Housing & estates

Leong Mun Wai questioned the Minister for National Development about HDB's policy on disposing of flats that have been compulsorily acquired or bought back under the Ethnic Integration Policy. Desmond Lee responded that HDB currently owns about 150 such units. These units will typically be offered for sale progressively through HDB’s Sale of Balance Flats exercises and open booking of flats.

Leong Mun Wai asked about the number of appeals related to the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) received by HDB, the number approved, and the assistance provided through buyback measures, including breakdowns by ethnicity. Desmond Lee reported that HDB received 693 EIP-related appeals in 2023 and 2024, with 211 appeals acceded, including assistance for 8 households through the buyback measure. HDB offers several assistance measures for owners who face challenges selling flats due to EIP quotas. The specific breakdown of appeals by ethnicity was provided in a table.

Ang Wei Neng queried the Minister for Health about the establishment of new Active Ageing Centres (AACs) since January 2024, the number located in private estates, and the challenges associated with their setup. Ong Ye Kung reported that 214 AACs have been established, including 60 new ones since January 2024, increasing the number of seniors in private housing estates served by AACs by about 10,000. A major challenge in setting up new AACs is finding accessible locations for seniors, especially in private estates, while also ensuring sufficient space and utilities for their programs.

Gerald Giam Yean Song questioned the Minister for National Development about the Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System (PWCS), including its installations, costs, savings, beneficiaries, and evaluation processes. Desmond Lee detailed that approximately 40 HDB precincts have PWCS, which utilizes automated waste collection but has higher operational costs compared to traditional methods, primarily borne by the Government and Town Councils. Residents benefit from PWCS through cleaner waste management and more space for amenities, while the system is expected to become more cost-efficient as more units are added. The Government regularly reviews PWCS implementation and supports Town Councils adopting this system.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked about the reasons for appeals to the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV) regarding HDB resale flat valuations, along with the number of appeals in recent years. Desmond Lee responded that there is no rising trend of appeals, as the number decreased from 13 in 2022 to five in 2023, and three in the first ten months of 2024. The Ministry has studied these appeals but found no evidence of a growing trend.

Hazel Poa asked about the rationale for reserving 40% of HDB 2-room flexi flats for seniors in BTO projects and the percentage set aside for the October 2024 BTO exercise. Desmond Lee explained that the 2-room Flexi Scheme was established in 2015 to address the housing needs of seniors, families, and singles. A minimum of 40% of 2-room flexi flats in each BTO project is allocated for seniors, with any unclaimed units being made available to families and singles. For the October 2024 BTO exercise, approximately 60% of the 2-room flexi flats will be reserved for seniors.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis raised questions about HDB commercial unit tenants' ability to engage in additional complementary trades without needing a separate application. Desmond Lee clarified that HDB strategically manages commercial spaces to maintain a balanced trade mix for residents. Tenants must adhere to their tenancy agreements, which restrict changes during the initial tenancy awarded through tender. In subsequent tenancy periods, tenants can request approval for additional trades, with HDB evaluating each request individually to protect resident well-being.

Ong Hua Han asked about the frequency of maintenance checks on water pipes in public housing, water quality monitoring, and feedback on water quality complaints. Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that maintenance is a shared responsibility among PUB, Town Councils, and homeowners, with PUB monitoring water pipes using sensors and conducting yearly leak detection checks. Town Councils maintain common area water tanks, which are inspected annually, while homeowners must maintain individual unit pipes. PUB conducts daily tests on tap water to ensure it meets safety standards, and in 2023, they received an average of four feedback cases per day regarding water quality, responding promptly with laboratory testing.

The debate focused on the establishment and operationalization of the Community Resolution Unit (CRU) to address severe neighbour noise and hoarding disputes. Key points included the empowerment of full-time officers as Community Resolution Officers (CROs) and Auxiliary Community Resolution Officers (ACROs) to handle escalated cases, with mechanisms for mediation and the potential for compulsory acquisition of flats in serious cases. Members expressed concern about privacy, mental health considerations, and the effective use of noise sensors as evidence without infringing on personal rights. The framework aims to improve community cohesion while ensuring that varying complexities of disputes are managed comprehensively and sensitively. Additionally, mediation processes were emphasized as a first step in resolving conflicts before resorting to more formal enforcement mechanisms.

• Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for National Development for figures over the past five years on coffee shop operators warned to replace halal stallholders and those whose HDB tenancy was not renewed for failing to provide a halal stall.
• Since 2005, HDB rental coffee shop operators must have at least one halal stall, and if one ceases, they must find a replacement within the tenancy period, with non-renewal or termination possible if they fail to do so.
• In the last five years, 12 operators received reminders to find a replacement halal stallholder, and HDB allows appeals for extensions assessed case by case.
• While some operators face challenges due to lower area demand, HDB has not yet rejected any tenancy renewal specifically for failing to provide a halal stall.

• The median processing time for HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letters is about a week for applications with complete documents; those submitted without all required documents must wait for a request for the missing documents before processing can begin.
• Between November 2023 and October 2024, HDB processed over 135,000 HFE applications, with officials advising applicants to submit accurate and complete information to expedite the process.
• In November 2023, the validity period of the HFE letter was extended from six to nine months to improve convenience while maintaining a fair assessment of eligibility based on recent household income.
• There are currently no plans to further extend the HFE letter's validity period beyond the current nine months.

• Minister Desmond Lee stated that eligible first-timer singles can now apply for 2-room flexi flats island-wide under the new classification framework, a change from previous restrictions to non-mature estates.
• From 2024 to 2026, HDB will launch up to 14,000 2-room flexi BTO flats, representing a more than 50% increase compared to the 9,000 units launched in non-mature estates from 2020 to 2023.
• In February 2025, HDB plans to offer about 5,000 BTO flats across five projects and will hold its largest-ever Sale of Balance Flats exercise with more than 5,500 flats.

• Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Transport for the current number of EVs registered for season parking in HDB carparks and whether there are plans to increase EV charging lots in carparks with a higher number of such EVs.
• As of end-September 2024, there are about 8,800 EVs registered with season parking at HDB carparks.
• The average EV charger utilisation rate at HDB carparks is under 10% and is currently sufficient to meet demand.
• The government closely monitors EV charger utilisation and works with operators to scale up deployment where necessary.

He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for National Development about the average living space per child in 1-room and 2-room rental flats and the Ministry's assessment of the minimum living space needed for children's healthy development. Desmond Lee responded that there are no imposed requirements for minimum living space per household due to varying family circumstances, and the Ministry does not actively track average living space per child in public rental flats.

He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for National Development about the number of HDB BTO applications allocated incorrect ballot numbers over the past five years due to misclassification in priority categories. Desmond Lee responded that out of almost 370,000 applications, less than 0.1% had revised queue positions, mostly due to applicants' requests or eligibility issues, with only 23 cases attributed to erroneous processing since May 2023. Only one of these cases involved a booking that had to be cancelled and refunded after the error was identified. HDB is taking the matter seriously and has implemented safeguards and system enhancements to ensure fair and accurate allocations in the future.

Jamus Lim requested data on the number of unoccupied and total rental housing units under the Public Rental Scheme and Interim Rental Housing in Sengkang and Punggol over the past six months. Desmond Lee explained that the same flats are used for both schemes. On average, 13% of about 4,000 rental flats in those areas were unoccupied, with most being reserved for tenants affected by relocation or undergoing refurbishment before being reallocated.

Leong Mun Wai asked about the percentage of HDB blocks and neighborhoods that have reached the Non-Citizen Quota for renting flats since 2021. Desmond Lee responded that as of September 2024, approximately 1% of HDB blocks and neighborhoods are affected by the Non-Citizen Quota, with these figures remaining stable since 2021. The specific blocks and neighborhoods that have reached the quota have varied over time. Flat owners and potential tenants can check the status of specific units on a designated government website.

Christopher de Souza proposed conducting a survey to identify communal spaces in neighborhoods with many seniors for potential lift installations to assist individuals with mobility difficulties. Desmond Lee responded that the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has implemented Universal Design and barrier-free principles in new developments since 2006, ensuring compliance with accessibility codes. Additionally, the recently launched Silver Upgrading Programme (SUP) aims to make older HDB precincts more senior-friendly, with community walks to gather feedback on enhancements needed. HDB is committed to continuing improvements in the inclusivity and accessibility of HDB estates.

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked about the possibility of expanding the Public Rental Scheme to include families with one Singaporean and one non-Singaporean who is not a Permanent Resident. Desmond Lee explained that HDB's public rental flats are heavily subsidized and prioritized for citizen households, requiring at least one Singapore Citizen applicant alongside another citizen or Permanent Resident. For families in urgent need but ineligible for public rental, HDB refers them to social service agencies for assistance.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked about future plans for more rooftop urban farms and longer lease periods beyond three years. Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that 16 multi-storey car park sites were tendered for commercial urban farming under the HDB Green Towns Programme with initial three-year tenancies. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and HDB are evaluating factors for suitable sites and monitoring existing farms before making decisions on future tenders and lease extensions. Currently, there are no plans to introduce new tenders for commercial farming at MSCP sites, but longer-term opportunities are available through other tenders offered by SFA for larger spaces.