Housing & estates

Yip Hon Weng asked about potential measures to stabilize rental volatility for privately-held HDB shops to enhance pricing transparency and support small businesses without implementing rent control. Chee Hong Tat suggested referring to a previous response from the Minister for National Development regarding rental trends and efforts to maintain affordability for HDB shops, highlighting ongoing discussions on the topic.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik questioned the Government about plans to expand the number of car-lite HDB estates beyond those currently designated. Jeffrey Siow confirmed that since 2019, 16 car-lite areas have been gazetted, including public housing estates like Tengah, Bayshore, and Ulu Pandan. The authorities will continue to evaluate land use and transport plans, taking into account nearby amenities for future car-lite area considerations.

Jamus Lim inquired about potential guidelines for pickleball play in HDB public courts due to its growing popularity and associated noise issues. Chee Hong Tat addressed noise complaints, noting that 701 complaints regarding pickleball noise were received between January 2024 and August 2025. Existing community noise guidelines encourage residents to respect quiet hours from 10:30 PM to 7:00 AM, applicable to common spaces. Town Councils are implementing measures to mitigate noise, such as advisories and restricted court usage hours. Proposals to convert sports facilities into multi-purpose areas with sound dampening may be submitted to HDB for approval, subject to safety and disamenity considerations.

Low Wu Yang Andre asked about the metrics used to determine the affordability of new HDB BTO flats, specifically regarding household income percentiles, price-to-income ratios, mortgage servicing ratios, and loan tenures. Chee Hong Tat responded that the Government uses a holistic approach, considering various indicators like the house price to income ratio and mortgage servicing ratio, and applies market discounts and grants to keep flats affordable. In 2024, about 90% of first-time families could fully service their HDB loans with CPF, achieving a mortgage servicing ratio of 25% or less, which is below international benchmarks.

The proposal aims to amend the Electronic Transactions Act 2010, Singapore Land Authority Act 2001, and Housing and Development Act 1959 to facilitate electronic conveyancing transactions. It also includes amendments to the Mental Capacity Act 2008 and the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2021 regarding remote witnessing for electronic instruments that confer lasting powers of attorney. Additionally, changes to the Housing and Development Act 1959 will address the Housing and Development Board's common seal. The Senior Minister of State for Law presented the proposal, and it will be discussed in the next Parliament Sitting.

Denise Phua Lay Peng asked about the frequency of audits and maintenance for HDB rental flats, highlighting concerns about their conditions. Sun Xueling responded that pre-COVID inspections occurred annually, but were disrupted, and that HDB aims to resume proactive maintenance effectively. Phua expressed gratitude for HDB's support while requesting urgency and more resources for maintenance tasks, noting specific issues like jammed gates and peeling paint. Sun acknowledged tenant responsibilities for maintenance but emphasized HDB's role in addressing functional defects and the complexities of conducting aesthetic improvements such as painting.

Liang Eng Hwa raised concerns to the Minister for National Development regarding the building industry's capabilities to address the rising cases of water seepage in HDB flats. He questioned whether contractors possess the necessary expertise and technologies to tackle these issues effectively. Liang also inquired about the Ministry's plans to strengthen the industry's capacity to handle the challenges posed by aging HDB flats and increasing extreme weather conditions.

Cai Yinzhou requested an update on the installation of fire extinguishers at lift lobbies of HDB blocks, the number of incidents where they have been used, and the possibility of extending the initiative to all blocks. K Shanmugam reported that fire extinguishers are being installed at Lifesavers' Emergency Points since October 2023, with over 90% of targeted blocks already equipped and a completion goal set for 2028. More than 220 fire extinguishers have been used in minor fire incidents. The focus remains on completing the current roll-out before considering further extensions.

Saktiandi Supaat raised questions about the review of evacuation procedures for high-rise fires in older HDB blocks and the potential adoption of new technologies by the SCDF. K Shanmugam responded that HDB units are designed as fire compartments to aid in firefighting and safe evacuation. The SCDF focuses on evacuating residents from affected floors and those above, while allowing unaffected residents to stay in their units unless necessary. Although SCDF regularly reviews its procedures, there are currently no plans to adopt smoke curtains or evacuation chairs, as they are deemed to offer limited additional benefits. SCDF remains open to reviewing other technologies that could enhance operations.