Housing & estates

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Prime Minister about the percentage of owner-occupied private residential properties with outstanding property tax bills, specifically regarding seniors and retirees. Chee Hong Tat reported that less than 2% of such properties had outstanding tax, with about 15% involving owner-occupiers aged 65 and above, mostly retirees. The Ministry of Finance introduced a new interest-free 24-month instalment plan for property tax payments aimed at eligible retiree owner-occupiers to assist with cash flow issues. The Government will continue to provide support to seniors and retirees through various financial schemes and monitor their needs for further assistance.

The debate focused on the Ministry of National Development's (MND) efforts to manage housing and urban development challenges in Singapore post-COVID-19, highlighting various initiatives and programs. Minister Desmond Lee emphasized maintaining affordable public housing, enhancing the built environment sector, and transforming Singapore into a "City in Nature" through new housing projects and urban planning strategies. The debate also addressed the issue of accessibility for seniors and diverse community needs with initiatives such as the Senior-Friendly enhancements in HDB estates and the Silver Housing Bonus scheme. Other government proposals included the expansion of the Budget Meal initiative and ongoing collaboration with stakeholders to improve neighborhood facilities and municipal services.

Pritam Singh asked the Minister for National Development about the proportion of rental units in Plus and Prime BTO developments and how the number of these units is determined. Desmond Lee responded that since October 2024, 40% of Plus and Prime BTO projects have included public rental flats, which make up 5% of all flats in those projects. HDB aims to maintain a good social mix in neighborhoods by building rental flats, considering factors like demand, supply, and geographical distribution when deciding the number of rental units for each project.

Cheryl Chan highlighted the need for housing policies that reflect changing demographics, advocating for revised income ceilings for HDB BTO flats to assist middle-income couples and singles who are ineligible under current restrictions. She also emphasized the importance of extending the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) program to private property owners to help seniors age in place with necessary modifications. Concerns were raised about long-term housing solutions for families with special needs children or adults, urging the Ministry to introduce exemptions and better support options. Pritam Singh and other MPs pointed out issues related to the rising costs of HDB resale flats, proposing policy adjustments to ensure affordability and retirement adequacy for buyers. The debate also covered recommendations for enhancing community spaces, wildlife management, and support for families facing housing challenges, including single unwed parents.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Lim questioned the rationale behind treating essential occupiers of HDB flats similarly to owners regarding the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) while treating them as non-owners for Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) purposes.
• The Second Minister for National Development, Ms Indranee Rajah, explained that the MOP ensures HDB flats are for owner occupation and that essential occupiers are part of the core family nucleus but do not incur ABSD as they do not own the flat.
• Lim highlighted the issue of older couples marrying with independent assets, expressing concern that they may need to sell these assets to meet MOP requirements for purchasing HDB flats.
• Indranee acknowledged the concern and stated that individuals facing specific hardships could appeal to the Ministry for consideration, but the general policy principles would remain unchanged.

Leong Mun Wai requested information from the Prime Minister regarding the proportion of stamp duties collected from various property types for the years 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2024. Chee Hong Tat responded that the government cannot provide data spanning over two decades due to complexity. He explained that property sales involve Seller's Stamp Duty, Buyer's Stamp Duty, and Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty, with ABSD applying only to residential properties. He presented the proportions of stamp duties collected from HDB flats, private residential, and non-residential properties for 2019 and 2024, noting that 2020 figures were not used due to the pandemic's impact on the market.

Leong Mun Wai requested information on the current proportions of different types of landed properties in Singapore, including Good Class Bungalows, detached houses, semi-detached houses, and terrace houses. Desmond Lee responded that the question had been addressed in a previous written reply provided on February 26, 2025. The details can be found in the Official Report section concerning the proportion of resident households living in landed properties.

Leong Mun Wai asked about the total land area designated for HDB flats in Singapore's Master Plan 2019 and whether there are plans to increase this area in the Draft Master Plan 2025. Desmond Lee responded that a written answer to the same question had been provided earlier on 26 February 2025, referencing an official report for detailed information.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about ensuring childcare centres in new HDB BTO estates can start operating at a smaller scale when residents collect their keys. Masagos Zulkifli explained that residents typically take time to renovate their flats before moving in, so the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) collaborates with Anchor Operators to ensure preschools are ready to enroll children shortly after this period. ECDA facilitates early access to technical plans and site visits for preschool renovations and provides funding for recruiting staff in advance. Preschools are designed to begin operations at a smaller scale and gradually increase to full capacity.

Ng Ling Ling raised concerns regarding excessive hoarding in HDB flats and the protocols for addressing it, specifically asking how HDB verifies hoarding complaints, coordinates with the SCDF for fire risks, and plans to enhance existing protocols. Sim Ann stated that the government typically does not interfere unless health or safety is at risk but emphasized the need for a balanced approach to manage hoarding while prioritizing community safety and support. She highlighted the importance of grassroots involvement in reporting hoarding cases and mentioned new regulatory measures, including the amended Community Disputes Resolution Act, allowing for decluttering in serious cases. Training for HDB officers includes basic mental health recognition, and various agencies are collaborating to provide comprehensive support to hoarders and their families. Dennis Tan expressed concerns over the timeline for the Community Relations Unit's rollout and the need for reassurance to residents about safety regarding hoarding issues.

• Ms. Hazel Poa inquired about the application statistics and the possibility of switching from a first-come-first-served system to a randomised balloting system for the open booking of HDB flats.
• Minister Desmond Lee provided data indicating that since June 2019, there have been nine open booking exercises with an average of about 4,700 applications each.
• He explained that the first-come-first-served approach allows for immediate selection and key collection, catering to home seekers with urgent needs.
• The HDB will continue to review and refine its sales modes to better accommodate the diverse needs of home seekers.

• Ms. Hazel Poa inquired about the percentage of first-time BTO applicants who do not select flats based on their queue numbers relative to available supply since August 2023.
• Minister Desmond Lee responded that there have been four BTO exercises since August 2023 and provided data on first-timer applicants who did not select flats.
• The data includes proportions of applicants with queue numbers larger and smaller than the available flat supply who chose not to select a flat.

• Mr. Leong Mun Wai inquired about the total land area designated for Good Class Bungalow Areas and the criteria for determining their number and locations.
• Minister Desmond Lee highlighted that housing occupies about 15% of Singapore's total land area, with public housing being predominant.
• The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is reviewing the Draft Master Plan 2025 to allocate more land for housing, including plans for Bukit Timah Turf City to develop 15,000 to 20,000 homes over the next 20 to 30 years.
• URA follows specific guidelines for housing developments to ensure they integrate well with their surroundings and provide adequate green spaces and facilities.

• Pritam Singh inquired about the number of families benefiting from the HDB Fresh Start Housing Scheme from 2021 to 2024.
• Desmond Lee provided information on the cumulative number of families that have benefited from the scheme during that period.

• Ms. See Jinli Jean inquired about the decrease in littering and stain cases in HDB towns in 2024, the correlation between littering and rodent activity, and potential collaborative efforts to track rodent activity as a cleanliness measure.
• The National Environment Agency (NEA) reported approximately 4,000 littering feedback cases in HDB estates in 2024, consistent with 2023 figures, and found no strong correlation between littering hotspots and rodent burrow counts.
• NEA emphasized that poor refuse management contributes to rat infestations and announced plans to tighten enforcement against premises owners for rat-related issues starting April 2025.
• NEA is actively sharing rat surveillance data with Town Councils and stakeholders and is committed to enhancing community efforts for public hygiene and litter control in HDB estates.

• Mr. Leong Mun Wai inquired about the proportion of resident households living in Good Class Bungalows among the 68,400 households in landed properties in 2023.
• Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong responded that detailed data on the breakdown of households living in Good Class Bungalows is not available.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about the sale price conditions for existing HDB leaseholders when purchasing short-lease flexi flats.
• Minister Desmond Lee clarified that seniors buying short-lease two-room flexi flats must sell their existing properties within six months of key collection.
• There are no specific conditions imposed on the sale price of the existing properties when they are sold.

• The Singapore government plans to apply heat-reflective coatings to all HDB blocks by 2030 as part of the Green Towns Programme to mitigate urban heat.
• The Housing and Development Board (HDB) will cover the additional costs for Town Councils using cool coatings instead of conventional paint.
• Long-term maintenance of the coatings will be guided by HDB, ensuring compliance with performance standards during cyclical repairs and redecoration.
• The initiative aims to enhance sustainability in HDB estates and is part of broader efforts to address the urban heat island effect.
• The cool coatings initiative aligns with other sustainability efforts under the Singapore Green Plan 2030.