Housing & estates — Topics

5 Jun 2020

Reports of Spalling Concrete in Owned and Rental HDB Flats in Last Three Years

Joan Pereira asked for the number of spalling concrete reports in owned and rental HDB flats over the past three years, broken down by type of flat.
Lawrence Wong explained that spalling concrete results from natural wear and tear due to moisture and corrosion, and can be minimized through regular maintenance like painting ceilings.
For owned flats, owners are responsible for interior maintenance and are encouraged to inspect ceilings for early detection, with HDB reporting an average of 10 cases per 1,000 sold flats yearly.
For rental flats, HDB handles maintenance and reported an average of 23 cases per 1,000 rental flats yearly over the past three years.
The response emphasized early detection and regular maintenance to prevent minor spalling concrete issues from escalating.

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5 Jun 2020

Measures and Penalties to Ensure Dormitory Operators and Landlords Comply with Requirements for Communal Living

The Inter-Agency Taskforce is clearing dormitories of COVID-19 and requires all parties to implement safe management and living measures, with MOM providing advisories, checklists, briefings, and communications materials to support compliance.
Dormitory operators must track residents and visitors, stagger common facility use, strengthen health surveillance, and reduce density, while employers must cooperate with testing and updates to the Online Foreign Worker Address Service (OFWAS).
Penalties for non-compliance include fines up to $10,000 or jail for employers, fines up to $50,000 or imprisonment for dormitory operators, and licence revocation, while private landlords who fail to comply will be barred from renting to foreign workers.
Workers are required to monitor their health, follow dormitory rules, and report illnesses, with repeated breaches potentially leading to work pass revocation.

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26 May 2020

Shorter Rental Leases for Private and HDB Properties to Accommodate Construction Delays due to COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures

Sylvia Lim questioned whether URA and HDB would allow shorter rental leases than the standard three months for private properties and six months for HDB flats to help families displaced by COVID-19 construction delays, but the Minister confirmed no rule changes while noting existing case-by-case flexibility for genuine difficulties.
The Minister outlined multiple support measures for affected homeowners, including transaction timeline adjustments, temporary stays with relatives, subsidised serviced apartments, and interim rental flats, while assuring timely responses to applications.
On construction resumption, the Minister stated that renovation works already started before the circuit breaker would be prioritised in Phase One, with new projects deferred, but contractors could apply for earlier resumption if they meet safety requirements.

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26 May 2020

Adequate Number of HDB Flats under Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme for Young Families

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked whether HDB will ensure an adequate number of flats under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme for young families facing economic uncertainties due to COVID-19.
The Minister for National Development stated that PPHS provides temporary housing for married couples awaiting their new HDB flats and has increased permanent sources for the scheme.
HDB currently has 680 PPHS flats with about 550 occupied and plans to add 200 more by end-2021, bringing the total to about 880.
HDB will continue to monitor demand and review supply to ensure a small and steady supply of PPHS flats in the longer term.

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4 May 2020

Statistics on Public Rental Flat Tenancy Terminations, Downgrades to Smaller Rental Flats, Eligibility Criteria for Assistance Measures and Demographics of Recipient Households in Last Three Years

About 5,200 public rental households, or 10%, are in rent arrears, with 75% owing less than $3,000 and about half in arrears for less than a year.
HDB provides compassionate assistance, including rent reductions, instalment plans for arrears, and referrals to Social Service Offices, and has helped 159 households downsize to smaller flats in the last three years.
Tenancy termination is a last resort, with only one case occurring in the last three years, and households receiving assistance typically have four or fewer members.

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4 May 2020

Inspection of Older HDB Main Doors Installed Before Weather Pattern Changes to Test Their Adequacy to Withstand Elements

Joan Pereira asked whether HDB will inspect older main doors damaged by heavy rain and provide goodwill repairs due to changed weather patterns.
Lawrence Wong acknowledged that heavy downpours can wet doors despite existing canopies but noted HDB will assess severe cases and offer rain screens if fire safety rules are met.

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4 May 2020

Assistance for Rough Sleepers and Measures to Help Them Cope with COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Conditions

The Ministry and PEERS Network expanded shelter capacity to about 700 spaces through new partnerships, including religious and community organizations, to house rough sleepers during the circuit breaker.
Homeless individuals are not penalized under COVID-19 regulations if assisted, and outreach efforts include distributing care packs and encouraging shelter acceptance.
A small proportion of destitute persons are housed in Welfare Homes, while transitional shelters support families and individuals working toward stable accommodation.
Collaboration with community partners ensures homeless persons access COVID-19 relief measures, such as the Solidarity payment and grants, despite challenges like lacking addresses or IDs.
The crisis reinforced the importance of government-community partnerships in addressing both immediate safety and underlying issues leading to homelessness.

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7 Apr 2020

COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill

The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill aims to provide temporary relief for businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic, including preventing legal action for inability to perform contractual obligations and allowing alternative methods for holding meetings.
Key concerns raised included extending relief to security and cleaning firms, ensuring fair application for unions and other organizations, and addressing issues like property tax rebates, rental payments, and arbitration, with ministers clarifying that the Bill will be applied sympathetically but carefully balanced.
The Bill was supported by members, with the Minister committing to consider adding more categories of contracts to the relief measures and to monitor the economic situation while ensuring fairness to both tenants and landlords.

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7 Apr 2020

COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill

The Bill introduces temporary measures to address COVID-19 impacts, including allowing remote meetings and court proceedings, and providing relief for scheduled contracts like leases and event bookings to prevent forfeiture of deposits or legal actions for non-performance due to the pandemic.
It mandates that property owners pass on property tax rebates to tenants in a timely manner, with enforcement mechanisms and dispute resolution through Valuation Review Panels, ensuring tenants receive intended benefits.
Part 7 grants the Minister for Health powers to enforce enhanced safe distancing measures, such as closing non-essential premises and restricting gatherings, with penalties for non-compliance, to curb COVID-19 transmission during the circuit breaker period.

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6 Apr 2020

Community Improvement Projects Committee Funding Applied for and Allocated to Each Grassroots Adviser and/or Citizens’ Consultative Committee from FY2016 to Date

Pritam Singh asked for the amount of Community Improvement Projects Committee funding applied for and allocated to each grassroots adviser and Citizens’ Consultative Committee from FY2016 to date.
Lawrence Wong explained that the CIPC funds HDB estate improvement projects like walkways and playgrounds, with budgets allocated based on HDB units and requiring CCCs to co-pay 10%.
Town Councils must agree to maintain completed CIPC projects on common property before construction begins, ensuring long-term upkeep.
Comparisons of CIPC funding across constituencies are not meaningful due to differing resident needs, so CCCs decide on project selection.
The CIPC allows grassroots groups closer to residents to choose projects that best meet local needs.

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25 Mar 2020

Number and Breakdown of Households under Public Rental Scheme, Interim Rental Housing Scheme and Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme

About 52,000 households live in HDB rental flats, with roughly 50,000 under the Public Rental Scheme, while the remainder are in the Interim Rental Housing and Parenthood Provisional Housing Schemes.
Around 70 rental flats house more than one nuclear household, with those under the Public Rental Scheme allowed to rent separate flats if each meets eligibility conditions.
HDB does not track applicants under the Joint Single Scheme who cannot secure a rental flat due to difficulty finding a co-applicant but offers assistance through listings and facilitated matching sessions.
85% of households with at least three persons in rental flats live in 2-room or larger units; some in 1-room flats may have been unable to retain larger flats due to arrears.

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6 Mar 2020

Building Control (Amendment) Bill

The Bill consolidates building lifecycle requirements under the Building Control Act, moving maintenance provisions from the BMSMA to strengthen oversight of safety and accessibility, including for lifts, escalators, and building facades.
It introduces a mandatory Periodic Facade Inspection regime for buildings over 20 years old and 13 metres high, requiring inspections every seven years by trained professionals to detect and address facade deterioration early.
The amendments mandate a Progressive Wage Model for the lift and escalator industry to improve wages and career progression for local technicians, while enhancing regulatory controls for lift and escalator design, installation, and maintenance.
The Bill accelerates accessibility upgrades in existing commercial and institutional buildings by requiring owners to provide basic accessibility features when undertaking alteration and addition works, targeting buildings built before 1990.
Additional measures include regulating mechanised car parking systems, expanding regulatory sanctions for errant contractors, and clarifying responsibilities for maintaining building exterior features, with Town Councils as the primary responsible parties for HDB estates.

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5 Mar 2020

Number of Court Applications Involving Spouse Refusing to Comply with Court Orders on Sale of Matrimonial Home in the Past Five Years

The Ministry of Law currently does not collect data on court applications where a spouse refuses to comply with court orders for the sale of the matrimonial home, as requested in parts (a), (b), and (c) of the question.
The duration of such applications varies depending on the specific case details, including the initial order’s terms and the timing of the enforcement application.
The Ministry will explore with the Courts whether it is feasible to collect the requested data in the future.

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5 Mar 2020

Study on Impact and Mitigation Factors of Climate Change on Low-income Groups

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Prime Minister whether a study on climate change impacts on low-income groups has been conducted and if its results are available.
Teo Chee Hean responded that the government's climate strategies consider all stakeholders, including low-income and vulnerable groups, through inclusive adaptation and mitigation measures.
Specific initiatives like HDB Green Towns Programme and energy-efficient appliance incentives are designed to reduce utility bills and minimize climate change impacts on low-income households.
Additional financial support, such as GST Voucher – U-Save rebates, is provided to eligible HDB households to cushion the effects of carbon taxes and rising utility costs.

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4 Mar 2020

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

MPs raised concerns about the enforcement of pet bird trade regulations and the enforcement of HDB rules against keeping cats, with officials assuring that enforcement is conducted based on complaints and disamenities, and that bird smuggling cases have declined.
Questions were posed regarding housing grants for HDB owners with mobility issues, the flexibility of Joint Singles Scheme for vulnerable individuals, and the impact of cutting S Pass quotas on the construction industry, with officials outlining targeted support and ongoing studies.
The Minister confirmed that housing grants for mobility issues apply to all HDB owners and that flexibility is considered for low-income divorcees in shared care cases, while also explaining the constraints on rental housing supply.

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4 Mar 2020

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

The debate centered on enhancing housing affordability and accessibility, with the Ministry announcing a simplified Silver Housing Bonus, expanded Lease Buyback Scheme, and a new open booking system to help home-seekers access flats more quickly.
Members raised concerns about supporting diverse housing needs, including for singles, unwed parents, and elderly residents, with the Ministry committing to a case-by-case approach for unwed parents and piloting assisted living flats.
Discussions also covered rejuvenating HDB towns, including launching a 10-year Green Towns programme, accelerating the Home Improvement Programme for older flats, and introducing a new Lift Access Housing Grant for residents needing direct lift access.

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18 Feb 2020

Number of Families and Couples Renting under Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme and Those in Arrears

Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for National Development for the number of families and couples renting under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) and the number and percentage of this group in arrears.
As of end January 2020, about 630 households were renting under PPHS, with approximately 7% of them in arrears.
HDB works with households in arrears on instalment plans or to move to lower-rent flats, and those in financial hardship may be referred to MSF for assistance.

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18 Feb 2020

Help for HDB Owners in Financial Hardship Who Are Unable to Sell Flats Due to Ethnic Integration Policy

Lim Biow Chuan asked if the Government will provide financial aid to HDB owners who cannot sell their flats due to the Ethnic Integration Policy but need to sell because of financial hardship.
The Second Minister for National Development responded that HDB offers extensions for selling, may temporarily reduce or defer mortgage payments, and can exercise flexibility with the Ethnic Integration Policy for exceptional cases, while also referring owners to financial counselling and other assistance schemes.
Pritam Singh queried whether affected households have to sell at lower prices relative to neighboring units despite the extension, and the Minister clarified that sale prices depend on flat attributes and location, not solely on the policy.

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4 Feb 2020

Priority for BTO Flats in Mature Estates for First-time Applicants whose Parents or In-laws Live in the Estate

Gan Thiam Poh asked for a policy review to give priority to first-time BTO applicants whose parents or in-laws live in mature estates.
Lawrence Wong responded that existing schemes already provide priority for families buying flats to live with or near parents, including in mature estates.
He noted that resale flat buyers can receive grants of up to $30,000 through the Proximity Housing Grant, with first-timers eligible for up to $160,000 in total grants for both mature and non-mature estates.

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3 Feb 2020

Reported Cases of Moulding on Ceilings or Walls of HDB Flats in Past Three Years and Action Taken

Over the past three years, HDB received an annual average of about 1.4 reported mould cases per 1,000 dwelling units, with mould typically caused by insufficient ventilation and high humidity.
Flat owners are responsible for maintaining the interior of their flats, including ceilings and walls, but HDB provides advice on remedial repairs and refers owners to suitable contractors when complaints are received.
HDB also refers flat owners who need financial assistance for repair works to relevant community or grassroots organisations.

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