Housing & estates

• The government has introduced financial incentives like the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive and Enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme, reducing upfront EV costs by up to $40,000 in 2024, and enacted the Electric Vehicles Charging Act to ensure a safe and reliable charging network.
• Progress on EV charging infrastructure includes over 7,100 charging points installed across Singapore, with more than a third of HDB carparks equipped with chargers and over 1,100 chargers supported in non-landed private residences.
• The EV Common Charger Grant co-funds installations at non-landed private residences, and the government encourages more such properties to utilize remaining grant support for around 900 additional chargers.
• As a result of these measures, EV adoption has significantly increased, with about one out of three new cars sold in Singapore in 2024 being an EV, compared to 18% in 2023.

• Saktiandi Supaat raised concerns about whether the growing trend of contract work might affect income security and longstanding government schemes like CPF and HDB home ownership for Singaporeans.
• Tan See Leng clarified that the proportion of resident employees in contract work has actually declined to 6.6% in 2023, with more residents taking permanent jobs, and highlighted existing government support such as employment facilitation and reskilling programmes.
• The Minister assured that CPF retirement adequacy is improving across cohorts, including contract workers, and that targeted support continues for those with less retirement savings, while contract workers enjoy equal access to housing grants and loans.

• Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the rationale for the discrepancy in how HDB considers an occupier's income for housing grants but not for loan assessments.
• Desmond Lee explained that household income, including that of occupiers, is considered for housing grants to prioritize subsidies for households in need.
• For HDB loans, only the incomes of flat buyers (the borrowers) are considered since they are responsible for servicing the mortgage, while occupiers' incomes are not factored in.
• The differing approaches reflect the distinct purposes of subsidies versus loan eligibility assessments.
• This policy aims to ensure fairness in allocating housing support based on financial need and loan repayment capability.

• Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked if HDB can be more flexible for couples where one partner is studying and the other has worked over 12 months when applying for an HFE letter under the deferred income assessment scheme, and what criteria HDB uses in such cases.
• Desmond Lee explained that couples where both were full-time students or NSFs in the last 12 months are not eligible for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant and must defer income assessment to gain employment before grant eligibility is assessed.
• He noted that couples with one party already employed for 12 months before applying can qualify for the grant and do not need to defer income assessment.

• Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for National Development how many HDB shopping and office complexes with GP clinics do not have any clinics operating after office hours, on Sundays, or public holidays.
• Minister Desmond Lee explained that HDB plans for at least one GP clinic in every neighbourhood centre and precinct shop cluster, located in shopping complexes or commercial units.
• Out of 34 HDB shopping and office complexes, 31 have GP clinics, with 28 having at least one clinic operating after office hours.
• Of these 28, 26 have at least one clinic open on Sundays or both Sundays and public holidays.

• Ms Ng Ling Ling asked about interim housing options and estimated waiting times for middle-aged divorcees and retirees who need to downgrade their HDB flats due to financial constraints.
• Desmond Lee outlined that divorcees can apply for new flats after obtaining an Interim Judgment, with access to schemes like the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme for interim needs, and second-timers generally securing flats in non-mature estates within two attempts.
• Seniors monetising their homes have options like the Lease Buyback Scheme, renting out rooms, or right-sizing with the Silver Housing Bonus, and can typically book 2-room Flexi flats or Community Care Apartments within 1.5 tries on average.

• Edward Chia inquired about extending Climate Vouchers to residents of Executive Condominiums (ECs), citing their similar household per capita income to other public housing residents.
• Lim Biow Chuan asked for the number of HDB households that have claimed the vouchers and whether the vouchers could also be extended to private estate residents to promote universal energy efficiency.
• Grace Fu indicated that these questions would be addressed together with other related parliamentary queries on the Climate Friendly Households Programme during the same sitting on 2 July 2024.

• Residential property tax increased from 2023 due to higher market rents and higher tax rates for valuable private properties, but the government provided rebates in 2023 and 2024 to cushion the impact, such as zero tax for one- and two-room HDB owner-occupiers in 2024.
• From January 2025, the government will raise all Annual Value bands for owner-occupier residential property tax rates, with the change applied prospectively and taking into account the prior rebates.
• For a 4-room HDB flat with a constant Annual Value of $15,500, the monthly property tax is projected to fall from about $25 in 2024 to about $12 in 2025 without rebates.
• For an owner-occupied landed property with a constant Annual Value of $50,000, the monthly property tax is projected to fall from $200 in 2024 to $140 in 2025.

• Mariam Jaafar requested that HDB consider making clinic opening hours a criterion for new tenders or tenancy renewals at Woodlands North Plaza to ensure access during evenings, weekends, and public holidays, and asked for interim measures before current tenancies end.
• Desmond Lee responded that clinic hours are business decisions and not part of HDB's assessment criteria, but HDB works with operators to understand constraints and explore solutions to meet local needs.
• He noted that the three clinics at Woodlands North Plaza wish to continue serving residents but face manpower challenges in extending hours beyond office times.
• Residents needing urgent care after hours can use the 24-hour clinic at Block 768 Woodlands Avenue 6 or search for other clinics via the Community Health Assist Scheme clinic locator or HealthHub.

• Carrie Tan asked the Ministry for National Development to allocate dedicated season parking lots in housing estates for sole proprietors who rely on lorries, tow trucks, or goods delivery vans for their livelihood.
• Desmond Lee explained that HDB season parking prioritizes residents, including those using company-registered vehicles for sole proprietorship purposes.
• He stated that large commercial vehicles over 2,000 kg unladen weight are generally not allowed in HDB car parks due to safety and design constraints.
• HDB may consider surface car park season parking on a case-by-case basis if the vehicle fits safely and does not cause obstructions or disamenities.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned the rationale for building civil defence shelters in housing estates, the scarcity in newer estates like Sengkang and Punggol, and whether in-built HDB shelters are as safe as public ones.
• Minister K Shanmugam explained that residents have little time during war, making home shelters safer than rushing to public shelters, which are now mainly for essential activities outside.
• Since 1998, all residential developments in Singapore must have shelters in each unit or common shelters per floor or staircase.
• Public shelters at MRT stations, schools, and community centres are primarily for those conducting essential activities outside during crises.
• All civil defence shelters, whether residential or public, meet SCDF technical specifications for protection against blasts and fragmentation.
• The government considers residential shelters the most effective and will continue using them as the primary sheltering method for the public.

• Ms Foo Mee Har questioned why the increase in Annual Value bands for owner-occupier residential property tax rates will only take effect from 1 January 2025, despite sharp rent increases since 2022.
• Chee Hong Tat explained that property taxes had risen due to higher market rents and increased rates, but the government provided rebates in 2023 and 2024 to cushion the impact on households.
• The Budget 2024 announced that Annual Value bands would be raised prospectively from 1 January 2025, considering the rebates already given and ongoing cost-of-living concerns.
• With the 2025 revision, example property tax bills for HDB and landed properties are projected to be lower than in 2024 without rebates.
• The government emphasized that tax changes are applied prospectively to ensure stability and fairness in policy implementation.

• Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim questioned the Minister for National Development on HDB housing options for youths aged 12–23 who receive no financial or practical support from any living parent or relative due to parental death or separation.
• For younger orphans under 18, the Ministry of Social and Family Development places them in kinship care or alternative arrangements like foster or residential care if no suitable carers exist.
• Orphans aged 18 and above who inherit a fully paid-up HDB flat can continue living there; those under 21 may have a trust created for the flat until they turn 21, while cases with unpaid flats are handled individually with an adult guardian when appropriate.
• Adult orphans aged 21 and above can take over their parents’ flat if financially able, buy a new flat with siblings or alone under the Single Singapore Citizen scheme, or apply for public rental under the Joint Singles Scheme if they have no other options.
• For children of separated or divorced parents, the parents remain responsible for their housing needs, regardless of the children’s age.

• Ms Hany Soh questioned how HDB will prevent landlords from profiteering or price gouging, which could negate the $300 rental voucher benefit for eligible families.
• Minister Desmond Lee explained that the PPHS Voucher is a temporary support measure, disbursed directly to households without involving landlords, and families need not disclose voucher use during negotiations.
• He added that families can consult HDB InfoWeb or private listing platforms to understand market rental rates and make informed decisions before signing rental contracts.

• Gan Thiam Poh proposed that HDB shorten the BTO waiting time to 18 months, citing lessons from pandemic delays.
• Desmond Lee reported that HDB has reduced waiting times, with nearly 70% of 2023 flats ready in four years or less, and is on track to meet its target of 2,000-3,000 shorter-waiting-time flats annually a year early.
• HDB is also expanding interim housing support by doubling the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme supply and offering vouchers for rental costs, while acknowledging operational challenges in accelerating flat delivery.

• More than 50% of eligible HDB households (about 607,000) have claimed their Climate Vouchers, with around 90,000 households having started using them, and the top products redeemed are direct current fans, washing machines, and refrigerators.
• To expand the retailer base, authorities are onboarding more retailers, including heartland ones, with support for setting up point-of-sale systems through the Productivity Solutions Grant.
• The programme currently covers only HDB households, with no immediate plans to extend it to private properties, though the scheme is periodically reviewed for refinements and coverage.

• Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin inquired about the distribution of CDC vouchers for separate households residing together in public rental flats or sharing the same registered addresses under HDB’s Joint Singles Scheme.
• Minister Edwin Tong clarified that households are not disadvantaged by co-tenanted living status if they provide proof, such as a tenancy agreement, that they are separate households and have not yet claimed their vouchers.
• Assistance is available at the nearest Community Centre or Club for households facing difficulties in claiming the vouchers.
• The policy ensures equitable access to CDC vouchers for all eligible households, regardless of shared addresses or rental arrangements.
• The response reaffirms the government's commitment to supporting all Singaporean households through community development initiatives.

Sylvia Lim questioned whether the Ministry for National Development would consider reviewing the Town Councils Act 1988 to allow cyclical works for escalators to be funded from the Lift Replacement Fund (LRF) instead of the Sinking Fund. Desmond Lee confirmed that Town Councils must maintain a dedicated LRF for lift replacements, noting that these works can be infrequent but require significant funding when needed. Currently, there are no plans to extend the LRF to cover escalator works, which will continue to be financed through the Sinking Fund designated for long-term cyclical replacements. The Government will consistently review the relevant framework to ensure its effectiveness.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked if the HDB would consider allowing flat lessees moving overseas or facing financial difficulties to rent out their flats before the end of their Minimum Occupation Period at subsidized rates. Desmond Lee responded that HDB flats are intended for owner-occupation during the MOP, but appeals for renting out may be allowed on a case-by-case basis in extenuating circumstances. HDB permits owners facing financial difficulties to rent out bedrooms while occupying their flats and provides other assistance options. The Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) will double its supply of flats by 2025 to support families needing temporary housing.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim raised concerns about the need to expedite the conversion of damaged interlocking paving blocks to concrete pavements in high traffic areas to address safety hazards, particularly in Keat Hong estate. Desmond Lee explained that interlocking paving blocks have been used for over 30 years due to their ease of maintenance and environmental benefits. He emphasized that Town Councils are responsible for promptly repairing any damaged paving blocks to ensure safety. While there are no current plans to replace existing blocks, HDB has started using concrete pavements in high traffic areas of new developments since 2022 and will continue to use interlocking blocks where appropriate.