Housing & estates

Nadia Ahmad Samdin questioned the Minister for National Development about the criteria for removing HDB flat resale listings from the HDB Flat Portal and the mechanism for addressing unrealistic pricing. Desmond Lee explained that the Resale Flat Listing (RFL) service ensures accuracy and protects public interest by monitoring listings for misinformation and unrealistic prices. HDB removes listings that contain misleading information or violate policies and communicates the reasons for removal to sellers. Listings can be reinstated once the identified issues, such as price adjustments or corrections, are resolved, supporting a stable property market.

Christopher de Souza raised concerns about how HDB supports maintenance for older residential estates beyond the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), specifically regarding piping and cracked walls. Desmond Lee explained that Town Councils handle common property maintenance while flat owners are responsible for their interior maintenance. The HIP addresses common issues for flats around 30 years old, including structural repairs, and flat owners can seek help from Town Councils for main soil pipe issues or hire licensed plumbers for other repairs. Minor wall cracks in interiors do not affect safety and can be repaired by owners, while Town Councils inspect and maintain exterior walls. HDB offers a Home Care Guide on its InfoWEB to assist flat owners in maintaining their homes.

Christopher de Souza raised concerns about high rental costs for residential and commercial properties amid rising interest rates and market uncertainties. Desmond Lee outlined several measures the government is implementing to alleviate rental pressures, including increasing housing supply with nearly 100,000 residential units expected by 2025 and offering rental support schemes for low-income families. Additionally, the government has relaxed occupancy caps for larger HDB and private flats to accommodate more tenants, which has contributed to stabilizing rental prices. The supply of commercial space is also set to increase significantly, helping to ease commercial rental pressures, with current trends showing stabilization in both private and commercial rents. The government will continue to monitor and adjust policies as needed.

He Ting Ru asked about plans to address peak-hour crowding on the North East Line and Circle Line due to upcoming housing developments in Fernvale North. Chee Hong Tat responded that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) monitors housing developments closely and collaborates with transport operators to increase capacity as needed. LTA has already introduced short-trip bus services to connect Fernvale residents to MRT stations during peak hours and is planning more express bus services. The completion of the Cross Island Line will further enhance public transport options for residents. Chee clarified that the projected number of new homes referenced by He did not originate from URA or other government agencies.

Lim Biow Chuan asked if HDB would permit BTO flat applicants to request a review for a higher loan quantum if their income improves after applying but before collecting keys. Desmond Lee referred Lim to a previous written reply regarding the policy, indicating there has been no change since April 2024 on HDB's considerations for housing loan applications and loan quantums.

Lim Biow Chuan asked if HDB would allocate more completed flats for the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise to assist residents in urgent need of affordable housing. Desmond Lee clarified that HDB does not set aside flats for SBF; the number of available flats varies based on unsold BTO units and repurchased flats. He noted that most flats offered under SBF are still under construction, resulting in longer wait times for successful applicants. HDB has been working to reduce waiting times for BTO flats, bringing them back to three to four years and planning to launch 2,800 shorter waiting time flats in 2023, with a target of 2,000 to 3,000 per year thereafter.

Alex Yam Ziming raised questions about the adequacy of public EV charging points in Singapore, the ramp-up rate for their provision, and the demand for fast-charging points in HDB estates. Gan Thiam Poh inquired about the number of new EVs registered by HDB residents and the utilization rate of EV chargers at HDB car parks. Chee Hong Tat reported that one in three new cars sold recently are EVs, with a significant number owned by HDB residents. The EV charging infrastructure is on pace to ensure every HDB town has charging points by 2025, with initiatives underway to increase the number of fast chargers in key locations to support EV adoption.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the number of infringements related to short-term accommodation under the Planning Act 1998, the fines imposed, and whether platforms hosting these listings are fined. Desmond Lee reported that since 2019, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) imposed 64 fines and prosecuted 15 individuals for misusing residential properties for short-term rentals, impacting local residents. First-time offenders face fines up to $5,000, while repeat offenders can be fined significantly more, with examples of individuals fined over $1 million for multiple properties. URA targets enforcement actions at property owners rather than online platforms, although it engages with these platforms to ensure compliance with local laws. URA will continue to monitor and review its enforcement measures.

Pritam Singh asked if HDB could improve the processing time for BTO applications to avoid complications with unfavourable ballot numbers. Desmond Lee highlighted that around 40% of BTO applicants previously didn't book a flat, which adversely affected other potential buyers. To improve efficiency, HDB has implemented stricter rules where applicants who do not select a flat will incur a non-selection count (NSC) that affects their eligibility in future exercises. Applicants invited to book flats at the end of the selection process have protections in place regarding NSCs, and those with larger queue numbers may reapply in subsequent sales. HDB's rules apply uniformly, ensuring fairness to all applicants, even those invited to book in multiple exercises.

• Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi questioned the measures to prevent regulatory infractions such as purchasing private properties, unauthorized rental, or non-occupancy by owners of Prime Location and HDB Plus flats due to their longer Minimum Occupation Period (MOP).
• Desmond Lee responded that HDB informs buyers of MOP rules at multiple stages—application, booking, and lease signing—to ensure awareness and informed decisions.
• HDB publicizes enforcement actions against errant owners to build public awareness, and flat owners can seek information via HDB InfoWEB or direct queries.
• Property agents are required to perform due diligence and provide accurate advice to clients to ensure MOP compliance.
• The government will continue these efforts under the new flat classification framework (Standard, Plus, and Prime) to maintain adherence to MOP rules.

• Between January 2019 and June 2024, 104 HDB flats were compulsorily acquired for lease infringements, with 84 due to serious violations like unauthorized rental or breach of the Minimum Occupation Period.
• The vast majority (88%) of affected owners had the re-acquired flat as their sole property, though most were already living elsewhere prior to acquisition, which did not disrupt their housing.
• For the small minority with pressing housing needs after acquisition, HDB provided support such as facilitating the purchase of another flat or allocation of a public rental flat.

• Dr Wan Rizal asked about the success rate, assessment criteria, and support for HDB flat owners appealing for Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) waivers due to genuine difficulties.
• Minister Desmond Lee stated that HDB does not track the total number of unique appeals, so a success rate is not available.
• In 2023, HDB approved about 1,000 waiver appeals based on case-by-case assessments for extenuating circumstances like overseas job postings or medical reasons.
• HDB assesses each appeal individually and encourages owners facing genuine difficulties to approach them for assistance.
• The response did not specify detailed support measures for homeowners navigating the appeal process.

• Melvin Yong inquired about the occupancy rate of HDB flats under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) and the take-up rate of the PPHS (Open Market) Voucher since its launch on 1 July 2024.
• The occupancy rate for PPHS HDB flats is approximately 90%, with the remaining flats available for selection in the August 2024 application exercise.
• As of 30 July 2024, HDB received 90 applications for the PPHS (Open Market) Voucher.

• The Minister for National Development stated that HDB does not collect data on whether flat owners are self-employed and therefore cannot provide the number of self-employed persons paying by cash or CPF or the percentage at higher risk of repossession.
• HDB has no preference for how flat owners service their mortgage loans and does not plan to introduce incentives to encourage payment by CPF instead of cash.
• Homeowners facing payment difficulties are encouraged to contact HDB early to explore support options.

• Don Wee asked if the land parcels at 5A, 7A, and 11A Choa Chu Kang Grove, used for semi-permanent Quick Build Dormitories, remain zoned for residential use.
• Desmond Lee confirmed that under the Master Plan 2019, the parcels at 5A and 7A are zoned for residential use and the parcel at 11A is zoned for health and medical care use.
• He stated there are currently no changes to these land use plans.

• The temporary relaxation of the occupancy cap from six to eight unrelated persons for larger HDB flats and private properties was implemented to address rental demand-supply mismatches.
• The Minister highlighted that the measure, along with other policies, has shown early signs of success, with median rents for 4-room and larger HDB flats stabilizing in Q1 2024.
• This stabilization contrasts with the average quarterly rent increases of about 5.3% seen from 2022 to 2023, indicating the measure's effectiveness in curbing rent hikes.
• The government will continue to monitor the property market and may recalibrate measures as needed.
• The debate focused on assessing the relaxation's impact on open market rents, which have now stabilized rather than continued rising sharply.

• MP Gan Thiam Poh questioned why parents buying their child's HDB flat are ineligible for CPF Housing Grant, Enhanced CPF Housing Grant, and Proximity Housing Grant, and asked about other available grants.
• Minister Desmond Lee explained that such parents are ineligible because they often acquire a larger flat, which contradicts the policy of encouraging seniors to right-size to smaller flats for retirement.
• Seniors who right-size to a 3-room or smaller flat can receive the Silver Housing Bonus of up to $30,000.
• Parents facing extenuating circumstances can appeal to HDB for case-by-case evaluation of eligibility for housing grants.

• Joan Pereira asked whether the government plans to subsidize or grant blanket approval for residents in HDB rental flats to install energy-efficient air-conditioning units.
• Desmond Lee confirmed that HDB rental tenants must obtain consent before installing air-conditioners, which is standard practice, and HDB generally approves such requests based on tenants' circumstances.
• HDB households, including rental tenants, can use $300 climate vouchers to offset the cost of energy-efficient appliances like air-conditioners from participating retailers.
• The government will provide up to $950 in U-Save rebates this financial year to help eligible households offset utility expenses, covering about eight months of bills for one- and two-room flat dwellers.
• These measures aim to support residents in adopting energy-saving appliances while maintaining existing approval processes and financial assistance schemes.

• Joan Pereira asked if climate vouchers or subsidies for eco-friendly appliances could be extended to households in private properties.
• Grace Fu Hai Yien referred her to a written reply from 2 July 2024 regarding the Climate Friendly Households Programme.
• The reply addressed related questions on the redemption rate for climate vouchers.
• No direct commitment was made to extend the vouchers to private property households in the debate.
• The discussion highlighted ongoing consideration of equitable access to climate incentives.

• The Minister acknowledged that resale flat prices have risen due to pandemic-related supply disruptions and increased demand but noted the government has ramped up BTO supply, completed a record number of flats, and introduced cooling measures to moderate demand.
• The government stated that most resale flats remain affordable, with high-priced transactions being a small minority often linked to unique attributes like location, size, or floor level, and found no conclusive evidence that the PLH model has driven up resale prices in non-PLH flats.
• While the Minister thanked the member for suggestions like a price cap, the government emphasized its focus on supply-demand balance and targeted grants, cautioning buyers about market cycles and encouraging financial prudence.