Housing & estates — Topics

2 Aug 2022

Risk Assessment of Borrowers Defaulting on Floating Rate Loan Packages

MAS assesses that household debt remains healthy with low non-performing mortgages and strong financial resilience due to regulatory measures like the TDSR buffer and loan-to-value limits.
Stress tests indicate most households, including those on floating rate loans, can service debt even under scenarios of income loss and sharp interest rate hikes, though a small highly leveraged segment may be more affected.
Borrowers facing difficulties are urged to contact lenders early for refinancing or restructuring, with support available for HDB homeowners through standardized interventions.

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2 Aug 2022

Singaporean and Permanent Resident Flat Owners Renting Out HDB Flats Whilst Owning Private Residential Property

Pritam Singh asked for the number of Singaporean and Permanent Resident HDB flat owners renting out their flats while owning private property as of 31 December 2011 and 2021.
As of 31 December 2011, about 6,100 households (0.7% of HDB households) did this, with 97% (5,900) being Singaporean and about 200 being Permanent Residents.
Since January 2013, Permanent Resident households are prohibited from renting out their whole HDB flat and must sell it if they acquire private residential property.
As of 31 December 2021, about 21,000 Singaporean households (2.1% of HDB households) rented out their flats while owning private property.
The data reflects policy changes aimed at ensuring HDB flats are primarily for owner-occupation by Singaporeans.

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2 Aug 2022

Grants and Allowance under Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme

The $30,000 Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) grant and $10,000 moving allowance are established to help eligible households purchase replacement flats and cover relocation expenses, with figures set based on historical housing and moving costs.
HDB reviews these benefits holistically before each SERS announcement, considering compensation for existing flats at prevailing market values and additional support to ensure residents can afford new homes.
The removal allowance is periodically reviewed based on factors like mover costs, while the SERS grant is assessed as needed, taking into account current market conditions and renovation expenses through schemes like the Optional Component Scheme.

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2 Aug 2022

Design Features and Materials that Ensure Easy Maintenance of HDB Flats

HDB regularly reviews its flat designs to adapt to changing demographics, social trends, and lifestyle needs like working from home, using flexible layouts with columns pushed to the edges.
HDB selects durable, low-maintenance materials such as laminated uPVC doors and ensures architectural design and construction detailing minimize defects and reduce maintenance needs.
Design features include safe access provisions for maintenance vehicles and personnel, with guidelines for consultants and compliance checks by HDB.
HDB continuously reviews designs to incorporate new maintenance technologies and feedback from Town Councils and residents, while homeowners are responsible for periodic home care maintenance.

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2 Aug 2022

Average Waiting Time for HDB Rental Flats or Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme Flats to be Allocated to Those Affected by BTO Completion Delays

Mr Edward Chia asked about the estimated waiting time for interim HDB rental flats or PPHS flats for those affected by BTO completion delays and whether waiting times have improved since January 2022.
Desmond Lee stated that PPHS applicants are selected via a bi-monthly ballot, with selected applicants able to move in immediately after selection, and the timeline has not changed since January 2022.
The government has increased PPHS supply by about 200 units since August 2021 and is on track to add 800 more by 2023, reducing the application rate to nine times per unit.
For Interim Rental Housing, allocations are case-by-case and depend on family preferences; both PPHS and IRH balances help needy groups while addressing BTO delays.
Approximately half of PPHS applicants invited to select a flat do not do so, suggesting many have other temporary housing options.

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2 Aug 2022

Measures to Mitigate Rising Temperatures and Create More Conducive Working and Living Environments

The Ministry of National Development outlined measures such as planting nearly 90,000 trees in industrial estates under the OneMillionTrees movement, using cool paints on HDB blocks, and incorporating greenery on multi-storey carparks to reduce ambient temperatures, with plans to expand these efforts by 2030.
Agencies are conducting studies on optimal tree species for cooling, monitoring temperatures via sensors, and using environmental modelling in HDB design to enhance thermal comfort, including building orientation, wind flow optimization, and exploring double-glazed windows to minimize heat transfer.
The government adopts a holistic, inter-agency approach to climate adaptation, with cross-Ministerial coordination led by the Inter-Ministerial Committee and specific initiatives like the HDB Green Towns Programme to reduce energy consumption and improve livability, while addressing health and safety concerns for vulnerable groups.

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1 Aug 2022

Additional Ballot Chances for Applicants with More Than Five Unsuccessful Attempts to Buy HDB BTO or Sale of Balance Flats in Non-mature Estates

Mariam Jaafar proposed exponentially increasing ballot chances for applicants with over five unsuccessful attempts to buy HDB BTO or Sale of Balance Flats in non-mature estates.
Desmond Lee stated that first-timer families already receive two initial ballot chances and an extra chance for each subsequent non-mature estate BTO application after two unsuccessful tries.
He noted that virtually all first-timer families succeed within three tries for non-mature estate BTO flats, so no further increase is needed.
Regarding Sale of Balance Flats, Lee said additional ballot chances are not meaningful due to limited supply and high demand, suggesting applicants focus on non-mature estate BTO flats instead.

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1 Aug 2022

Income Criteria For Assessing HDB Housing Loan Applications Under Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme

HDB assesses the total household income, including non-resident spouses, when determining eligibility for the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme to ensure mortgage subsidies go to households needing them most.
The income ceiling check considers all household members listed in the application, regardless of their citizenship status.
For computing the HDB loan quantum, only the incomes of the flat buyers (borrowers) are considered, not those of other occupiers.
HDB may consider case-by-case appeals to include an occupier's income when determining the loan quantum.
The system aims to prioritize households that truly require financial assistance while maintaining clear eligibility criteria.

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1 Aug 2022

Waiver of Resale Levies on Flats Acquired under Selective En-Bloc Redevelopment Scheme

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis questioned whether HDB has waived resale levies for SERS flat owners on a case-by-case basis and if exemptions could be granted to current and future affected households.
Desmond Lee explained that SERS households buying a new subsidised replacement flat are already exempt from the resale levy as a concession, while those with prior unsubsidised flat sales face a capped levy of $30,000.
He noted that SERS flat owners liable for the levy can avoid payment by selling their flat on the open market or opting for an ex-gratia payment, enabling them to purchase a resale flat without the levy.

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1 Aug 2022

Malay Households Owning HDB Flats, Relinquishing Ownership and Applying for and Living in 1- and 2-Room Rental Flats in 2021 and 2022

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked for statistics on Malay households moving from rental flats to homeownership, relinquishing HDB ownership to apply for rental flats, and the number living in 1- and 2-room rental flats as of June 2022.
Minister Desmond Lee stated that between January and June 2022, about 140 Malay households transitioned from rental flats to owning HDB flats.
He noted that between June 2021 and June 2022, about 70 Malay households gave up their HDB ownership to apply for public rental flats.
As of June 2022, approximately 17,600 Malay households were living in public rental flats.
The government will continue collaborating with social agencies and community partners to support rental households in achieving home ownership.

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1 Aug 2022

Number of Malay Households Attaining Home Ownership under Project Dian@M³ Since Its Inception

Since Project Dian@M³ began in December 2021, no Malay households have yet attained home ownership under the scheme, as all engaged families are still working towards this goal.
The project has reached 170 out of 252 Malay/Muslim families across three zones: 49 in Bedok, 72 in Geylang Serai, and 49 in Jalan Besar.
The initiative provides wrap-around support by linking families with community and national programmes to address challenges like employment, family issues, and health, aiming to eventually help them purchase their own HDB flats.

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1 Aug 2022

Efficacy of Anti-Aedes Mosquito Paint and Plans to Encourage Its Use for Buildings

Hany Soh inquired whether the Ministry has explored the efficacy of anti-Aedes mosquito paint and plans to encourage its use in buildings like HDB flats, especially during repainting works in common corridors and void decks.
Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the National Environment Agency has reviewed such paint and noted that its effectiveness varies based on active ingredients, surface materials, and environmental conditions, and is hampered by insecticide resistance.
The overall effectiveness of anti-mosquito paint against dengue has not been proven, and there is currently no scientific data to support its widespread use for dengue control.
No plans were indicated to encourage the adoption of this paint for buildings, as its efficacy remains unverified.
The debate highlights a cautious approach by the Ministry, emphasizing the need for scientific evidence before promoting anti-mosquito paint as a public health measure.

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1 Aug 2022

Personal Mobility Device-related Fires in HDB Blocks

Yip Hon Weng asked about the number of PMD-related fires in HDB blocks in the past year, whether there is an increasing trend since 2021, how many cases were due to non-compliance with UL2272 standards, and if penalties apply for non-compliance.
K Shanmugam replied that in 2021, there were 18 PMD-related fires in HDB blocks, all involving non-compliant or unverified PMDs, and from January to June 2022, there were five such fires, down from 11 in the same period of 2021, with all also involving non-compliant or unverified devices.
An inter-agency taskforce investigates PMD-related fires, and users of non-compliant PMDs can be fined up to S$10,000, imprisoned for up to six months, or both.

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1 Aug 2022

Applications for HDB Loan Eligibility Letter by Singapore Citizens with Spouses on Long-Term Visit Passes

The Minister reported that HDB received about 400 monthly applications from Singapore citizens with non-resident spouses for an HLE letter from January to June 2022, but does not track the specific work pass types of the spouses.
HDB considers only the incomes of the flat buyers (Singapore citizen borrowers) when determining the loan quantum in an HLE letter, not the incomes of any occupiers, including spouses on LTVPs.
Appeals to include an occupier’s income for loan quantum computation are considered by HDB on a case-by-case basis.

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1 Aug 2022

Number of Owners Having Breached Terms and Conditions for Renting Out Rooms in HDB Flats

Between 2017 and 2021, HDB revoked 41 room rental approvals due to breaches of terms and conditions, representing less than 0.01% of the 456,000 approved applications.
Common reasons for breaches include failure to update HDB on tenant changes and exceeding the occupancy cap.
Owners whose rental approvals are revoked may submit a new application if they meet the conditions, and there is no appeal process mentioned.

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1 Aug 2022

Actions against Contractors who Illegally Dump Renovation Debris at Common Areas of HDB Flats

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked whether HDB will suspend or debar contractors who illegally dump renovation debris in common areas of HDB flats.
Desmond Lee stated that contractors must dispose of debris at NEA-approved sites daily and face a $500 penalty and six demerit points for improper disposal.
Contractors accumulating 24 demerit points within 24 months are barred from new HDB renovation works for 12 months.
Town Councils can also enforce by-laws and issue composition notices to contractors for dumping offences at HDB common areas.

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1 Aug 2022

Recourse for HDB Flat Lessees Given Misrepresentations by Home Improvement Programme Contractors

Leon Perera asked what recourse HDB flat lessees have if pressured or misled by HIP contractors about opting into improvement works, while Desmond Lee explained that HIP addresses ageing flat issues with essential works fully funded for Singapore Citizens and optional works heavily subsidised, with contractors barred from influencing residents.
Residents can opt out of optional works like toilet upgrades but must pass a water test to check for leaks, and if pressured or misrepresented, they can report to HDB for investigation and appropriate action.
HDB will investigate complaints of contractor misconduct and take action, ensuring flat owners are not unduly influenced in their choices for optional HIP works.

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1 Aug 2022

Use of Per Capita Annual Value of Homes as Basis for Assistance Packages to Offset Cost of Living

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked whether future cost-of-living assistance could use the per capita annual value of homes to better support larger families in non-HDB flats.
Lawrence Wong explained that social support schemes are means-tested using criteria like per capita household income, while annual value serves as a proxy for wealth and family support, with appeals possible for borderline cases.
Some support measures, such as recent utility credits and CDC vouchers, are not means-tested and provided to all households.
The government will continue reviewing assistance criteria for appropriateness and fiscal sustainability, prioritizing those with greater need.

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1 Aug 2022

Success Rate for BTO Applications and Projected Number of BTO Flats Coming Onstream in Sengkang and Punggol

In the past five years, approximately 6,000 applicants for BTO flats in Sengkang and Punggol were unsuccessful out of 26,000 total applicants.
The government has safeguarded 45 parcels of land in Sengkang and Punggol for future residential developments, including public housing.
HDB will offer a range of flat types from 2-room Flexi to 5-room/3Gen flats in upcoming BTO projects in these areas.
Specific details on the projected number and room types of new BTO flats will be confirmed and announced closer to the sales launch.

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1 Aug 2022

Petition

Non-Constituency Member Leong Mun Wai presented a petition from five residents of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 Blocks 562-565 regarding the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), alleging lack of transparency and unfair treatment.
The petition calls for a comprehensive review of SERS, including independent evaluation of sites, public disclosure of intended land use, and relocation priority for affected residents within the vicinity.
It requests waiver of the Resale Levy, full reimbursement of stamp and legal fees, and ex-gravita payments for renovation costs adjusted for inflation in all future SERS exercises.
The petitioners seek a moratorium on SERS until a review is completed and its findings are deliberated by Parliament.
The Deputy Speaker referred the petition to the Public Petitions Committee following parliamentary procedure.

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