Housing & estates — Topics

11 May 2021

Applications for Reducing Minimum Occupation Period for HDB Flats

Murali Pillai asked for statistics on applications to reduce the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) for HDB flats, including grounds for appeals and approval rates.
Desmond Lee stated that HDB does not track unique appeals but approved about 4,500 households to sell before MOP in the past three years, mainly due to financial hardship, divorce, or death.
The MOP is key to ensuring flats are bought for genuine housing needs and to prevent speculation, with HDB assessing each appeal case-by-case.

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11 May 2021

Volume of Applications for HDB BTO Flats under Married Child Priority and Multi-Generation Priority Schemes

Minister Desmond Lee stated that the Married Child Priority Scheme sets aside up to 30% of flats for first-timer families and 15% for second-timer families, while the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme allows joint applications for two flats in the same BTO project, with up to 15% of 2-room Flexi or 3-room flats reserved for parent applicants.
Over the past three years, MCPS received about 8,900, 11,800, and 12,700 applications, with 5,300, 5,400, and 4,800 successful, while MGPS saw 400, 700, and 900 applications, with 400, 600, and 600 successful.
HDB will not introduce a priority scheme for parents whose children study near BTO projects, as existing schemes like the Parenthood Priority Scheme and Third Child Priority Scheme already cater to families with children.
Applicants can improve their chances by applying for flats in non-mature estates or with lower application rates, and first-timers who fail in non-mature estates get extra ballot chances; they may also consider resale flats with grants up to $160,000.

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11 May 2021

Measures to Ensure Young Couples Get HDB Flats Given Projected Construction Delays and Increased Property Prices

Dr Shahira Abdullah questioned the Minister for National Development on the impact of BTO construction delays and rising property prices, specifically asking about oversubscription in the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), additional measures if oversubscribed, and further help for young couples needing homes.
The Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) saw a rise in applications from 1,370 in 2019 to 2,350 in 2020, but about 40% of successful applicants did not take up flats, indicating not all are in urgent need; HDB is working to stabilize PPHS supply and may offer interim rental housing on a case-by-case basis.
First-timer buyers with urgent needs can consider resale flats with up to $160,000 in grants for immediate occupation, and recent border measures may further delay BTO projects by an additional three months beyond the earlier communicated six to nine months, with HDB providing updates and assistance to affected buyers.

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11 May 2021

Submission of Reports on Smoking or Noise Disturbances by Neighbours through OneService App

Gerald Giam asked if the OneService app will allow residents to report smoking or noise disturbances by neighbours and which agency would handle such reports.
Desmond Lee confirmed residents can already submit feedback on these issues via the “Others” category in the OneService app.
The Ministry of National Development’s backend system routes the feedback to NEA, HDB, or Town Councils based on the issue and location.
The response emphasised that residents do not need to know the specific agency, as the system automatically directs reports appropriately.
The debate highlighted the existing functionality of the OneService app in addressing neighbour-related complaints efficiently.

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11 May 2021

Proposal to Set Up Register for BTO Flat Applicants to Indicate Interest and Areas of Preference

Gan Thiam Poh proposed that HDB create a register for BTO flat applicants to indicate interest and preferred areas to better plan launches.
Desmond Lee responded that such a register may not accurately reflect real demand as there is no commitment to buy, and land constraints limit supply in popular areas.
He explained that HDB already reviews launch sites to ensure a mix of mature and non-mature estates and monitors the market to calibrate public housing supply accordingly.

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11 May 2021

Allowing Single Unwed Parents to Qualify for Interim Housing while Waiting for Completion of New Flats

Louis Ng asked if single unwed parents can qualify for interim housing under the PPHS while waiting for new flats, and if not, why.
Desmond Lee explained that PPHS supply is limited and prioritizes married couples to support marriage and parenthood.
He noted that single unwed parents can still seek assistance from HDB, which will assess their circumstances holistically to help them.

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11 May 2021

Protective Measures To Ensure Vulnerable Seniors Secure Accommodation after Sale of Their HDB Flats

Ms. Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about protective measures for vulnerable seniors when selling their HDB flats to ensure they have secure accommodation afterward.
Sellers must register an Intent to Sell via the HDB Resale Portal, where they state their next housing arrangement, such as buying another flat, renting, or staying with family.
A seven-day cooling-off period after the Intent to Sell allows sellers to review their plans before committing to a sale.
The process is designed to prompt vulnerable residents to consider their accommodation plans before finalizing a flat sale.

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11 May 2021

Increasing Supply of Singapore’s Public Rental Housing and Interim Rental Housing

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about increasing the supply and model of public and interim rental housing to reduce waiting times for applicants.
Desmond Lee explained that waiting times have risen from two to five months due to labour shortages slowing sprucing works and flats used as emergency housing during COVID-19.
HDB is accelerating sprucing works and key collections, and expediting allocations for applicants with urgent needs, with about a third receiving priority in 2020.
Despite temporary shortages of ready flats, the overall rental stock remains sufficient to meet demand.

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11 May 2021

Handling Cases of Excessive Hoarding at Home

The Ministry of National Development acknowledges hoarding as a social and mental health issue, with assistance programmes coordinated through the Hoarding Management Framework to support affected residents, especially in HDB estates.
HDB advises hoarders to declutter and may collaborate with agencies like SCDF and NEA for severe cases, involving community volunteers and providing counselling through family and social service agencies.
Successful intervention requires a gentle approach from family and community, with long-term support to address root causes and prevent recurrence, while cases causing public health risks can be reported via the OneService App.

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11 May 2021

Proposal for Flexibility on Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty for Divorcees Buying Another Property before Final Court Ruling

Member Henry Kwek proposed allowing divorcees to buy a new property without Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) before a final court ruling, provided they dispose of the existing property within a court-set timeframe.
Minister Heng Swee Keat explained that ABSD aims to moderate demand and ensure a stable property market, applying to all second-property purchases by Singaporeans regardless of eventual sale of the first.
An ABSD refund concession exists only for married Singaporean couples who sell their first property within six months of buying a second, reflecting changing family needs.
The Minister emphasized that this exception is not extended to other groups, including divorcees, to maintain the overall objective of controlling property demand.
Buyers seeking to avoid higher ABSD are advised to sell their first property before purchasing a second one.

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10 May 2021

Number of Applications to Purchase HDB Flats by Single Unwed Parents Rejected in Past Five Years

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development for the number of single unwed parents who applied to buy HDB flats and how many were rejected each year in the past five years.
Desmond Lee said the government holistically assesses each case, allowing single unwed parents in stable employment to buy up to a 3-room flat in non-mature estates and considering public rental for those with insufficient funds.
From 2017 to 2019, about 50 requests per year were received, with 70% rejected, rising to 200 requests in 2020 with 30% rejected.
Rejections were mainly due to missing documents and insufficient budget, but rates improved after policy changes in 2020.

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10 May 2021

Painting HDB Block Numbers in Large Fonts and Ensuring Block Numbers are Visible to Both Pedestrians and Motorists

Joan Pereira asked the Minister for National Development if HDB could paint block numbers in larger fonts and ensure they are visible to both pedestrians and motorists.
HDB currently provides two illuminated and two non-illuminated block signages per residential block, designed to exceed Singapore standards for visibility and text height.
Town Councils may adjust signages based on ground feedback or maintenance cycles, allowing for localized improvements to block number visibility.

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10 May 2021

Breakdown of Amount Refunded to Lessees under HDB's 2-room Flexi Flat Scheme by Lease Balances

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked for the amounts refunded to lessees who returned their HDB 2-room Flexi flats, broken down by lease balances, under the Lease Buyback Scheme or other schemes.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that seniors may return their short-lease 2-room Flexi flats early under circumstances like moving in with family or demise, and receive compensation based on the remaining lease value.
The median refund amounts since the scheme’s introduction, broken down by remaining lease, are provided in Table 1.

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10 May 2021

Breakdown of Amount Refunded to Lessees by Room Type and Balance of Lease under the Lease Buyback Scheme

Gan Thiam Poh asked for the total amount refunded to lessees who returned HDB flats under the Lease Buyback Scheme, broken down by room type and balance of lease
Desmond Lee explained that seniors may return flats early under specific circumstances such as moving in with family or demise, and receive compensation based on the remaining lease value
The Ministry provided median refund amounts for each flat type and remaining lease period, presented in Tables 1 and 2

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10 May 2021

Review of Current HDB Flat Allocation System for BTOs

Member Shawn Huang Wei Zhong asked whether the current HDB BTO flat allocation system will be reviewed to ensure it remains inclusive, fair, transparent, and equitable for all Singaporeans.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that the system prioritizes applicants with greater housing need, such as first-timer families, seniors, and singles, through schemes like the Parenthood Priority Scheme and Tenants' Priority Scheme.
He noted that BTO allocation uses a computerized balloting process with rigorous audits and checks to ensure robustness and fairness for all applicants.
The Ministry of National Development and HDB will continue to regularly review public housing policies to meet evolving societal needs.
The debate highlights the government's commitment to balancing limited land and resources with the housing needs of different Singaporean groups.

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10 May 2021

Breakdown of Number of Rental Flats under HDB Public Rental Scheme and Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme by Flat Type

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked for the current number of rental flats under the HDB Public Rental Scheme and the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), broken down by flat type.
Minister Desmond Lee stated there are about 31,000 1-room and 31,000 2-room Public Rental flats, with sufficient supply for households in need.
For PPHS, there are about 110 2-room, 570 3-room, and 60 4-room flats, with supply limited and dependent on vacant flats from redevelopment.
The government is working to stabilize PPHS supply and explore more options for families awaiting completion of new flats.

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10 May 2021

Annual Completion Number and Annual Net Increase in Number of HDB Public Rental Flats

From 2011 to 2020, HDB added an average of 1,780 new rental units annually, with a net increase of about 1,640 units each year after accounting for clearance.
Approximately 1,600 rental flats are currently under construction and will be completed progressively around 2025.
HDB plans to continue building rental flats in the coming years to gradually renew its rental stock.

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10 May 2021

Plans for Permitting Urban Farms on Top Floor of HDB's Multi-storey Carparks across Singapore

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked about HDB's plans to permit urban farms on top floors of multi-storey carparks, specifically seeking rollout plans and whether estates like Sengkang can voluntarily join.
Desmond Lee responded that SFA and HDB have tendered 16 multi-storey carpark sites for commercial urban farming across two tenders, with the second tender closing in March 2021.
He explained that site selection considers factors like carpark usage, rooftop load capacity, utility availability, and surrounding development plans to ensure safety and minimal disruption to parking needs.
Future plans will depend on evaluating the first two tenders and assessing industry interest before expanding the initiative.

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10 May 2021

Flexibility by Commissioner of Stamp Duties to Remit Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty Payable by Individuals Acquiring a Partial Interest in Residential Property in Last Two Years

Sylvia Lim asked whether the Commissioner of Stamp Duties had remitted Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) for individuals acquiring partial interests in residential properties due to family changes like a co-owner’s death in the past two years.
Heng Swee Keat confirmed that ABSD is not payable when a partial interest is acquired due to a co-owner’s death, but generally applies in other cases of partial interest acquisition.
The Minister noted that remissions of ABSD for taxpayers in extenuating circumstances are granted on a case-by-case basis by the Minister for Finance and the Commissioner of Stamp Duties.

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10 May 2021

Replace Programme for Sigma/LG Lifts after HDB Ban on Sigma Elevator Since 2015

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about a potential HDB programme to replace Sigma/LG lifts due to a 2015 ban on Sigma Elevator for higher breakdown rates.
Desmond Lee explained the ban was due to Sigma's delays and initial breakdowns from misalignment, but Sigma improved performance and the restriction was lifted.
HDB confirmed no need for a replacement programme as the lifts now meet required standards after upgrades and have performed well for two years.

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