Housing & estates — Topics

23 Feb 2023

Data on Site Expiry Dates for HDB Flats Introduced under Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme

The Ministry of National Development reported that out of 1,430 current PPHS flats, 63% are unsold or public rental HDB flats with longer tenures, 31% are vacated SERS flats, and 6% are polytechnic apartments, with the latter two types having shorter tenures.
The Minister noted that PPHS flats from unsold HDB and public rental sources generally have more than three years of tenure, while SERS and polytechnic units have around two to three years and must be returned when needed.
A breakdown of PPHS units by flat type over the last five years was provided in a table, showing the annual distribution across unsold flats, rental flats, SERS flats, and polytechnic apartments.
The average site expiry for PPHS flats varies by source, with longer tenures for HDB flats and shorter for SERS and polytechnic units, but the exact average in years was not specified in the response.
The query included a request for the current average site expiry in years, but the Minister's reply focused on the tenure ranges and stock composition rather than providing a specific numerical average.

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23 Feb 2023

Contamination Rate of Recyclables for HDB Flats with Centralised Chute for Recyclables

The contamination rate for recyclables from HDB flats with centralised chutes is about 40% when combined with data from recycling bins.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) does not currently collect separate contamination data for recycling chutes versus bins.
The Ministry for Sustainability and the Environment will consider the feasibility and usefulness of collecting separate data for recycling chutes in the future.

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22 Feb 2023

House Price to Income Rates in Other Cities for Dwellings with Comparable Floor Area of Average HDB Flat in Singapore

Leon Perera asked for the house price to income multiple for Los Angeles, London, Sydney, and Hong Kong for a median apartment with the floor area of an average Singapore HDB flat, based on Annex 9 from a 2023 parliamentary handout.
Desmond Lee explained that the data in Annex 9 came from the 2022 Demographia International Housing Affordability Report, which uses the "median multiple" (median house price divided by gross median household income).
The report’s house price data are based on typical dwellings in each country using public sources like government sales registers and real estate reports.
The Ministry does not track the granular information requested by Leon Perera, as housing types and landscapes differ across countries.

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22 Feb 2023

Proportion of HDB Flat Owners Who Have Made Full Repayment of HDB Mortgage Loans ahead of Loan Tenure

Leong Mun Wai asked for the proportion of HDB flat owners with HDB loans who fully repaid their mortgages ahead of schedule since 2010, and how this compares to earlier cohorts.
Desmond Lee responded that around 86% of households with HDB loans from 2010 to 2022 redeemed their loans early, compared to about 83% for those with loans from 1997 to 2009.

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22 Feb 2023

Data on Percentage of Students in UPLIFT Community Network and Enhanced STEP-UP Programmes Who Live in Public Rental Flats

Mr. Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry of Education for the percentage of students in the UPLIFT Community Network and Enhanced STEP-UP Programmes living in public rental flats since their establishment, and if data is unavailable, whether the Ministry will collect it.
The UPLIFT Community Network was piloted from 2020 to 2021 and officially started in 2022, with about 900 students enrolled in 2022, half of whom lived in public rental housing.
From 2018 to 2022, the Enhanced STEP-UP programme had an average of 450 students enrolled annually, with about a third living in public rental housing.

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22 Feb 2023

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

The debate highlighted Singapore's need to strengthen its social compact and address inequality, with concerns over a potential "two Singapores" split and calls for progressive policies to support lower- and middle-income groups, while ensuring economic growth remains robust.
Specific budget measures, such as raising the CPF income ceiling, increasing HDB grants, and introducing Jobs-Skills Integrators, were discussed, with questions raised about their impact on retirement adequacy, housing affordability, and job matching effectiveness.
Members emphasized the importance of fiscal prudence, sustainable growth, and resilience against global uncertainties, including proposals to enhance tripartism, support businesses, and manage long-term challenges like aging population and climate transition.

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22 Feb 2023

Personal Explanation

Leong Mun Wai clarified a statement he made on 7 February 2023 about the Affordable Homes Scheme, correcting the last phrase of his quote to specify that the breakeven price should not be much higher than the breakeven price for current HDB owners.
He explained that the correction was necessary to ensure the official record accurately reflects his intended meaning regarding the scheme's impact on buyers' holding costs.
The correction pertains to his closing speech for the public housing Motion, where he discussed the calculation of land cost and future selling prices for flats.
The Speaker acknowledged the clarification and proceeded to the next speaker, the Second Minister for Finance.

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22 Feb 2023

Clarification by Minister for National Development

The Minister for National Development clarified a factual error in his previous speech about the Proximity Housing Grant.
He specified that the Proximity Housing Grant is only available for the purchase of resale HDB flats, not for flats in general.
This clarification was made during a debate on public housing in the Singapore Parliament.

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14 Feb 2023

Number of Resident Life and Escalator Workers in Progressive Wage Model Job Roles

Gan Thiam Poh asked for a breakdown of resident lift and escalator (L&E) workers in Progressive Wage Model (PWM) roles over the last two years and the compliance rate of L&E firms with PWM wages effective 1 July 2022.
Desmond Lee provided a tabulated breakdown of local L&E technicians by PWM job level for the past two years.
More than 40 L&E firms, covering about 95% of Singapore's L&E, have adopted the L&E PWM.
The Building and Construction Authority mandated L&E PWM as a registration requirement for all L&E maintenance firms from December 2022, with a compliance deadline of 8 June 2023.

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14 Feb 2023

Impact of Increase in Visitors from China on Singapore's Rental and Property Prices

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the potential impact of rising Chinese visitor numbers on Singapore’s rental and property prices.
The Second Minister for National Development stated that non-residents from China currently make up only a small share of property and rental transactions, accounting for 1% of private property sales and 7–14% of rental transactions in 2022.
The government will continue monitoring property market trends and adjust policies as needed to ensure stability and sustainability.

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14 Feb 2023

Data on Cost Incurred to Accelerate Development of HDB BTO Projects Announced to Date

Mr Murali Pillai asked whether HDB is incurring acceleration costs to speed up BTO projects and, if so, the estimated total and percentage of overall development costs.
Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How replied that HDB has met completion dates for announced BTO projects without incurring acceleration costs, despite progress in reducing delays from 90% in 2021 to 40% by January 2023.
He emphasized that safety and quality are not compromised in the accelerated delivery of BTOs, with extensive measures taken to address manpower shortages and streamline approvals without paying contractors extra to speed up work.

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14 Feb 2023

Recourse for Residents Faced With Long-term Water Seepage Problems in HDB Flats

Residents facing long-term water seepage in HDB flats raised concerns about unsolved cases, disruption to daily life, and risks like falls, urging the Ministry to consider compensation, buy-backs, or interim housing.
The Ministry explained that water seepage is often due to wear and tear, with repairs managed by Town Councils for external walls and by flat owners for internal ceilings, and HDB provides advice for complex cases but does not plan compensation or buy-backs.
HDB emphasized ongoing efforts to resolve challenging cases through close collaboration with Town Councils and residents, while investing in research to improve building materials and construction methods.
The Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme helps share repair costs for ceiling leaks, but enforcement actions and timelines for resolving disputes depend on case-by-case mediation and resident cooperation.

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7 Feb 2023

Factors Accounting for 74% Increase in Land Development Costs for HDB BTOs

The 74% rise in land development costs for HDB BTOs was driven mainly by a 66% increase in the number of units delivered in FY2021/2022 compared to FY2020/2021, with 13,506 units delivered versus 8,124 previously.
The per-unit land development cost increased by 5% due to a higher proportion of units in mature estates like Queenstown and Toa Payoh, which have higher land costs, and more larger flat types in non-mature estates.
Factors such as the location of land parcels and their market value at purchase also contributed, but the primary driver was the larger volume of flats built and the shift toward higher-cost estates and flat types.

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7 Feb 2023

Warranty on External Paintwork for New HDB BTO Developments and Incidence of Warranty Claims

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked when the six-year warranty specification for external paintwork on new HDB BTO developments was adopted, whether HDB monitors warranty claims, and the annual number of such claims since 2011.
Desmond Lee responded that the six-year warranty specification has been in HDB’s standard building specifications since 2004, with consultants supervising contractors to ensure compliance.
HDB does not monitor warranty claims made by Town Councils but may assist by advising on contractors’ contractual obligations during the warranty period.

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7 Feb 2023

Impact of Bioswales and Rain Gardens on Premature Deterioration of External Finishes of HDB Flats

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned if the Biophilic Town Framework's use of bioswales and rain gardens could cause premature wear on HDB flat exteriors.
Desmond Lee stated these features are placed away from building edges and do not hold standing water, thus avoiding mould and façade deterioration.
He explained bioswales and rain gardens filter pollutants from surface runoff before discharging cleaned water into PUB’s drainage systems.

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7 Feb 2023

Property Taxes Collected and Reasons for Rise in Annual Values of Residential Properties

Liang Eng Hwa asked for the projected property tax collection for FY2023/24 relative to the previous year, the factors behind the rise in annual values of residential properties, and further mitigation measures for low- and middle-income homeowners.
Lawrence Wong explained that property tax is based on annual value, which increased in 2023 due to higher market rentals, leading to higher property tax payable.
To mitigate the impact, the government provided a 60% property tax rebate for owner-occupied residential properties, capped at $60, limiting increases for HDB flat owners to a few dollars per month.
Projected property tax revenue for FY2023/24 and revised estimates for FY2022/23 will be released on 14 February 2023 with the Budget 2023 revenue and expenditure estimates.

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7 Feb 2023

Transfer of Institutional Knowledge as SLA takes Over State Land Management within HDB Estates

Murali Pillai questioned how SLA would retain HDB’s institutional knowledge, including resident concerns and local practices, when taking over state land management within HDB estates to ensure continuity in issuing Temporary Occupation Licences.
K Shanmugam announced that SLA would assume management of all state land within HDB estates from 1 March 2023, centralizing applications for interim land use to improve administrative and operational efficiency.
SLA and HDB collaborated to ensure a seamless transition for existing users, preserving data and expertise, with the HDB team managing state land being transferred to SLA to handle Temporary Occupation Licences and municipal feedback.

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7 Feb 2023

Anti-mould Paint for HDB Flat Exterior Walls for Flats Built Near Humidity Sinks

Members of Parliament asked whether anti-mould paint is standard for HDB flats near humidity sinks, what rectifications are available for premature mould growth, and if the Singapore Standard SS345 will be revised or higher-grade weather-resistant finishes considered for seafront or riverfront estates.
The Minister replied that Town Councils handle mould rectification by cleaning, patching cracks, and repainting with sealer and algae-resistant paint, noting that HDB exteriors use one coat of sealer and two coats of paint complying with Singapore Standards 579 and 345, which have been reviewed in 2021 and have prevented mould in many projects.
A technical assessment is underway to investigate mould at Anchorvale Parkview and Matilda Court, and the Singapore Standards Council may review the standards further if needed, alongside periodic updates every five to eight years.

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7 Feb 2023

Adjusting BTO Flat Balloting Chances to Ensure Good Mix of Applicants in Each Estate

Mr Zhulkarnain proposed adjusting the BTO balloting process into stages for different applicant archetypes, such as young couples, families with children, and the elderly, to ensure a good mix in each estate.
Desmond Lee explained that HDB already prioritizes applicants with greater housing needs, like first-timer families, and ensures demographic and socio-economic mix through varied flat types and integration of rental and sold units.
HDB is reviewing prioritization based on feedback from the Forward Singapore exercise to better address varying urgency in housing needs, especially for first-timers with children or lower-income families.

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7 Feb 2023

Monthly Household Income as Consideration for HDB Rental Levels for Those on Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme

Murali Pillai asked if the monthly household income of families is considered when setting rental rates for HDB flats under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS).
Desmond Lee confirmed that rental rates for PPHS flats are set based on household income, with highly subsidized rents such as $600–$900 for 3-room flats, which are 65% to 80% below market rates.
He added that applicants can view flat types and rental rates on HDB’s website and choose affordable options, with the option to co-share flats to reduce costs.
Lower-income households with no other housing options may be offered Interim Rental Housing with lower rents on a case-by-case basis.

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