Housing & estates — Topics

5 Apr 2022

Increasing Average Size of HDB Flats Given Changing Societal and Work Trends

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Government whether it will consider increasing the average size of HDB flats to match changing societal trends and work-from-home norms.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that HDB flats are designed to be functional and comfortable, with features like large windows and open kitchens, and have not changed in size since 1997.
He noted that average household sizes have decreased, but flats offer flexibility for reconfiguration, such as pushing columns to the edges to allow for layout changes.
The Minister emphasised that Singapore’s land constraints require a balance between flat size and supply, and the Government will continue gathering ideas to improve public housing design.
The response highlights that residents can personalize their homes through renovation and furnishing to better meet evolving needs.

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5 Apr 2022

Upgrading of Circuit Breaker Systems to Provide Protection to Whole HDB Flat

Hazel Poa asked how many HDB flats have residual current circuit breakers (RCCBs) that do not protect the entire unit and whether these will be upgraded.
Desmond Lee stated that flats built before 1985, making up about 30% of HDB stock, initially used fuses, but RCCBs became mandatory from 1985 for new builds and major renovations; a survey shows less than 1% of pre-1985 flats lack full RCCB coverage.
The Energy Market Authority regulates electrical installations, requiring licensed workers and inspections by SP Group to ensure safety, with HDB including RCCB checks and replacements in its Home Improvement Programme since 2020.
Educational campaigns on electrical safety are conducted, and flat owners are advised to test RCCBs regularly and contact HDB for assistance if needed.
HDB will continue collaborating with the Energy Market Authority to enhance electrical safety awareness and measures for residents.

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5 Apr 2022

Cases of Injury and Death by Electrocution in HDB Flats in Past 10 Years

From 2014 to 2021, there were four electrocution incidents in HDB flats, resulting in five deaths and one injury, with one incident involving an unprotected circuit and two involving faulty circuit breakers.
Flats built before 1985, which make up about 30% of HDB stock, typically had fuses, but most have since been renovated and fitted with RCCBs; a survey estimates less than 1% of such flats lack full RCCB coverage.
Regulatory measures require licensed electrical workers to install and certify electrical systems, with SP Group conducting inspections before power is restored.
Since 2020, HDB has included RCCB checks and replacements in its Home Improvement Programme and advised owners to test RCCBs, while the Energy Market Authority runs educational campaigns to promote electrical safety.

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5 Apr 2022

Innovative Solutions for HDB Flats to Ensure Direct Lift Access to Every Floor Despite Flat Design

HDB has provided bubble lifts or machine-room-less lifts to about 270 blocks under the Lift Upgrading Programme, sometimes exceeding the cost cap to ensure direct lift access, but upgrading the remaining 150 blocks without access remains prohibitively expensive, with costs potentially exceeding $200,000 per household.
For residents in urgent need due to medical or mobility reasons, the Lift Access Housing Grant of up to $30,000 is available to buy another flat with direct lift access, with HDB providing grace periods and case-by-case extensions for selling the old flat.
The current method for calculating Lift Upgrading Programme benefits only counts units without direct lift access, though HDB continues to explore cost-reducing and alternative solutions to improve accessibility for the remaining blocks.

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4 Apr 2022

Number of Residential Units Transacted in First Two Months of 2022 from Latest Round of Property Cooling Measures

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked for the number of residential units transacted in the first two months of 2022 and whether the latest property cooling measures have significantly reduced transactions and achieved their policy intent.
The Minister reported that around 3,400 private housing and 4,500 HDB resale flats were transacted in the first two months of 2022, representing a 43.1% and 8.1% decrease respectively compared to the same period in 2021.
Early signs indicate the measures may have moderated price increases, with the private housing price index rising 0.4% in Q1 2022 compared to 5.0% in Q4 2021, and the HDB resale price index rising 2.3% compared to 3.4% previously.
The Minister affirmed the measures aim to promote a stable, sustainable property market, housing affordability, and financial prudence, and the government will continue monitoring the market.

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4 Apr 2022

Reported Cases of "Water Hammering" in Water Pipes

Murali Pillai inquired about HDB’s monitoring of “water hammering” complaints, steps to minimise such incidents, and whether requirements for plumbers will be issued.
Desmond Lee explained that water hammering stems from sudden flow changes or high flow rates, often from appliances like bidets or washing machines, and that HDB does not track such feedback.
HDB designs water systems for optimal flow rates, Town Councils maintain pressure reducing valves in common areas, and PUB encourages water-efficient fittings to reduce occurrences.
HDB advises flat owners or Town Councils to rectify issues caused by faulty fittings, and only PUB-licensed plumbers under SS 636 standards can perform work to prevent water hammering.

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4 Apr 2022

Review of Household Income Ceiling for Enhanced CPF Housing Grant for Purchase of HDB Resale Flats for First-time Buyers to Enhance Housing Options for Young Couples

Murali Pillai asked the Minister for National Development to review the household income ceiling for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) to enhance housing options for young couples.
The EHG, introduced in September 2019, provides up to $80,000 for first-time buyers with household income up to $9,000 to purchase new or resale HDB flats.
The Government prioritizes housing subsidies for lower- and middle-income families, and the tiered EHG quantum offers more support for lower-income households.
First-time families earning between $9,000 and $14,000 still qualify for other subsidies, including CPF Housing Grant up to $50,000 and Proximity Housing Grant up to $30,000.
There are no plans to increase the EHG income ceiling, but the Government will continue monitoring market conditions to ensure housing affordability.

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4 Apr 2022

Projected Average Ratio of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Points

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about the projected ratio of EV charging points to resident cars in HDB carparks over the next three years, plans to increase this ratio, and the availability of daytime quick charging options.
The Ministry of Transport plans to have at least three charging points in each HDB carpark by 2025, with up to 12,000 additional points nationwide, targeting 60,000 points by 2030 to achieve a 5:1 EV-to-charging-point ratio.
The government is also promoting EV charging in non-landed residences via the EV Common Charger Grant and notes that fast-charging points are being deployed for high-mileage vehicles, with around 420 currently available islandwide.

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10 Mar 2022

Criteria for Setting up of New Family Service Centres

Mr Louis Ng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the factors considered when setting up new Family Service Centres (FSCs) and the maximum number of dwelling units an FSC is expected to serve.
The Ministry projects caseloads based on factors like the number and types of new dwelling units, such as public rental or sold flats, and considers the proximity of FSCs to residents.
The Ministry does not set a maximum number of dwelling units per FSC but instead monitors caseloads to ensure they are manageable.
The Ministry periodically reviews and may adjust the service boundaries of FSCs with higher caseloads.

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9 Mar 2022

Profile of Students Admitted to Gifted Education Programme in Past Five Years

Leon Perera requested a five-year breakdown of GEP admissions by housing type, parents’ education, race, and financial assistance status.
Chan Chun Sing highlighted that GEP students come from about 60% of primary schools annually, with around 45% living in HDB flats.
The Minister noted that schools offer diverse programmes, including GEP and school-based provisions, to support high-ability learners.

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9 Mar 2022

Town Councils' Enforcement Actions against Unlawful Parking in Common Areas by Foreign-registered Vehicles

Town Councils are authorized under their own by-laws to enforce parking regulations in HDB common areas, with no legal distinction between foreign- and local-registered vehicles, and may issue offence notices, remove, or detain vehicles.
Enforcement challenges exist because Town Councils may lack direct access to foreign vehicle owner details from LTA, requiring assistance from HDB, LTA, or ICA to proceed with summons.
Some Town Councils address this by clamping vehicles and requiring payment of fines before release, as an alternative enforcement method within their by-law provisions.

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8 Mar 2022

Committee of Supply – Head T (Ministry of National Development)

Ministers and MPs debated the affordability and accessibility of public housing, with concerns raised about construction delays, rising resale prices, and the impact of cooling measures like the Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) scheme, while the government outlined plans to ramp up BTO supply and review housing policies for different demographics.
Several MPs highlighted challenges faced by minority flat owners under the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP), such as difficulties in selling their flats, and the government announced a new buyback scheme to assist affected households, alongside ongoing reviews of EIP's implementation.
Members discussed the need to support diverse housing needs, including for singles, seniors, and lower-income families, with updates provided on initiatives like the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, Community Care Apartments, and enhanced rental flat support, while acknowledging the trade-offs and constraints in land-scarce Singapore.

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7 Mar 2022

Review of Enforcement Measures for Breach of HDB's Lease Agreement

Louis Ng asked whether the Ministry is reviewing enforcement measures for breaches of HDB lease covenants and if a tiered penalty system could be introduced.
The Ministry is not currently reviewing such enforcement measures, as HDB already has procedures to investigate and address breaches, including warnings and, as a last resort, compulsory acquisition of flats.
Compulsory acquisition is reserved for egregious breaches that remain unrectified despite warnings and is considered a harsh measure applied only in exceptional cases.

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7 Mar 2022

Occupancy Cap for HDB Jumbo Flats

Ms Mariam Jaafar proposed increasing the occupancy cap for HDB jumbo flats from six to eight or ten persons.
The Minister explained that occupancy caps apply only when renting out flats or bedrooms to unrelated persons, not for family members living together, to prevent overcrowding and maintain a conducive living environment.
The current cap of six persons for 4-room and larger flats, including jumbo flats, aligns with the cap for private residential properties.
Increasing the cap could lead to more disamenities, but HDB may consider flexible arrangements on a case-by-case basis if flat owners need to exceed the limit.

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7 Mar 2022

Common Causes of Fire Along HDB Corridors and Proportion of HDB Flats with Home Fire Alarm Device Installed

The Minister for Home Affairs identified electrical devices like personal mobility devices, naked lights from candles and lighters, and indiscriminate disposal of cigarette butts as common causes of HDB corridor fires, with 122 such fires recorded in 2021, showing a declining trend over the years.
Home Fire Alarm Devices (HFADs) are mandatory for HDB flats built or renovated after June 2018, but voluntary for older flats with no data on installation rates; SCDF provides resources in four languages to promote fire safety.
Agencies like HDB, Town Councils, and SCDF collaborate on public education through digital roadshows and community events to encourage HFAD adoption and fire prevention, with plans to resume in-person events post-COVID.

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4 Mar 2022

Plans for New Housing Estate in Mount Pleasant and Incorporating Lessons from Pilot Heritage Study into Planning Processes

The Minister confirmed that the pilot heritage study for the Mount Pleasant area examined architectural, historical, social, and communal values to guide the integration of heritage elements into the new housing estate.
The study’s findings are informing the development of a broader heritage impact assessment framework to strengthen future heritage evaluations and planning processes.
The URA’s current planning process already includes community and stakeholder consultations, and the new framework will continue to emphasize upstream engagement with heritage groups and the public.

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4 Mar 2022

Update on Vulnerable Families Pilot Programme

The Vulnerable Families Pilot Programme, also known as the Strengthening Families Together Pilot, ran from January 2014 to February 2017 and focused on improving family well-being and children's outcomes through enhanced social worker training and greater inter-agency flexibility.
The pilot benefited 240 families, with 92% of appeals for housing and immigration issues successfully resolved, and showed improvements in family functioning, coping self-efficacy, and children's hope and resilience, though most families continued to need case management after the pilot ended.
MSF applied the pilot's learnings to train social workers and establish collaboration structures like the Systems Capability Team and Social Service Systems Office, which now inform nationwide initiatives such as ComLink to support families in rental housing.

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1 Mar 2022

Breakdown of Students Who Missed at Least 10% of School Days in Past Three Years Housing Type, Housing Income and Race

About 1% of primary school students and 2% of secondary school students missed at least 10% of school days annually over the past three years, excluding valid absences like medical reasons.
Slightly over half of these students reside in 1 to 3-room HDB flats, indicating a correlation with housing type.
Schools have established systems to monitor absent students and provide support through the UPLIFT initiative, which involves community partnerships to address absenteeism.
The debate highlighted concerns about potential disparities across housing income and race, though specific breakdowns for these factors were not detailed in the responses.
The Minister emphasized proactive measures to assist at-risk students and families to reduce absenteeism.

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1 Mar 2022

Number of Vacant Rental Flats in Woodlands and Nationwide

There are about 8,000 vacant HDB rental flats nationwide, with half unavailable due to redevelopment and the other half available for applicants, of which two-thirds need sprucing up; in Woodlands, 320 flats are available, with 220 requiring sprucing.
Flats may remain vacant due to time needed for applicant matching based on flat type, location, and Ethnic Integration Policy, while sprucing delays are linked to construction manpower shortages during COVID-19, with HDB appointing additional contractors to clear the backlog by the third quarter of this year.
The Ministry states that rental flat supply is sufficient to meet demand, with waiting times currently less than a year, and HDB prioritizes applicants with urgent needs like medical circumstances while expediting sprucing and allocation.

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28 Feb 2022

Data on Take-up Rates on Reverse Mortgage Tie-Up between CPF and DBS

Ms Joan Pereira asked the Government about take-up rates for the reverse mortgage tie-up between CPF and DBS and measures to promote it for asset-rich, cash-strapped seniors.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, speaking for the Prime Minister, noted that DBS has approved most applications since August 2021 but cannot share specific data due to commercial sensitivity.
The Government highlighted alternative housing monetisation options like renting, right-sizing, the Silver Housing Bonus, and the Lease Buyback Scheme, with information available on HDB’s website.
The Government will continue reviewing policies to ensure suitable housing monetisation options for retirement needs.

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