Housing & estates

Charlene Chen raised concerns regarding the impact of climate change on the structural integrity and appearance of older buildings, specifically HDB flats, questioning the increase in issues like spalling concrete, peeling surfaces, and mould growth. Chee Hong Tat acknowledged that while wear and tear is expected as buildings age, climate change can exacerbate these issues. The Building and Construction Authority mandates regular inspections and repairs to maintain structural safety, including facade inspections every seven years for older buildings. Town Councils are responsible for maintaining building facades and can expedite repair works based on condition assessments.

Pritam Singh asked about the planned construction of new public rental units by the Ministry for National Development over the next five years. Chee Hong Tat responded that approximately 4,600 public rental flats are expected to be completed during that period.

Cai Yinzhou questioned the Minister for National Development regarding the number of deceased flat owners with arrears owed to Town Councils, the proportion of those with arrears exceeding nine months, and the total value of such arrears. Chee Hong Tat responded that while the Ministry monitors overall arrears rates, it does not have the detailed data requested.

Foo Cexiang asked about the number of HDB flat owners participating in the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) and the eligibility of their flats for the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS) in the future. Chee Hong Tat reported that 1,170 senior households joined LBS between January and June 2025, allowing them to sell part of their lease while continuing to live in their flats. The scheme helps seniors enhance their retirement income through CPF payouts. Seniors can participate in LBS without concerns about VERS, as the government will provide a fair compensation package if their block is redeveloped.

Elysa Chen asked about measures to enhance housing mobility for seniors, specifically regarding Community Care Apartments and options for downsizing. Chee Hong Tat responded that the HDB aims to provide various housing options for seniors, including CCA projects, with five already launched and more planned. Short-lease 2-room flexi flats are also available, with at least 40% reserved for seniors in BTO projects. Enhancements to the Silver Housing Bonus will provide additional cash bonuses and broaden eligibility for seniors downsizing to smaller flats or CCAs, impacting private property residents as well.

Shawn Loh raised concerns about the need for block-wide fire alarms in HDB buildings to provide timely warnings, especially for seniors with mobility issues, following instances of fire evacuations. K. Shanmugam responded that individual home fire alarm devices (HFADs) are sufficient as block-wide evacuations are rare and unnecessary due to HDB design, which contains fires within individual flats. Additionally, he noted that a central alarm system could lead to false alarms from common activities, potentially desensitizing residents to the alarms.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik sought information on the uptake of ComLink+ support among lower-income families not residing in public rental flats. Masagos Zulkifli B M M reported that as of September 2025, approximately 1,000 families not living in public rental flats are receiving ComLink+ support. The Ministry aims to extend support to about 2,000 additional families over the next two years.

Jamus Lim questioned whether HDB rental coffee shop bidding criteria for halal stalls differentiate between Malay and Indian Muslim food providers and if the Price-Quality Method could prioritize Malay/Muslim providers more. Chee Hong Tat clarified that since 2005, all new HDB coffee shops must include at least one halal stall, ensuring access to halal food for all ethnicities without specific cuisine distinctions. In Sengkang, there are 19 HDB rental coffee shops with varying halal options, including fully halal and mixed stalls. HDB is actively ensuring replacement halal stalls to maintain service continuity. Residents also have access to halal food in nearby hawker centres and food courts.

David Hoe asked about the deployment status of EV chargers in HDB carparks, specifically regarding progress towards the 60,000 charging points target by 2030, the criteria for requesting additional chargers, and the possibility of expedited deployments. Jeffrey Siow reported that over 25,000 EV charging points are currently in use, with more than 7,500 installed in about 85% of HDB carparks, and confirmed that the targets for accessibility and deployment are on track. The Land Transport Authority is monitoring usage rates and plans to increase the number of chargers based on demand and capacity, ensuring more charging points will be available in the future.

Elysa Chen asked about the possibility of extending the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme Voucher scheme beyond December 2025 and the factors influencing that decision. Chee Hong Tat responded that the scheme is a temporary measure to assist eligible families renting HDB flats or bedrooms while increasing the supply of PPHS units to 4,000 by year-end. There are currently no plans to extend the Voucher as the PPHS supply ramp-up is proceeding as expected, with previous rounds allowing all married applicants with children to select a flat.

Lee Hui Ying raised concerns with the Minister for National Development about measures to expedite the completion of HDB projects with longer waiting times exceeding five years. The Minister detailed HDB's strategies to reduce waiting times, emphasizing prioritizing ready sites, innovative procurement, and expediting approvals, leading to 70% of flats launched from 2023 to 2025 having waiting times of four years or less. Lee proposed creating an incentive system for contractors who complete projects ahead of schedule, addressing concerns about longer waiting times for some developments, and suggested a Build-Before-Order model to shorten perceived waiting periods. In response, the Minister acknowledged the need for faster builds, mentioned programs like the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme to support affected families, and highlighted ongoing efforts to increase the supply of shorter waiting time flats.

Jessica Tan Soon Neo asked about the success rate of first-time applicants eligible for the Family Care Scheme (Proximity) during the July 2025 HDB BTO and Sale of Balance Flats launch, as well as the breakdown of applicants based on prior attempts. The Minister for National Development reported that about 60% of first-time families and 20% of first-time singles received a queue number under the scheme for BTO, while 70% of first-time families received one for SBF. Tan highlighted concerns from residents who have attempted multiple times without success and suggested refining the balloting process to better prioritize these applicants and possibly extend the proximity area. The Minister acknowledged the concerns and mentioned existing priority schemes to enhance ballot chances, while noting that balloting outcomes still involve an element of luck, particularly for popular projects.

• Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis requested a detailed breakdown of BTO and Sale of Balance flats allocated over the past 10 years by applicant category, including seniors, first-timer families, first-timer singles, and second-timer families.
• The request specifically sought information on the allocation of different types of flats, including 2-room flexi, 3-room, and larger flats.
• Minister Chee Hong Tat provided tables showing the number of successful BTO and Sale of Balance Flats applicants from 2015 to 2024.

• Dr. Charlene Chen inquired about the monitoring and management of recurring water leakages in HDB flats, including measures for persistent cases and long-term solutions.
• Chee Hong Tat explained that water seepage in HDB flats is often due to wear and tear, with maintenance responsibilities divided between flat owners and Town Councils.
• HDB provides support through joint inspections and technical advice, and offers a Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme to help cover repair costs for flat owners.
• The Ministry is exploring advanced technologies, like microwave scanning, to better detect and address sources of water seepage in HDB flats.

• Gerald Giam Yean Song inquired about the number of neighbour dispute cases in Tampines HDB town since April 2025 and the effectiveness of the Community Relations Unit (CRU).
• He also asked about the criteria for CRU case selection and the possibility of expediting the nationwide rollout of the CRU.
• Chee Hong Tat referenced a previous response given on 14 October 2025 regarding the criteria for CRU intervention and its effectiveness in handling disputes.

• Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired about the breakdown of BTO flat launches by type for the years 2025 to 2027 and for the past five years.
• Minister Chee Hong Tat provided the breakdown of BTO flats launched from 2020 to 2025, noting that the 2025 figures include indicative supplies for the October 2025 BTO exercise.
• The exact supply details for 2026 and 2027 will be shared in the future, with a commitment to monitor the housing market and adjust BTO supply accordingly.

• Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat inquired about the number of HDB flat applications canceled due to the death of a sole citizen parent and the appeal mechanisms for surviving parents.
• Chee Hong Tat responded that HDB adopts a compassionate approach in such cases, focusing on the welfare of surviving minor Singapore Citizen children.
• If the death occurs after key collection, the surviving Permanent Resident parent can retain the flat with their Singapore Citizen child.
• HDB assesses each case individually for other scenarios, potentially allowing the flat to be held in trust until the child turns 21.
• HDB does not track cancellations specifically due to the death of a sole Singapore Citizen parent.

• Ms. Yeo Wan Ling raised concerns about noise from the increasing popularity of pickleball in HDB estates and requested guidelines on community noise allowance standards for high-impact sports.
• She also proposed a study to enhance HDB communal sports facilities, suggesting the addition of safety features and sound dampeners to convert them into multi-purpose spaces.
• Minister Chee Hong Tat referenced a previous response regarding guidelines for pickleball play in HDB public courts, indicating that the issue has been addressed in earlier discussions.

• Ms. Gho Sze Kee inquired about the criteria for approving renovation works in older HDB flats, specifically regarding structural integrity and potential damage to adjoining units.
• Minister Chee Hong Tat stated that the Housing and Development Board (HDB) applies uniform structural safety standards for all HDB flats, regardless of age.
• Contractors must obtain HDB approval for any renovation that may affect structural integrity, and site-specific conditions may be imposed on permits.
• Renovation works must be carried out by contractors listed in the Directory of Renovation Contractors, who are required to have trained workers for such tasks.
• HDB has no plans to introduce different criteria for older flats, as the current assessment process is deemed robust.

• Miss Rachel Ong inquired about the monitoring of private property purchases by Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) and their impact on housing prices and affordability for citizens.
• Chee Hong Tat responded that PRs represent a small and stable portion of private residential property transactions, accounting for 13% in 2025, consistent with past averages.
• The Minister indicated that purchases by PRs do not significantly influence private residential property prices.
• The Ministry will continue to monitor the property market and adjust policies to ensure stability and sustainability.