Housing & estates — Topics

7 Oct 2019

One-room Flexi Flats for Singles with Lower Financial Capability

Gan Thiam Poh inquired whether HDB would build smaller 1-room Flexi flats integrated with other flat types for financially constrained singles.
Lawrence Wong stated that eligible singles can already purchase 2-room Flexi BTO flats in non-mature estates, which come in two affordable sizes and are integrated with other flat types in the same blocks.
He emphasized that these 2-room Flexi flats, with government subsidies, allow singles to use only about 20% of their monthly income for mortgages, often funded through CPF with little cash outlay.
The existing 2-room Flexi options provide affordable housing for singles, making smaller 1-room Flexi flats unnecessary.

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7 Oct 2019

Waiting Period for Eligible Applicant to be Assigned Public Rental Flat

Png Eng Huat asked about the number of unoccupied public rental flats, the number of accepted applicants on the wait list, and the expected waiting period for assignment as of August 2019.
Lawrence Wong stated that HDB had about 8,000 rental units available, with some reserved for existing tenants facing redevelopment and not all for new applicants.
Approximately 200 households were waiting for key collection, with some deferring due to location preferences.
With sufficient supply, the waiting time for an eligible applicant to be assigned a rental flat is about two months, assuming no strong location preference.
Some waiting time is necessary for HDB to process applications and match applicants with available units in their preferred locations.

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7 Oct 2019

HDB Rental Flat Applicants Who Have Exceeded Income Eligibility Ceiling

Over the past five years, about 720 successful HDB rental flat applicants exceeded the $1,500 income guideline.
HDB uses a needs-based approach, assessing applications holistically and may assist applicants with income above $1,500 if they have no other housing options or family support.
There is no data on rejections solely due to exceeding the income ceiling, as applicants are not rejected based only on household income.

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7 Oct 2019

Practice to Peg Price of HDB BTO Flats to Average Income

Gan Thiam Poh asked if HDB BTO flats will continue to be priced based on average income rather than market prices after the recent income ceiling increase.
Lawrence Wong affirmed the government's commitment to affordable public housing, stating HDB prices new flats at significant discounts to market rates.
He emphasized that most first-timer families can buy BTO flats in non-mature estates using CPF with minimal cash outlay.
Wong stated that even if market prices rise, BTO prices will remain affordable in line with this commitment.
The response confirms the continued practice of pegging BTO prices to income affordability rather than market fluctuations.

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3 Sep 2019

Transnational Families Living under Public Rental Scheme

About 7% or roughly 3,300 families in public rental flats are transnational families, defined as households headed by Singaporeans married to foreigners.
The government uses a family-centric approach, with Social Service Offices and Family Service Centres providing coordinated support and identifying lead agencies to address multiple needs like health, housing, and education.
Free basic language classes are available for foreign spouses through marriage preparation programmes, and schools can involve family members or staff to assist with language barriers.
While no additional plans for job skills, language training, or interpreters were mentioned, the government emphasises holistic support through existing community partners and agencies.

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3 Sep 2019

Additional Housing Grants and Priority for Adults with Special Needs to Live Near Care-givers

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked if the Ministry will consider special housing grants and priority for adults with special needs to live near their parents or caregivers.
The Minister responded that the Government already provides significant subsidies, including discounted HDB flat pricing, additional grants for first-timers, and priority for flats near parents.
First-timers with special needs can also choose resale flats near parents and receive CPF housing grants and the enhanced Proximity Housing Grant.
The Government will continue reviewing housing schemes to ensure affordability and accessibility for all Singaporeans, including those with special needs.

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3 Sep 2019

Appeals for Lease Buyback Scheme from Persons who Have Not Yet Fully Paid Up Housing Loan

Gan Thiam Poh asked about the number of appeals from HDB flat owners who have not fully paid their housing loan but wish to apply for the Lease Buyback Scheme, how many were granted on compassionate grounds, and whether the rule will change.
Lawrence Wong explained that the scheme initially required an outstanding mortgage of no more than $5,000, but this was relaxed in February 2013 to allow those with larger loans, provided the lease sale proceeds can fully discharge the loan.
The discussion highlights concerns about financial hardship and eligibility rules for the Lease Buyback Scheme.

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2 Sep 2019

Applications for HDB BTO Flats and Executive Condominiums Rejected in Last Three Years Due to $10,000 and $12,000 Income Ceilings

In the past three years (2016 to 2018), an average of about 360 applications per year for HDB BTO flats and Executive Condominiums were rejected due to not meeting the income ceilings of $10,000 and $12,000 respectively.
The income ceilings are designed to prioritize housing subsidies for lower to middle-income families, with about eight in 10 Singaporeans able to buy a subsidised flat at the current $12,000 ceiling for HDB.
Households earning up to $14,000 can buy Executive Condominium units from property developers, and there is no income ceiling for purchasing resale HDB flats on the open market.
The Minister stated that HDB will continue to review public housing policies to ensure they remain relevant, but did not commit to increasing the income ceilings at this time.

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2 Sep 2019

Illegal Short-term Rental of Private Properties in Last Five Years

The Urban Redevelopment Authority investigated about 600 suspected illegal short-term rental cases annually over the past five years, with action taken against both property owners and tenants, who are mostly Singaporeans from various age groups.
First-time offenders caught renting out homes casually receive composition fines up to $5,000, with 14 such fines issued since May 2019, while recalcitrant or commercial offenders face court prosecution and higher penalties.
To date, 10 individuals have been charged, including Singaporeans and foreigners on work passes; four were fined between $13,000 and $70,000, and six others face over 80 charges pending in court.
URA holds property owners liable for infringements even if the tenant is the offender, and the authority plans to continue increasing enforcement efforts.

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2 Sep 2019

Percentage of First-Owner Households Eligible for HDB's Home Improvement Programme

Sitoh Yih Pin asked for the percentage of first-owner Singaporean households eligible for HDB's Home Improvement Programme.
Lawrence Wong replied that the programme was recently extended to flats built from 1987 to 1997.
He stated that about 40% of these flats are owned by Singapore citizens who are the first owners.

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2 Sep 2019

Exemption of Bankrupt Persons' Income from Creditors' Claims for Use in Insurance Premium Payments for Home Protection and CPF Insurance Schemes

Gan Thiam Poh asked whether bankrupt persons’ income can be exempt from creditors’ claims to prioritize payments for HDB Home Protection Scheme and CPF insurance premiums.
The Minister explained that after bankruptcy, monthly contributions are determined based on income, expenses, and deductibles, which can include insurance premiums.
The Official Assignee or Trustees allow a $1,100 monthly personal deductible and may permit additional amounts for insurance premiums to protect the bankrupt and family.
CPF members may also use their CPF contributions and savings to pay for these insurance premiums where allowed by CPF rules.

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2 Sep 2019

Policies on Permanent Residents Owning Landed Residential Property in Singapore

The Singapore government restricts Permanent Residents from owning landed residential property, prioritizing citizens due to scarcity, with approvals granted case-by-case based on economic contributions.
Foreigners, including PRs, must obtain Ministerial approval under the Residential Property Act and are limited to owning one property for personal occupation only.
Stricter rules apply for properties over 15,000 sq ft or in good class bungalow areas, with no specific upper limit on land size mentioned in the policy.

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2 Sep 2019

Review Income Ceiling Under Public Rental Scheme to Ensure Relevance to Household Incomes and Expenditure

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira proposed reviewing the public rental income ceiling, noting that average monthly expenditure for 1–2 room flats ($1,545) exceeds the current $1,500 limit, and asked what evidence informs the ceiling’s relevance.
Lawrence Wong explained that the $1,500 figure is a guideline, not a hard cap, used to encourage first-timer households to purchase flats with grants, while HDB assesses individual circumstances for rental eligibility.
HDB has assisted households earning above $1,500, with 590 such cases from 2016 to 2018 and about 170 more from January to July 2019, demonstrating flexibility in the scheme.
The Ministry will continue regular reviews of the Public Rental Scheme to ensure it meets the housing needs of Singaporeans unable to buy their own homes.

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2 Sep 2019

Statistics on Unsuccessful First-timer Applicants for HDB Flats

Png Eng Huat asked for the number of unsuccessful first-timer HDB applicants in the last four quarterly sales exercises and the algorithm used for the computerised ballot number.
Lawrence Wong stated that for the August and November 2018 BTO exercises, about 990 and 4,200 first-timer families were unsuccessful, with high demand in November due to location and waiting time.
Unsuccessful first-timer families in non-mature estates receive an additional ballot chance after two tries, and all such families have succeeded by their third attempt over the past two years.
The balloting process is randomised, considers ethnic quotas, household status, and priority schemes, and is audited for fairness.

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2 Sep 2019

Number of Cases of Illegal Rental in Illegally Partitioned Apartment Exceeding Occupancy Cap

Mr Melvin Yong asked about the number of illegal rental cases in illegally partitioned apartments exceeding occupancy caps over the past three years and the penalties for those involved.
Minister Lawrence Wong stated that the occupancy cap was tightened to six persons in 2017, and URA has detected and enforced against about 800 infringements since then.
Penalties for exceeding the occupancy cap include composition fines up to $5,000 for marginal breaches and prosecution for serious cases, with fines up to $200,000 or imprisonment up to 12 months.
If property agents abet such offences, URA and CEA may debar them, while MOM will take action against errant employers and foreign workers involved.

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2 Sep 2019

Impact of Surge in Chinese Developers in Residential Property Market in Past Five Years

The Minister noted that the private residential market remained stable overall, with a brief price surge from late 2017 to mid-2018 driven by improved sentiment and aggressive bidding by both local and foreign developers.
Chinese developers accounted for less than 10% of private residential sites sold via government land sales and en-bloc sales during the surge, and their winning bids were comparable to those of other developers.
Construction quality, as measured by the CONQUAS system, has remained high over the past five years, with Chinese developers’ projects scoring similarly to the national average.
The government will continue monitoring the property market and adjust policies as needed to ensure quality housing and market stability.

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2 Sep 2019

Average Time for Selection Process for Applicants Given Ballot Number for HDB BTO flats

Murali Pillai asked about the average duration of the selection process for HDB BTO flat applicants after receiving a ballot number and how it could be accelerated.
Lawrence Wong stated that HDB has reduced the balloting time from six to three weeks since May 2019, with applicants notified of their queue number three weeks after the sales exercise.
The flat selection process typically takes four to six months to complete due to the need for individual appointments and assistance for each applicant.
HDB is continuing to explore ways to streamline and expedite the selection process.

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2 Sep 2019

Lowering Minimum Age for HDB Lease Buyback Scheme for Owners Needing Long-term Medical Treatment for Chronic Illnesses

Gan Thiam Poh proposed lowering the HDB Lease Buyback Scheme’s minimum age for flat owners needing long-term treatment for chronic illnesses.
Lawrence Wong explained the age is set at 65 to align with CPF payouts, but HDB has shown flexibility for medical cases.
The government thanked the feedback and will consider it in future scheme reviews.
The current policy allows exceptions for those with long-term medical expenses despite the age requirement.
The debate concluded with an openness to revisit the age limit based on the feedback.

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2 Sep 2019

Appeals in Past 10 Years for HDB Rental Flats on Grounds of Dispute with Children

HDB received about 2,600 rental flat appeals from parents citing conflicts with their children between 2016 and May 2019, with about 560 approved based on specific circumstances.
HDB does not track whether the children involved live in HDB flats or private property, and only began collecting such data in 2016.
Applicants are first encouraged to seek mediation from Family Service Centers; if conflict persists and children cannot provide housing, HDB may grant a rental flat, but children’s ability to support parents may lead them to apply for maintenance at the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents.

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2 Sep 2019

Providing Housing for Single Unwed Parents and their Children

Mr. Louis Ng argued that single unwed parents under 35 face severe housing challenges, proposing clear eligibility criteria for rental flats, removal of "compassionate grounds" language, updated HDB communications, and a scheme for them to buy 2-room flexi flats to ensure equality and reduce stigma.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sun Xueling acknowledged the government's evolving stance and commitment to ensuring no child lacks housing, noting that HDB already assesses applications holistically and has approved many cases, including appeals by Mr. Ng.
The government will review communication touchpoints and the HDB website to explicitly state that single unwed parents can apply for flats, aiming to alleviate anxiety and improve their experience without discriminating based on marital status.

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