Housing & estates — Topics

5 Jul 2022

Applicants on Waitlist for HDB Rental Flats who are Divorced Males Broken Down by Age Group

There are approximately 1,700 approved applicants on the waitlist for HDB rental flats, with 350 (21%) being male divorcees.
Among male divorcees, 3% are below 35 years old, 53% are aged 35 to 59, and 44% are 60 and above.
Divorcees may apply as a family nucleus if they have care and control of a child or as singles if they do not.

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5 Jul 2022

Considerations Determining Changes to Monthly Household Income Ceiling for Purchasing HDB Flats and Executive Condominiums

The Minister for National Development explained that income ceilings for subsidised HDB flats and Executive Condominiums are reviewed regularly to ensure housing remains affordable and subsidies reach those most in need, considering factors like household incomes and market conditions.
In 2019, income ceilings were raised from $12,000 to $14,000 for new flats and from $14,000 to $16,000 for ECs, alongside introducing the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant to support lower- to middle-income families.
The current $14,000 ceiling allows about 80% of Singaporeans to buy subsidised flats, with no income restriction for resale flats outside prime locations, as the government monitors the market to maintain accessibility.

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5 Jul 2022

Plans to Ensure Affordability of HDB BTO and Resale Flats

Shawn Huang asked about the 10-year trend of median household income versus BTO and resale flat prices and long-term affordability plans.
Desmond Lee stated that HDB BTO flats come with subsidies and grants, while resale flat prices are market-agreed but supported by grants, and both have remained affordable as incomes outpaced flat prices.
Between 2012 and 2021, BTO and resale flat prices in non-mature estates increased modestly while incomes grew significantly, keeping housing costs below 25% of monthly income.
Most first-timers use CPF to service loans with little cash outlay, well below the international benchmark of 30-35% for housing costs.
The government plans to increase BTO supply, targeting up to 23,000 flats annually in 2022-2023 and up to 100,000 from 2021-2025, while monitoring demand and trends to ensure affordability.

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5 Jul 2022

Waiting Times for HDB BTO Projects Over Last 10 Years By Percentile

The Minister for National Development provided the 25th percentile, median, average, and 75th percentile of actual waiting times for HDB BTO projects launched between 2012 and 2021 that have been completed.
For projects still under construction, the median estimated waiting time is about 4.3 years, which has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and the trend of building taller blocks to meet housing demand.
The Minister noted that with improving conditions, construction momentum is gradually returning, and HDB will continue to work to minimize delays while ensuring safety and quality.

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5 Jul 2022

Flat Options and Completion Dates of Replacement Flats for Affected Residents in Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme Exercise in Ang Mo Kio

Miss Cheryl Chan raised concerns about the limited flat options and completion dates for seniors affected by the SERS exercise in Ang Mo Kio, questioning if they have suitable retirement homes and if BTO flats will be available before 2028.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that SERS provides compensation, grants, and replacement flats with fresh leases, along with priority for BTO or SBF applications and options for resale flats or short-lease 2-room Flexi flats for seniors.
For the Ang Mo Kio SERS exercise, compensation generally allows purchase of a similar replacement flat, though possibly smaller, and additional options include 50-year lease flats or Lease Buyback Scheme for seniors to secure familiar housing without long leases.

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5 Jul 2022

Allowing Existing HDB Flat Owners whose Flats are Within Minimum Occupation Period to Apply for New BTO Flats

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim proposed allowing existing HDB flat owners still within the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) to apply for new BTO flats to facilitate advance planning.
Desmond Lee explained that the MOP ensures HDB flats are primarily for owner-occupation and deters speculation, and current rules prevent flat owners from applying for new BTO flats during the MOP to prioritize limited supply for first-time buyers.
The minister noted that flat owners with urgent housing needs can consider resale flats, Sale of Balance Flats, or open booking options, and HDB considers case-by-case appeals for extenuating circumstances.

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5 Jul 2022

More Chances for Applicants Buying HDB BTO Flats Near Parents

Lim Biow Chuan proposed giving HDB BTO flat applicants four ballot chances when applying for flats near their parents.
Desmond Lee outlined existing priority schemes like the Married Child Priority Scheme and Multi-Generation Priority Scheme that support living near parents, including set-aside quotas and additional ballot chances for first-timer families.
The government also offers the Proximity Housing Grant for resale flat buyers and will continue reviewing public housing policies to meet buyers' needs.

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5 Jul 2022

Higher Foreign Manpower Quota for Town Councils to Better Meet Cleanliness Expectations of Singaporeans

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry proposed increasing the foreign manpower quota for Town Councils to better meet Singaporeans' cleanliness expectations in HDB estates.
The Government acknowledged the difficulty in recruiting locals for cleaning work and has allowed Town Council contractors to hire Work Permit holders from non-traditional sources to ensure sufficient manpower.
While foreign workers help meet current needs, the Government does not intend to keep increasing quotas and encourages Town Councils to adopt automation and best practices to reduce reliance on manual labor.
Town Councils facing exceptional circumstances can request additional foreign workers beyond the allocated quota, and MND will work with MOM to assess such requests.
The debate centers on balancing the need for adequate cleaning manpower with policies to encourage productivity improvements and sustainable workforce practices.

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5 Jul 2022

Encouraging Banks to Help Retired Seniors Refinance Housing Loans

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked the Prime Minister whether MAS can encourage banks to help retired seniors above 65 refinance their housing loans, as many are turned down despite having the financial means.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam clarified that borrowers are exempt from total debt servicing ratio, mortgage servicing ratio, and loan-to-value limits when refinancing owner-occupied properties, allowing them to explore options after the lock-in period.
Financial institutions conduct credit assessments considering factors like rental income, repayment records, and loan-to-property value, and may require a joint borrower or guarantor to ensure long-term repayment ability.
Local banks have committed to be facilitative to borrowers with financial means, and borrowers are encouraged to approach lenders to discuss refinancing options when needed.

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5 Jul 2022

Plans to Offer Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme to Residents before 2039

The government is developing the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS) for older HDB estates, with residents voting on participation.
VERS will be offered when flats are around 70 years old, and terms will be less generous than the existing SERS due to lower redevelopment potential.
Officials are finalizing details such as precinct selection, voting thresholds, compensation, and rehousing options, and will consult the public before sharing more information.

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5 Jul 2022

Communal Space Allocation Per Dwelling Unit for New HDB BTO Flats

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked if HDB can increase communal space allocation per dwelling unit for new BTO flats to better support social services like childcare and senior activity centres.
Desmond Lee stated that HDB collaborates with relevant agencies to plan Social Communal Facilities based on demand, location, and demographics, with spaces either built upfront or safeguarded for future use.
Communal facilities are integrated into multi-storey carparks or standalone buildings, and common spaces like precinct pavilions and Community Living Rooms are provided for community gatherings.
HDB regularly reviews space allocation norms with agencies and local advisers to meet the evolving needs of residents.

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5 Jul 2022

Location of Commercial and Coffee Shop Space within HDB Estates and Efforts to Keep Food Prices Affordable Given Recent High Transacted Sale Prices of Coffee Shops

HDB plans the location of coffee shops and commercial spaces in both mature and new housing estates based on household density, resident accessibility, and the availability of nearby amenities, aiming for most residents to reach a coffee shop within a 10-minute walk.
To address high transacted prices of privately owned coffee shops, the government promotes competition by ensuring a good supply of coffee shops in each town, supports social enterprise operators, and has shifted since 1998 to renting rather than selling HDB coffee shops, with price-quality tenders to encourage affordable food options.
HDB monitors resale and rental markets for coffee shops and food prices, has built 34 new coffee shops in the last four years with 30 more planned, and is expanding hawker centres to provide additional affordable cooked food choices for residents.

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4 Jul 2022

Senior Citizens Affected by HDB's Recent Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme in Ang Mo Kio and Help Available with New Housing Loan If Needed

About 350 senior flat owners aged 55 and above are affected by the SERS exercise in Ang Mo Kio, with most having fully paid their housing loans or not taken one initially.
Most seniors can use compensation to buy a similar replacement flat on a fresh 99-year lease, with options like 2-room Flexi flats with short leases or new 3-room flats on a 50-year lease.
Additional options include the Lease Buyback Scheme for SERS flats followed by a short-lease replacement, designed to reduce the need for new housing loans.
The government has provided these options to address seniors’ preferences for familiar locations and smaller leases, ensuring no loan is required for those choosing the new options.

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4 Jul 2022

Benefits of Smart Car Park System Developed by ST Engineering and NTU and Plans for More Such Barrier-free Access

Melvin Yong asked about the benefits of the Smart Car Park System by ST Engineering and NTU and plans for more barrier-free smart car parks.
Desmond Lee stated that car park operators can adopt technologies like HDB’s barrier-free Parking@HDB system, which uses cameras for vehicle detection and automatic payment via mobile app.
HDB is evaluating and finetuning the pilot at Punggol Northshore before scaling it up to other HDB car parks.

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4 Jul 2022

HDB Resale Flats Sold for Over $1 Million in Past Five Years

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about the percentage increase of HDB resale flats sold for over $1 million in the past five years.
Minister Desmond Lee reported that such sales increased by 4.6 times from 46 flats in 2017 to 259 flats in 2021, but still represent only 0.4% of all HDB resale transactions, with high prices linked to prime locations or larger floor areas.
The government announced measures like reducing the Loan-to-Value limit to 85% and ramping up BTO flat supply to promote housing affordability and meet demand.
HDB plans to launch up to 23,000 flats per year in 2022 and 2023, and up to 100,000 flats total from 2021 to 2025 if needed, to ensure public housing remains affordable and accessible.

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4 Jul 2022

Number of Applications and Quantum of Cash Bonus Disbursed under Silver Housing Bonus Scheme in Past Five Years

Don Wee asked the Minister for National Development for the number of applications and cash bonus quantum disbursed under the Silver Housing Bonus scheme over the past five years.
Desmond Lee responded that the figures are available in Table 1, covering households that took up the scheme and the total cash bonuses given each year.
The debate focused on providing statistical data on the scheme’s usage and financial disbursements over the specified period.

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4 Jul 2022

Average HDB Flat Size for Each Flat Type Completed in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020

Hazel Poa asked the Minister for National Development for the average HDB flat size for each flat type completed in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020.
Desmond Lee stated that HDB flat sizes have remained unchanged since 1997 while average household sizes have decreased.
The Minister provided Table 1 showing the average size and typical range of flat sizes for each flat type in the specified years.

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4 Jul 2022

Median, Lower and Upper Quartile Actual Waiting Time for HDB BTO Flats in Past 10 Years

Ms Hazel Poa requested the median, lower and upper quartile actual waiting times for HDB BTO flats over the past 10 years, broken down by year of key collection.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that construction time is affected by site conditions and building height, with difficult sites or taller buildings leading to longer waiting times.
The minister provided the requested waiting time data in a table and noted that pre-COVID, waiting times were about three to four years, but the pandemic caused delays of six to nine months.
He attributed recent longer waiting times to pandemic-related disruptions, supply chain issues, and HDB’s development of higher-rise flats to meet strong demand, but expects improvements as construction recovers.
HDB aims to minimize delays while maintaining safety and quality, with better progress anticipated barring unforeseen circumstances.

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4 Jul 2022

Data on Primary 4 Students Failing One, Two or More Subjects or Passing All Subjects and Living in Public Rental Flats

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry of Education for the percentage of Primary 4 students living in public rental flats who failed one subject, failed two or more subjects, or passed all subjects over the past five years, and whether the ministry would collect this data if unavailable.
Chan Chun Sing provided average figures from the past five years, showing that 4.5% of students who failed one subject, 12.6% who failed two or more subjects, and 0.8% who passed all subjects live in public rental flats.
The Ministry noted that schools support struggling students through remediation and foundation-level subjects from Primary 5 to strengthen fundamentals for secondary school.

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4 Jul 2022

Setting up an Alliance for Action for JTC, LTA, URA, HDB and Major Logistics Companies to Look into Shortage of Heavy Vehicle Parking Lots

Don Wee proposed setting up an Alliance for Action involving multiple agencies and logistics companies to address the shortage of heavy vehicle parking lots by optimizing underutilized premises like JTC flatted factories near HDB estates.
Gan Kim Yong noted that as of December 2021, there are more heavy vehicle parking lots than registered vehicles, but locating parks near residential areas involves trade-offs with housing or community needs.
Government agencies are collaborating to ensure sufficient and accessible heavy vehicle lots and are engaging industry stakeholders to discuss the potential usefulness of an Alliance for Action.

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