Housing & estates

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned the Minister for National Development about the consideration of a rent-to-own model by HDB in addition to existing grant schemes aimed at facilitating home ownership for rental tenants. Desmond Lee explained that the Rent and Purchase Scheme, previously implemented, was suspended due to significantly low demand after introducing other financial aids such as substantial CPF housing grants. The government has focused on improving support for public rental households to achieve home ownership through various schemes and personalized guidance from the Home ownership Support Team. HDB prices new flats with market discounts and provides significant grants, aiming to help lower-income families transition to home ownership while ensuring financial stability through comprehensive support services.

Darryl David asked for updates on the number of beds and occupancy rates in homeless shelters over the past three years, along with the average length of stay and plans for transitioning the homeless to permanent housing. Eric Chua stated there are seven transitional shelters with a total capacity of about 720 beds and an average occupancy rate of 60% from 2021 to 2023, with individuals typically staying for about nine months. Social workers assist residents in transitioning to stable long-term housing options. In response to a follow-up question about the ease of access to shelters, Chua indicated that the process varies for each individual due to unique personal circumstances and challenges they face.

Tan Wu Meng questioned the Minister for National Development about HDB's design considerations for new precincts in light of inclement weather, specifically regarding rain and wind impacting lift shafts. Indranee Rajah explained that HDB has implemented design strategies to mitigate rainwater intrusion, including wind-driven rain simulations since 2021 to predict and address potential issues early. Concerns from residents at Clementi Peaks about rain shields blocking views were discussed, acknowledging that these installations were made post-completion due to unexpected rainwater issues. The minister assured that future developments would incorporate lessons learned and improve resident engagement regarding safety measures.

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned whether the $25,000 annual property value criterion for the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support applies to renters. Tan See Leng clarified that the criterion applies to all applicants based on their residential address, including both homeowners and renters. This method is intended to assess household means or wealth, aligning with the strategies used in other means-tested programs like the GST Voucher and Workfare Income Supplement schemes.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked about the average proceeds families receive from the HDB Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) over the past five years for different types of HDB flats. Desmond Lee explained that proceeds depend on the flat's market value, the lease retained, and any outstanding dues to HDB. The proceeds are utilized to enhance CPF Retirement Accounts and may include bonuses up to $30,000 for smaller flats. From 2019 to 2023, average LBS proceeds ranged from $98,000 for 1-room flats to $261,000 for 5-room and larger flats.

Gan Thiam Poh inquired about the resolution of high-rise littering cases in Fernvale under the new presumption of guilt framework implemented on July 1, 2023. Grace Fu Hai Yien reported that over 30 acts of high-rise littering from 14 flats were recorded, with enforcement actions taken against five offenders. One individual was charged but had their charges reduced due to compassionate grounds; the others admitted to their offenses. NEA has conducted over 1,500 camera deployments island-wide and will focus on areas with persistent littering issues while encouraging public submissions of video evidence.

Sharael Taha asked the Minister for National Development for updates on maintenance considerations in the design of upcoming BTO estates and the projected operating expenses for these estates. Desmond Lee explained that maintainability is prioritized in BTO designs, using durable materials and strategic plant placements to reduce costs. The Ministry does not project operating expenses for new estates, as these are managed by the respective Town Councils, which can leverage economies of scale for maintenance contracts. HDB regularly incorporates feedback from Town Councils to enhance the maintainability of estates.

Hazel Poa questioned the Ministry of National Development regarding the decision not to issue a correction under the Protection from Online Falsehood and Manipulation Act for an article by CNA that incorrectly claimed the Lease Buyback Scheme uses straight-line depreciation for computing sales proceeds. Desmond Lee explained that upon identifying the inaccuracy, the Housing and Development Board notified CNA, which then made the necessary correction, adhering to standard procedures for mainstream media.

Edward Chia Bing Hui proposed that HDB review its policy to allow electric vehicle (EV) owners to have season parking permits at two locations: their residence and a nearby carpark with charging facilities, until chargers are installed at their primary parking. Tan Kiat How responded that while HDB allows temporary transfers of season parking to car parks with EV chargers at the same rate, there are no current plans to permit dual parking tickets to maintain fairness for all residents. The government is working towards installing EV charging points in nearly 2,000 HDB car parks by 2025, enhancing accessibility for EV owners. Liang Eng Hwa inquired about consideration for car parks with lower occupancy rates for such dual use, to which Tan acknowledged ongoing efforts to provide sufficient charging options for EV drivers.

Sylvia Lim questioned the Minister for National Development about the number of applicants who received multiple HDB flat booking invitations and the rationale behind disallowing them from selecting more favorable options. The Senior Minister of State acknowledged the concerns but explained that the policy aims to manage demand and prevent crowding out of genuine applicants due to non-selection. Tan Kiat How indicated that the HDB sets expectations upfront regarding the application process, and although they understand frustrations, the rules are established to be fair to all. Some exceptions were made for a small number of applicants on a case-by-case basis, but not all appeals were granted.

• Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked for the annual number of successful applications or appeals over the past five years by elderly Singaporeans living in HDB executive apartments or maisonettes for the Silver Support Scheme.
• Minister Tan See Leng explained that seniors in such larger HDB flats are generally ineligible due to presumed access to more resources, though appeals are considered case-by-case by the CPF Board.
• On average, about 10 appeals per year over the last five years from seniors in these flats were successful for the Silver Support Scheme.

• Desmond Choo requested that senior residents relocating to short-lease 2-room HDB flexi flats or Community Care Apartments near their current homes be given priority to support aging within their communities.
• Desmond Lee stated that HDB currently sets aside at least 40% of its 2-room flexi flat supply for eligible seniors, and under the new flat classification framework from October 2024, specific proportions in Standard, Plus, and Prime projects will be reserved under the Senior Priority Scheme for those wanting to live near their current home or family.
• Seniors aged 65 and above can purchase Community Care Apartments, which combine senior-friendly housing with care services, and access is prioritized for households with care needs, regardless of their current home's location.
• If the Community Care Apartment model proves effective and scalable, more such apartments will be built across Singapore to enable seniors to age well within their communities.

• Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim proposed extending the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme to allow single unmarried children and their elderly parents to jointly apply for BTO flats to live near each other.
• Minister Desmond Lee confirmed that from mid-2025, priority access for BTO flats will be extended to all parents and children, including both married and single children.
• The extension aligns with the National Day Rally 2024 announcement and aims to support family proximity across different household configurations.
• Further details on the implementation will be provided by the Ministry of National Development in due course.
• The policy change reflects a shift to include unmarried children in joint flat applications with their parents for better intergenerational living support.

• The government emphasized that wealth inequality is difficult to measure accurately due to data challenges, but it is proactively addressing the issue through various measures beyond direct handouts and CPF top-ups, such as progressive taxation and housing grants.
• Key initiatives include enhancing the Progressive Wage Model to boost wages for lower-income workers, expanding housing grants, and implementing wealth taxes like property and buyer’s stamp duties to ensure a more progressive system.
• The government highlighted investments in education and skills development, such as the ITE Progression Award, to support lifelong earning potential and wealth accumulation for all Singaporeans, regardless of background.

• Miss Rachel Ong proposed that the Ministry of Transport consider third-party safety testing and regular maintenance for motorised PMAs stored in HDB flats to protect users and neighbours.
• Chee Hong Tat stated that the Land Transport Authority is reviewing safety standards for lithium-ion batteries in PMAs and has ongoing measures to enhance device safety.
• The LTA and Singapore Civil Defence Force are educating the public on safe device usage, including using original batteries and following manufacturer guidelines without modifications.

• Gan Thiam Poh asked if the Police would restrict the number of people gathering in HDB common greens during quiet hours (after 10.30 pm and before 7.00 am) due to noise concerns.
• K Shanmugam explained that the law governs when permits are needed for public gatherings and that Police only intervene when there are law and order issues.
• He noted that Police would not restrict gatherings that do not require permits and do not cause law and order problems.

• About half of co-owned HDB flats involved in divorces from 2021 to 2023 were sold on the open market, while the other half were transferred to one divorced party.
• A small number of flats were surrendered to HDB because neither party could retain them and they were not eligible for open market sale.
• Approximately 12,800 divorcees bought a resale flat or booked a new flat during this period, but HDB does not track whether they had previously sold a matrimonial flat.

• Miss Rachel Ong proposed that HDB car parks have allocated spaces and time-controlled charging points for motorised personal mobility aids, with priority for residents of smaller flats.
• The Minister for Transport noted that such devices can currently be charged using standard home wall sockets and urged users to follow safe charging practices.
• The government will assess the suggestion of public charging points in HDB car parks to enhance safety for device users and the public.

Tan Wu Meng asked about policies preventing large numbers of goods vehicles from parking in private residential estates, highlighting the disamenities caused to residents. Chee Hong Tat responded that all vehicles, including goods vehicles, can park on public roads in private estates without restrictions. However, if parking causes obstruction or safety risks, the Land Transport Authority can implement measures like road markings to prohibit it. Additionally, heavy goods vehicles over 5,000 kg must park at designated heavy vehicle parks from midnight to 6 am due to safety and noise concerns.

Hazel Poa raised questions regarding the calculation of Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) values by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for different areas in Singapore to identify regions underserved by public transport. She also asked if LTA could collaborate with HDB to disclose PTAL values for new BTO developments to help prospective applicants assess transport accessibility. Chee Hong Tat explained that PTAL is a supply-side measure that does not consider travel demand or individual commuter needs, therefore making it less useful for prospective BTO applicants. Instead, LTA provides information on existing and future transport infrastructure around new developments to assist in decision-making for potential buyers.