Housing & estates — Topics

4 Oct 2023

Disputes between Co-tenants of Joint Singles Scheme over Past Three Years

HDB receives an average of 270 dispute reports per year from joint tenants under the Joint Singles Scheme, representing about 2% of all households in the program.
Rent is currently charged on a household basis, which can cause disputes, but HDB has been piloting a model that charges tenants individually and provides on-site mediation.
HDB will consider expanding the individual charging model to more JSS households based on the pilot's results.

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4 Oct 2023

Number of Requests and Successful Appeals for Priority Allocation of New HDB Flats

From July 2022 to August 2023, HDB received about 8,400 appeals for priority allocation of new HDB flats, with only about 130 acceded to.
The appeals are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and priority is granted only under exceptional circumstances, such as severe financial hardship and no other housing options.
The balloting system for BTO flats is computerized to ensure fairness, with additional priority schemes for groups like married couples with children, second-timers, and seniors.

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4 Oct 2023

Projected Private Housing Units to be Launched with Co-living Concept

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Government for data on the projected number of private housing units with co-living concepts over the next five years and whether such concepts could be extended to public housing.
The Minister for National Development stated that the Government does not have data on projected private housing units with co-living concepts for the next five years.
During Our Housing Conversations, feedback on co-living as a new public housing typology for singles was mixed, with some supporting it and others ambivalent.
The Government will study the feasibility and market acceptability of co-living before deciding on its implementation.
No decision has been made yet on extending co-living concepts to the public housing market.

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4 Oct 2023

Technical Issues Associated with Issuance of HDB Flat Eligibility Letters

HDB acknowledged technical issues and high application volume caused delays in issuing HFE letters after its May 2023 implementation, affecting some applicants’ ability to complete flat purchases.
The government stated that system enhancements have been made ahead of the October 2023 BTO launch, and applicants who submitted documents by end-August would receive outcomes in time for the sales exercise.
While HDB did not specify the exact number of applications delayed beyond the 21-day service standard, it confirmed that no applicants missed the May BTO launch due to transitional arrangements and that those needing urgent resale flat assistance were helped.

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3 Oct 2023

Monitoring and Fines for Errant Contractors who Dispose of Renovation Debris and Refuse Indiscriminately

Renovation contractors must dispose of debris at NEA-approved sites by each workday, with HDB sending reminders and conducting site inspections to enforce proper disposal.
Errant contractors face a $500 fine and six demerit points for improper disposal, and may be suspended or debarred for 12 months if they accumulate 24 demerit points within 24 months.
Town Councils can issue composition notices to contractors for illegal dumping under their by-laws, adding another layer of enforcement.

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3 Oct 2023

Sharing of Costs for Maintenance of HDB Car Parks Co-located with Commercial Properties and for Clearance of Renovation Debris

Ms He Ting Ru and Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim raised questions about the maintenance of HDB car parks co-located with commercial properties and the management of renovation debris, including the justification for ceasing haulage fees and preventive measures for debris buildup.
Desmond Lee explained that Town Councils are responsible for maintaining HDB common property, including car parks, and that HDB stopped providing debris removal services in new developments since 1989, with Town Councils deciding whether to offer such services.
For the Rivervale Shores project, the car park was handed over in phases to Town Councils since May 2023, and the debris buildup in August 2023 was due to indiscriminate dumping by contractors and movers, despite weekly cleanup efforts.
HDB has measures to address improper debris disposal, including requiring contractors to use approved disposal sites, imposing financial penalties and demerit points, and taking enforcement actions against violators, with Town Councils empowered to issue composition notices.
Going forward, HDB plans to work with Town Councils on public education, enhanced surveillance, and technology, such as providing additional waste disposal capacity during move-in periods and sharing successful pilot initiatives.

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3 Oct 2023

Schedule and Budget Drawn Up for Scheme to Prioritise Inspection of Condition of Occupied HDB Rental Flats

HDB is studying ways to resume proactive annual inspections of occupied rental flats, which were disrupted by COVID-19 measures, and will share details of the revised approach and its schedule and budget once ready.
Tenants can currently report maintenance issues directly to HDB for prompt attention, while the government explores options like outsourcing or partnering community groups for preventive maintenance.
MP Denise Phua highlighted wear-and-tear issues in rental flats and suggested creative solutions, such as engaging workers from rehabilitation or community programs, to speed up maintenance and improve living conditions.

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19 Sep 2023

Maintenance of Air-conditioner Ledges of HDB Blocks

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked why air-conditioner ledges are maintained by common vendors for HDB blocks with a TOP on or before 30 April 2004, and by flat owners for those with a TOP on or after 1 May 2004, and whether a study has been done on flat owners' maintenance of these ledges.
He also questioned whether maintenance of these ledges can be standardised regardless of the TOP year and, if not, the reasons for this.
Desmond Lee explained that for flats launched from May 2004, the ledges are part of the strata area and belong to flat owners, allowing easier access for maintenance, but this cannot be applied retrospectively to older flats.
HDB does not monitor the regularity of flat owners' maintenance but conducts enforcement checks on potential killer-litter objects on these ledges where necessary.
The rationale for the different maintenance arrangements is based on the strata area inclusion for newer flats, which facilitates owner-led maintenance, while older flats retain vendor maintenance due to historical design and accessibility issues.

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19 Sep 2023

Complaints Received by HDB on Quality of Workmanship under Home Improvement Programme

HDB received an annual average of about 1,200 feedback cases on workmanship for the Home Improvement Programme over the last two years, representing roughly 1.5% of units undergoing HIP works.
HDB does not track feedback by constituency but monitors contractor performance to determine future tender suitability and conducts regular inspections to ensure quality standards.
Flat owners can report any issues with HIP works within the one-year Defects Liability Period and receive assistance from HDB.

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19 Sep 2023

Impact of Additional Restrictions on Plus and Prime HDB BTO Flats on Resale HDB Flat Prices

Gerald Giam asked whether the Ministry had projections on how additional restrictions on Plus and Prime HDB BTO flats would affect resale flat prices near those flats and nationwide.
Desmond Lee referred the question to a previous oral reply in September 2023 that addressed the social and fiscal impact of the new framework.
The debate highlighted the potential influence of the new BTO categories on the broader resale market, with the Minister indicating existing documentation on the matter.

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19 Sep 2023

Extending HDB's Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme and Home Improvement Programme to Include Water Seepage into Common Areas

Murali Pillai proposed extending HDB's Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme and Home Improvement Programme to cover water seepage from second-floor units into common areas and from internal walls affecting external paintwork.
Desmond Lee confirmed that the Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme already covers water seepage from second-floor units to common areas, with costs split equally between the Town Council and flat owner, and HDB subsidizing half of the owner's share.
He noted that water seepage from toilets is addressed under the Home Improvement Programme's upgrading works.
The Minister stated there are no plans to extend these schemes to cover repairs on common areas like external walls and void decks.

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19 Sep 2023

Proportion of HDB Units Benefiting from Blocks Undergoing Lift Upgrading Programme

In the past five years, 34 HDB blocks successfully polled for or underwent the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP).
Among these, 10 blocks had fewer than 10 benefiting units, which are units that gain direct lift access from the LUP.
The proportion of benefiting units in each block ranged from 3% to 100% of the block's total units.
HDB considers technical and financial feasibility, including cost caps per benefiting unit, rather than focusing solely on the number or proportion of benefiting units when offering LUP.
Some blocks with a small number of benefiting units were offered LUP if the cost per unit met the programme's financial criteria.

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19 Sep 2023

Increasing Powers of Public Officers in New Mandatory Mediation Framework to Include Resolving Second-hand Smoke Cases

Louis Ng asked whether the new mandatory mediation framework could be expanded to include second-hand smoke cases in HDB estates, alongside noise disputes.
K Shanmugam said an inter-agency committee is reviewing the community dispute management framework and piloting a team with investigation and enforcement powers for noise disputes.
The pilot focuses on noise as the primary source of neighbour disputes, with mandatory mediation applying, and agencies will assess expanding it to other disputes like second-hand smoke based on experience.

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19 Sep 2023

Proportion of HDB BTO Units Launched where Optional Component Scheme Is Not Applicable

From 2018 to 2022, an average of 39% of BTO flats launched each year did not come with the Optional Component Scheme because their components were pre-installed during construction.
These flats include those built with Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction, those with waiting times of three years or less, and Community Care Apartments for seniors aged 65 and above.
Pedestal pans are not part of the Optional Component Scheme and are pre-fitted in all BTO flats to meet Temporary Occupation Permit requirements.

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19 Sep 2023

Proposal for Differentiated Incentives and Restrictions for HDB BTO Flats Based on Number of Children Per Household

The Ministry is not implementing differentiated incentives or restrictions based on the number of children but is introducing new priority schemes like the First-Timer (Parents and Married Couples) category and expanding the Family and Parenthood Priority Scheme to support young married couples and parents with young children.
The justification for prioritizing families with children over singles and childless couples is to address the more urgent housing needs of parents seeking a conducive environment for their children, as determined through public consultations.
Policies are being adjusted to support single Singaporeans, including increased supply of 2-room flexi flats and more locational options from 2024, while continuing to monitor and engage the public to evolve housing policies for all segments.

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19 Sep 2023

Assurance for First-timer Flat Applicants to Obtain Units within First Three Tries Given New Classification of BTO Projects

Pritam Singh asked how the new Standard, Prime, and Plus flat classification assures first-timer families of obtaining an HDB BTO flat within their first three application attempts.
Desmond Lee responded that this issue was previously addressed in a parliamentary reply on September 18, 2023, regarding the social and fiscal impact of the new HDB framework.
The reply pointed to an official report but did not provide new details or a direct assurance in this debate.
The exchange highlights a concern about the effectiveness of the new classification in securing early housing success for first-timers.
The debate indicates a need for clearer information on how the policy translates into tangible outcomes for applicants.

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19 Sep 2023

Update on Occupancy and Waiting Time for HDB Rental Flats

As of August 2023, there are 51,500 occupied Public Rental Scheme flats with an average waiting time of five months, and 1,700 flats under the Interim Rental Housing scheme.
About 900 flats are occupied under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), which holds bi-monthly ballots with immediate move-in for successful applicants.
The number of occupied public rental flats is expected to increase slightly over the next year, but waiting times will be kept stable.
The PPHS flat supply will be doubled from 2,000 to 4,000 units by end-2025, though demand will continue to outpace supply and applicants are encouraged to consider other housing options.

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18 Sep 2023

Plans to Build More Senior-Friendly Features in Mature HDB Estates and Access to Additional Benefits under EASE 2.0

Members asked about plans for senior-friendly features in mature HDB estates and whether HDB flat owners who previously installed fittings under the original EASE can access new benefits under EASE 2.0.
The government is working across ministries to support ageing-in-place by upgrading HDB homes and precincts with more senior-friendly features.
EASE 2.0 will expand the range of fittings available for seniors, with full details to be announced when ready.

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18 Sep 2023

Plans to Integrate Flats under Public Rental Scheme into HDB BTO Projects with Plus and Prime Flats

The Minister for National Development confirmed that the Government's plans to integrate Public Rental Scheme flats into HDB BTO projects with Plus and Prime flats were addressed in a parliamentary reply on 18 September 2023.
A price cap on Plus and Prime flats was discussed, with the Minister explaining that such measures are considered within the broader BTO framework to ensure affordability.
The income ceiling for buyers of HDB Prime and Plus resale flats is tied to the prevailing income ceiling at the point of resale, not the ceiling when the flats were launched as BTO.
All queries on the new HDB framework for BTO flats, including social mixing, affordability, and resale eligibility, were comprehensively addressed in the same 18 September 2023 parliamentary session.
The responses emphasize the Government's commitment to promoting inclusive neighbourhoods while maintaining affordability in both new and resale HDB flat markets.

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18 Sep 2023

Success Rate of Self-employed Applicants for HDB Loans

From January 2020 to August 2023, about 13,000 self-employed applicants were successful in obtaining HDB loans, while 5,000 were unsuccessful.
HDB assesses applications using factors beyond CPF contributions, including job stability, monthly cash savings, age, income, existing loans, and repayment history.
Mortgage rules such as a 25-year loan tenure, 80% loan-to-value limit, 30% mortgage servicing ratio, and a 3% interest rate floor also apply to all applicants.
The Minister encouraged flat buyers to be prudent with borrowing due to the long-term financial commitment involved.

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