Housing & estates — Topics

3 Nov 2021

Criteria for Locating Coffee Shops or Eateries within an HDB Estate

HDB designs towns to be self-sufficient, with commercial facilities like coffee shops planned in Town Centres, neighbourhood centres, and precinct shops to ensure most residents have access to an eating house within a 400-metre walk.
The allocation of commercial space, including coffee shops, considers the number of dwelling units and the availability of similar facilities nearby to avoid oversupply.
HDB eating house operators are required to provide at least one halal food stall, and vegetarian options are commonly available to cater to diverse dietary needs.

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3 Nov 2021

Special Covenant 2(1)(a) of Memorandum of Lease to HDB's Lease Agreement to Prevent Smoking near Balconies or Windows

The Minister explained that while special covenant 2(1)(a) can be enforced, it would lead to compulsory acquisition of the flat—a harsh measure used sparingly as a last resort, since relocation may simply shift the issue elsewhere.
HDB’s approach to smoking nuisance prioritizes amicable resolution between neighbours first, with agencies like Town Councils and NEA encouraging direct dialogue and issuing advisory notices on considerate behaviour.
If issues persist, affected residents are advised to seek mediation and, as a last step, file a case with the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal, which can order cessation of unreasonable interference.

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3 Nov 2021

Take-up for Enhancement for Active Seniors Programme and Plans to Build Elderly-, Child- and Disabled-friendly Features in HDB Flats and Estates

The Ministry of National Development has incorporated universal design principles in all new HDB developments since 2006, including barrier-free access, wider corridors, and features like three-generation playgrounds to serve residents across all life stages.
The Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme, which provides safety and mobility enhancements for seniors, has benefited over 242,000 households as of September 2021, alongside other initiatives like short-lease Flexi flats and Community Care Apartments.
HDB is reviewing the pilot Wheelchair Lifter Programme, launched in 2018, which has seen positive feedback from users, and will consider expanding it to more estates based on the outcome of the review.

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2 Nov 2021

Data on Number of HDB Flats Eligible for Resale and Sold within One, Five and 10 years after Minimum Occupation Period

Chua Kheng Wee Louis requested data from the Minister for National Development on the number of HDB flats eligible for resale and direct-purchase flats sold within one, five, and 10 years after the Minimum Occupation Period for each of the last 10 years.
Desmond Lee clarified that direct-purchase HDB flats are generally eligible for resale after the five-year MOP and provided the requested data in an appended table.
The debate focused on providing statistical information about HDB flat resale eligibility and sales timelines post-MOP over the past decade.

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2 Nov 2021

Condominium By-laws Prohibiting Smoking at Balconies, Patios or Windows and Their Effectiveness in Curbing Problem of Second-hand Smoke

The Ministry does not track how many condominiums have by-laws banning smoking at balconies, patios, or windows, nor the names of such condominiums.
Management Corporations have the autonomy to enact these by-laws under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act.
The Government has not studied the effectiveness of these by-laws in curbing second-hand smoke.

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2 Nov 2021

Adjusting Minimum Occupation Periods for New and Resale Flats to Release More Housing Supply to Market

Vikram Nair asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry would consider reducing the minimum occupation periods (MOP) for new and resale HDB flats to alleviate delays in BTO projects and increase housing supply.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that the MOP ensures flats are purchased for long-term owner-occupation, not for quick resale profits, which protects affordability and deters speculation.
He argued that reducing the MOP would not significantly boost overall housing supply, as sellers would need alternative housing, and could encourage speculative churning, leading to higher resale prices.
The Ministry plans to monitor the market and calibrate public housing supply accordingly, noting that HDB launched about 17,000 BTO flats in 2021 and aims for even higher supply in the coming year.

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2 Nov 2021

Timeline between BTO Flat Application and Key Collection

The Minister for National Development outlined that before COVID-19, the average waiting time for BTO projects launched in 2019 was three to four years, and after the pandemic, projects launched in 2020 have an average waiting time of about four years.
For ongoing projects, most flat buyers are expected to move into their new homes within four to five years after booking, barring any further unforeseen circumstances.
HDB aims to keep waiting times as short as possible and has implemented assistance measures to help contractors complete projects on time, but waiting times can vary due to project-specific factors like storey height, number of units, and site conditions.
The government emphasises that HDB endeavours to complete all BTO projects expeditiously without compromising safety and quality.

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2 Nov 2021

Possibility of HDB BTO Flats Taking Longer to Complete and Measures to Adopt Technology to Improve Productivity in Construction Sector

The Minister confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays of six to twelve months for most HDB BTO projects, but the average waiting time remains between four and five years and is not expected to lengthen further barring unforeseen circumstances.
To improve productivity, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is promoting the Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) method, which has seen adoption double from 19% in 2017 to 39% in 2020, with plans to make it the default for large projects.
The government is enhancing the Buildability Framework by raising the minimum Buildable Design Score for large developments and offering financial support through the Productivity Innovation Project scheme to help firms adopt DfMA.
HDB has implemented various productivity initiatives, achieving a 25% improvement in site productivity in 2020 compared to 2010 levels, in collaboration with BCA.

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2 Nov 2021

Correlation between Income of Singaporeans and Cost of HDB BTO and Resale Flats

The Minister for National Development explained that HDB applies significant subsidies to new flats and offers grants of up to $80,000 for BTO and up to $160,000 for resale flats to ensure affordability, particularly for first-time buyers.
He stated that incomes have generally kept pace with BTO and resale flat prices over the past few years, with the mortgage servicing ratio remaining at about 23% or below for HDB loans over the last three years.
The government monitors the long-term financial ability of flat owners to repay loans, noting that arrears among HDB loan households were stable below 5% pre-COVID, rising slightly to 6% in early 2021 due to pandemic impacts.

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2 Nov 2021

Government's Response to Current Pace of Increase in HDB Resale Prices

Chua Kheng Wee Louis raised concerns about whether the 12.3% year-on-year increase in HDB resale prices aligns with the government's goal of a stable property market and what measures are planned to improve affordability.
Minister Desmond Lee stated that the price rise is partly due to increased demand and low interest rates, and emphasized that HDB resale flats remain affordable, with mortgage servicing ratios stable and grants of up to $160,000 available for first-time buyers.
The government is ramping up flat supply, with 17,000 BTO flats launched in 2021 and more than 17,000 planned for 2022, alongside additional flats from other schemes to meet demand.
The government is closely monitoring economic and property market conditions to ensure public housing stays affordable and accessible for Singaporeans.

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2 Nov 2021

Assistance for HDB BTO Flat Buyers who Face Completion Delays and Evaluation Indicators for HDB Contractors with Poor Performance for Future Projects

HDB monitors contractor performance through regular site tracking and a six-monthly assessment framework, with poor performance affecting future project eligibility; Waterway Sunrise II faced delays due to contractor financial difficulties, prompting HDB to appoint a new contractor with expected completion six to nine months late.
Affected BTO buyers are supported with measures like doubled Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme supply, case-by-case Interim Rental Housing for low-income families, and maximum reimbursement under the COVID-19 Act.
Post-completion, HDB conducts strict quality checks and provides a 12-month Defects Liability Period, with ongoing case-by-case assistance for any post-handover issues.

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2 Nov 2021

Beyond Home Ownership: Supporting Diverse Aspirations Through Rental Housing

Mr Louis Chua argues that Singapore should significantly expand its public rental housing scheme, citing a severe shortage of rental flats, long waiting times, and restrictive income eligibility criteria that exclude many needy families, and proposes diversifying housing options to better support changing life stages, workforce flexibility, and the gig economy.
The government maintains that home ownership remains the cornerstone of Singapore's social compact, providing stability, rootedness, and asset value, and currently offers targeted rental schemes only as a safety net for low-income households or those awaiting their own homes, which are meant to lead eventually to ownership.
Mr Chua suggests building rental flats at intermediate price points between current public rental and open-market rates, and even a REIT model for fractional ownership, to make renting more attractive and financially viable; the government counters that this would be a major policy shift, potentially affecting market rents and weakening community stability.
Both sides agree on the need to monitor housing trends and address the aspirations of diverse groups, but the government stresses that expanding subsidized rental options would require careful consideration due to fiscal constraints and the overriding priority to support home ownership.

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1 Nov 2021

Statistics on Mortgage and Total Debt Servicing Ratios among HDB Resale Flat Buyers

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis requested annual statistics on the 25th percentile, mean, median, and 75th percentile mortgage servicing ratios and total debt servicing ratios for HDB resale flat buyers since 2013.
Desmond Lee stated that HDB and MAS impose a 30% mortgage servicing ratio cap and a 60% total debt servicing ratio cap to promote financial prudence for HDB borrowers.
From 2013 to Q3 2021, the mortgage and total debt servicing ratios for HDB flat buyers generally remained below their respective limits, as detailed in a provided table.

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1 Nov 2021

Application for Purchase or Rental of HDB Flat by Applicants Having Shared Custody of Children

HDB requires divorced parents with shared custody to agree before listing children in flat applications, and each child can only be listed in one application.
From 2016 to 2021, HDB received 20 appeals for purchase without ex-spousal consent, approving 13, and seven for rental without consent from 2018 to 2021.
HDB does not track overall applications by divorced parents but reviews cases individually for flexibility based on circumstances like financial hardship.

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1 Nov 2021

Estimated Backlog of Delayed Ongoing HDB Neighbourhood Renewal Projects

Ms Ng Ling Ling asked the Minister for National Development about the number of delayed HDB neighbourhood renewal projects, the backlog size, clearance timeline, and whether contractors can get support for raw material prices.
Minister Desmond Lee said 18 out of 32 ongoing Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) projects are delayed over six months due to COVID-19 impacts, with all resuming work and expected to finish in two to three years.
He noted that raw material price support does not apply to NRP projects because Town Councils typically don’t include such clauses in tenders, but contractors can use other relief measures like the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act and universal Extension of Time.

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1 Nov 2021

COVID-19 Positive Cases Classified by Housing Type

Dr. Tan Wu Meng inquired about the number and proportion of COVID-19 positive cases broken down by housing type since the start of the pandemic.
The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, responded by directing attention to a table providing the number and proportion of community cases and residents by housing type.
The debate centered on obtaining specific data on case distribution across different housing categories to understand pandemic impact.
The response indicated that detailed statistics are available in a tabular format for reference.

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1 Nov 2021

Proposal to Require Divorce Rulings for Shared Care and Control to Identify which Party is Allowed to List Child as "Essential Occupier" in Application to Buy Subsidised HDB Flat

Louis Ng Kok Kwang proposed that divorce rulings with shared care and control should specify which parent may list the child as an essential occupier for subsidised HDB flat applications, as this affects eligibility.
The Ministry for Social and Family Development rejected the proposal, stating that court orders should focus on the child’s best interests and encourage co-parenting without micromanaging details like essential occupier status.
The Ministry emphasised that shared care and control cases should ideally be resolved cooperatively outside court, promoting harmonious co-parenting for the child’s future.
However, the Ministry acknowledged that HDB can provide flexibility on a case-by-case basis, waiving the need for ex-spouse consent if parents cannot agree, to ensure the child’s housing stability.

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1 Nov 2021

Tier Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty and Selling Deadlines for Development Projects of Different sizes

Mr. Don Wee asked the Minister for Finance to consider adjusting the Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) and selling deadlines for development projects of different sizes to promote equity.
Housing developers can qualify for a 25% upfront ABSD remission by meeting conditions for timely commencement, completion, and sale of all units within set deadlines.
The existing ABSD remission conditions already differentiate between licensed developers (five or more units, five-year deadline) and non-licensed developers (four or less units, three-year deadline).
The government reviews the ABSD framework regularly and notes that the current deadlines remain relevant, with high compliance rates in recent years.

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1 Nov 2021

Proposal for Blanket Waiver on Need for Ex-spousal Consent to List Children as Occupiers in HDB Flat Applications

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry for National Development to consider a blanket waiver for requiring ex-spousal consent when listing children as occupiers in HDB flat applications, especially if the ex-spouse has already acquired a private property or an HDB flat after divorce.
Desmond Lee explained that divorced parents with shared care must agree on listing the child to ensure fairness, as a child can only be listed in one application, and HDB cannot unilaterally decide which parent should list them.
Lee emphasized that HDB does not support a blanket waiver because ex-spouses may still wish to list the child in future applications, necessitating case-by-case reviews.
For cases where agreement cannot be reached due to acrimonious divorces, HDB offers to discuss options and exercise flexibility to provide housing solutions for both parties and their children.

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1 Nov 2021

Appeals to be Eligible for HDB’s Proximity Housing Grant when Resale Flat Changes Hands between Members of Same Family

The Minister for National Development reported that from September 2018 to September 2021, there were only two appeals filed by parents who were ineligible for the Proximity Housing Grant after buying a resale flat from their child who moved nearby.
The Proximity Housing Grant was introduced to encourage families to live with or near each other for mutual support, and eligible buyers can receive it once regardless of previous property ownership.
Parents who buy their child’s flat are generally not eligible for any housing grants, including the PHG, as this often results in them acquiring a larger flat, contrary to the policy’s aim of supporting seniors to right-size.
HDB considers extending the PHG to such parents on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors like whether the parents are right-sizing to a more suitable flat for retirement.

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