Housing & estates

• Pritam Singh inquires about median application rates for singles buying 2-room flexi flats, 2020-2025.
• Chee Hong Tat provides median rates for first-time singles in BTO exercises, 2020-2025.

• Ministry received appeals from BTO and EC applicants exceeding income ceilings, 2020-2025.
• Number of appeals not specified but under review by Ministry and HDB.
• Ministry and HDB considering adjustments to income ceilings for BTO and EC units.

• HDB extended HFE letter validity from six to nine months in November 2023.
• No plans to extend further to maintain current eligibility assessments.
• Buyers can reapply for a fresh HFE letter within 30 days of expiration.

• Wan Rizal questioned if S&CC rebates sufficiently shield HDB households from higher energy costs and broader cost-of-living pressures.
• Ministers addressed the issue in statements on Middle East impacts, directing reference to the official parliamentary report.

• HDB extended HFE letter validity to nine months for better buyer planning.
• Average duration from HFE issuance to lease signing is about nine months.
• HDB reviews loan amounts case-by-case if income changes during the process.

• Tenders for EV chargers do not include electrical infrastructure upgrades, which are handled separately.
• HDB carparks currently support three to twelve slow chargers, depending on varying electrical capacity.

Town Councils enforce by-laws to remove illegal ODA ads online by reporting to platforms. Revoking permits deters illegal subletting.

• Minister highlights existing safeguards like Total Debt Servicing Ratio and HDB's concessionary loans to curb over-borrowing.
• HDB loans are pegged to CPF rates, buffering homeowners from rising interest rates.
• Government urges prudence amid global uncertainty but does not propose new targeted measures.

• MP Chen questioned if DBSS flats are covered by the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme, citing ageing issues.
• The scheme excludes DBSS flats, as they are built by private developers, not HDB.
• HDB offers technical guidance and contractor lists, but owners bear repair costs after warranties expire.

• Dennis Tan sought new engineering solutions for same-floor HDB lift access at previously unfeasible blocks, including specific Hougang Central blocks.
• Chee Hong Tat stated HDB is exploring new technologies for the few remaining blocks, offering a grant for urgent cases.

• Lee asked for flexibility in proximity rules for caregiving appeals in BTO or resale flats.
• Chee said four-kilometre radius remains adequate; existing schemes already support family care and proximity.
• No immediate changes planned, but existing flexibility may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• The government will set up 2,000 beverage return points, ensuring 90% of HDB residents live within a five-minute walk.
• Petrol kiosks and other high-footfall locations will be considered for additional return points based on community feedback.

• Clementi's noise-monitoring meter pilot is new; its effectiveness is still under review. The results will decide if it is suitable for wider rollout in dense HDB areas. Shareable lessons will guide other Town Councils.

• HDB is extending flexibility to buyers affected by earlier-than-expected BTO completions, offering key collection deferrals for those needing more time to sell existing homes or arrange financing.
• The agency proactively notifies buyers at multiple stages to aid planning and offers tailored assistance for genuine difficulties, especially for owners needing to coordinate a back-to-back sale.

Victor Lye proposed recognizing prison work as employment for HDB grants, while Chee Hong Tat explained HDB’s strict criteria require formal employment for loan eligibility, not rehabilitation programs. HDB lacks data on ex-offenders denied grants due to insufficient work history.

Victor Lye asked about inmate work allowances and housing affordability correlation; Minister Shanmugam stated allowances are austere, focused on rehabilitation, not asset accumulation, and post-release support exists via Yellow Ribbon Singapore.

• Sengkang HDB office absorbed Hougang branch’s workload via redeployed staff and more appointment slots; a 24-hour e-Lobby with kiosks and a service ambassador was opened in Hougang.
• Service levels are monitored; Sengkang meets targets and is on par with other branches, ensuring no prejudice to residents.

• An MP raised concern over a 54.7% surge in million-dollar HDB resale transactions in 2025 and asked about measures to safeguard affordability.
• The Minister noted such sales are market-driven (6% of resales) and highlighted ample affordable options, grants, and moderating prices from increased supply.
• The Minister confirmed a review of income ceilings for BTO eligibility, addressing how households may turn to the resale market.

• The Minister cited constraints like parking demand, safety, structural limits, and resident needs when repurposing HDB multi-storey car parks, noting Clementi Peaks is too new for conversion.
• Officials clarified revenue is not a factor, emphasizing technical feasibility and resident impact in evaluations.
• HDB welcomes proposals but requires them to address parking stability and safety considerations before approval.

He Ting Ru asked if rules regarding the visibility of flyers distributed to HDB homes by estate agencies could be mandated for all registered agents instead of being voluntary. Chee Hong Tat referred to a previous response by the Ministry of National Development regarding the voluntary nature of these guidelines, indicating that there was no current plan to make them mandatory.