr. Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim proposed differentiated validity periods for the HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) system to better support young couples and lower-income households facing changing market conditions.
• He also suggested enhancing the HFE letter to include personalized calculations and resources to help applicants understand their eligibility and financial commitments.
• Chee Hong Tat explained that the current HFE letter is valid for nine months and provides personalized loan scenarios to aid decision-making, with no plans for differentiated validity periods.
• The HDB offers additional planning tools and a Deferred Income Assessment scheme to assist young couples in applying for flats before securing stable employment.
• HDB is committed to continuously improving its services to cater to the diverse needs of flat buyers.

• Mr. Yip Hon Weng inquired about the alignment of intergenerational co-living models with Singapore's senior housing strategy and the Ministry's expansion plans for these models over the next three to five years.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung highlighted that intergenerational co-living models, like Commune @ Henderson, offer diverse housing options for both young people and seniors, addressing their varying needs.
• Ong emphasized that while intergenerational co-living is beneficial, it should not be the sole housing model for seniors, as a range of other housing and care options will also be necessary.

• Ms. Valerie Lee raised concerns about the accessibility of SCDF ambulances to private condominiums, particularly regarding height restrictions in carparks.
• K Shanmugam responded that SCDF ambulances need a minimum clearance height of 3.0 metres, while many private carparks only provide 2.2 metres.
• In cases of restricted access, ambulance crews coordinate with condominium management to find alternative routes to reach patients.
• The SCDF and Building and Construction Authority issued a joint advisory in March 2024 to improve ambulance access, recommending a minimum clearance height of 3.0 metres for new buildings.

• Residents have raised concerns about the practicality and design of the external retractable clothes drying rack (ER-CDR) introduced under the Home Improvement Programme (HIP).
• The ER-CDR was implemented to prevent accidents associated with traditional laundry drying methods, particularly for the elderly, and is considered an essential improvement funded by the government.
• The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has engaged with residents to explain the benefits of the ER-CDR, made design improvements based on feedback, and provided instructional resources for usage.
• Surveys indicate that a majority of residents find the ER-CDR safe and easy to use, although some have taken time to adjust to the new system.

• David Hoe inquired about the criteria for converting HDB car park spaces for alternative uses, including the possibility of relaxing requirements in low-utilization areas.
• Chee Hong Tat explained that HDB evaluates various factors such as parking demand, resident impact, and safety when considering repurposing car parks.
• HDB has previously supported conversions of car park spaces to community-friendly uses like greenery and gardens, contingent on technical feasibility and community needs.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about the valuation process for land used in Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, specifically regarding the application of discounts or multipliers to resale transactions.
• Jeffrey Siow clarified that the Housing Development Board (HDB) pays fair market value for State Land, determined by the Chief Valuer using established valuation principles.
• Siow emphasized that land cost and BTO flat pricing are distinct, with flat prices being based on affordability rather than the cost of land.

• Mr. Cai Yinzhou proposed a study to evaluate the cost savings from electrical fire prevention measures in HDB estates, focusing on property damage, healthcare, and emergency response costs.
• He emphasized the need for this evaluation to inform future regulatory policies regarding fire safety.
• Minister K Shanmugam acknowledged the suggestion and stated that Singapore's fire safety regulations are aligned with international standards and cost-effectiveness considerations.

• Ms. Nadia Ahmad Samdin inquired about the proportion of hoarding cases monitored by NEAT that lead to enforcement actions by HDB and how NEAT collaborates with local agencies.
• Minister Chee Hong Tat explained that enforcement actions are not tracked as they are just one of many strategies to manage hoarding cases.
• NEAT includes various stakeholders such as the People's Association, social service agencies, and community groups, focusing on befriending hoarders and addressing their underlying issues.
• The collaboration with Town Councils is essential for the safe disposal of decluttered materials from HDB flats.

Andre Low inquired whether the Ministry for National Development tracks the proportion of private and HDB resale property purchases funded by intergenerational wealth transfers and their impact on housing affordability. Chee Hong Tat responded that the requested information is not available.

Shawn Loh asked if the Ministry of National Development could expand electrical wiring checks under the Home Improvement Programme and Enhancement for Active Seniors to include general wiring, incorporate checks at other upgrading milestones, and co-fund rewiring where fire risks are identified for seniors' safety. Chee Hong Tat responded that current checks focus on critical components due to higher risks associated with non-compliance. He noted that electrical fires can also stem from user behavior, such as overloading sockets, and advised residents to seek guidance from the Energy Market Authority for safety tips. For issues outside HDB's programmes, residents should contact a Licensed Electrical Worker, and HDB can assist in referring those needing financial help to support agencies.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis requested data from the Prime Minister regarding Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) levied on Permanent Residents over the past five years, specifically asking for breakdowns by property type. Jeffrey Siow provided that, from 2020 to 2024, an average of around 6,600 residential property transactions involving ABSD were recorded annually, generating approximately S$462 million each year. Of these transactions, 33% were for HDB properties, 43% for private properties under S$1.5 million, and 24% for those at or above S$1.5 million. The corresponding ABSD revenue came primarily from private properties above S$1.5 million, which accounted for 57%. Joint purchases with foreigners were excluded from this data due to different ABSD rates.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim questioned the reasons for the installation of smaller lifts under the Lift Upgrading Programme in areas like Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 and whether future upgrades will involve consultations for larger lift designs suitable for emergencies. Chee Hong Tat explained that smaller lifts were chosen for low-rise blocks to balance technical feasibility and cost, emphasizing they were designed to accommodate a wheelchair but not a stretcher for emergency evacuations. He noted that alternative evacuation methods would be used by the SCDF and that lift dimensions were communicated to residents during the polling process for LUP projects.