Housing & estates — Topics

1 Apr 2019

Flexibility in Imposing Household Income Ceiling on Singaporeans who Need to Care for Mentally Disabled Persons

Murali Pillai proposed reviewing the BTO flat income ceiling to allow flexibility for households with higher expenses due to caring for mentally disabled family members.
Lawrence Wong affirmed that the $12,000 income ceiling prioritizes subsidies for those most in need but noted HDB reviews cases with exceptional financial commitments.
He added that households exceeding the ceiling can still buy resale flats without income restrictions.

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1 Apr 2019

Seniors Aged 65 and Above who Received Payouts from Silver Support Scheme

Ms Foo Mee Har asked for the number of seniors aged 65 and above receiving both Silver Support and CPF payouts, and the average quantum of their combined monthly payouts.
About 20% of elderly Singaporeans receive Silver Support payouts, with 51,000 seniors aged 65 and above receiving these payouts in addition to CPF monthly payouts in 2018.
The median combined monthly payout is $500 for those living in 1- and 2-room HDB flats, and $350 for those in 5-room flats.
Seniors may also receive benefits from Pioneer and Merdeka Generation Packages, GST Vouchers, transport concessions, and other support schemes, with additional assistance available through ComCare.
Silver Support targets low-income seniors with low CPF contributions, and payouts are higher for those living in smaller flat types.

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1 Apr 2019

Proportion of Cases Filed at Small Claims Tribunal That Relate to Tenancy-related Disputes

From 2016 to 2018, an average of 10,414 cases were filed annually at the Small Claims Tribunal, with about nine percent being tenancy-related claims.
The State Courts does not track the number of tenancy-related cases filed by Singaporeans.
Recent amendments to the Small Claims Tribunals Act have enhanced the Tribunal's powers, including allowing orders for the delivery of vacant possession to help resolve tenancy disputes more effectively.

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1 Apr 2019

Low-income Parents who Sell Flats Co-owned with Children so Children Can Buy Flats in Their Own Names

Murali Pillai asked if HDB could consider the income of children when granting concessionary loans to low-income parents who sell co-owned flats to let children buy homes in their own names.
The Minister clarified that HDB and banks only assess the income of the actual borrowers for housing loans, as they are responsible for mortgage repayments.
Parents are advised to right-size to smaller flats within their budget for long-term sustainability, rather than relying on children to service multiple mortgages.
HDB will consider flexibility and extend loans on a case-by-case basis if sales proceeds are insufficient for a right-sized unit.
The Minister encouraged families to approach HDB directly to explore options tailored to their unique circumstances.

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7 Mar 2019

Compensation for Repair of Damage Caused by Fire in Neighbour's HDB Flat

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked what recourse HDB flat owners have for compensation when damage is caused by a fire in a neighbour's flat.
Lawrence Wong stated that flat owners should insure their properties against fire damage, and without insurance, compensation must be resolved privately between neighbours.
HDB will provide temporary accommodation to affected owners during repairs, and needy owners can seek help with repair costs from Community Development Councils.

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7 Mar 2019

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

The Ministry announced enhancements to the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, including raising the age limit for the youngest child to 18, launching a new support programme for families, and allowing special consideration for applicants who do not meet all criteria initially.
Measures to help public rental tenants transition to home ownership were outlined, such as the Home Ownership Support Team, expanded Step-Up CPF Housing Grant, and rent waivers for households approaching the income threshold.
The Ministry detailed plans to improve older rental flats by enhancing ventilation and lighting, and to support seniors through options like the Lease Buyback Scheme and assisted living pilots, while also addressing climate change impacts with long-term coastal protection plans.

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6 Mar 2019

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

Members highlighted ongoing challenges in public rental housing, urging stronger support for families transitioning to home ownership, better facilities for the elderly and co-tenants, and improved communication on schemes like the Lease Buyback Scheme.
There was a call for enhanced infrastructure resilience and climate change adaptation, including measures for rising sea levels, redevelopment of older estates, and ensuring equitable access to amenities across mature and new towns.
The Ministry outlined plans for a future-ready built environment, focusing on construction innovation, workforce transformation, and digitalisation, while addressing feedback on parking, upgrading programmes, and support for local contractors.

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18 Feb 2019

Profile of CPF Members Aged 65 and Above Receiving Monthly Payouts under Retirement Sum Scheme and CPF LIFE Schemes

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked for statistics on CPF members aged 65 and above receiving monthly payouts under the Retirement Sum Scheme and CPF LIFE, broken down by gender, property type, average payout amounts, and the percentage receiving under $500, as well as whether microdata access would be provided for research.
Minister Josephine Teo reported that about 268,000 CPF members aged 65 and above received payouts in December 2018, with half being female; 76% owned property, including 17% private property, 54% large HDB flats, and 29% smaller HDB flats.
74% of recipients received under $500 monthly, with payouts varying significantly by age; younger cohorts are expected to have higher payouts due to improved CPF rules and increased labour force participation.
The government provides additional support through Silver Support, giving about $600 per quarter supplement, alongside other schemes like Workfare, GST vouchers, and ComCare.
CPF Board is open to collaborating with external researchers on retirement adequacy studies while balancing privacy concerns, but did not commit to full microdata access.

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18 Feb 2019

Cat-related Nuisance Feedback Received by HDB in Past 10 Years

Mr. Louis Ng Kok Kwang inquired about the number of cat-related nuisance feedback received by HDB over the past 10 years for both stray and owned cats, and whether the feedback decreased in Chong Pang constituency.
The Minister for National Development, Lawrence Wong, explained that such feedback is tracked by Town Councils and the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), with AVA data starting from 2016.
Stray cat nuisance feedback across Singapore increased from about 2,300 cases in 2016 to 3,600 in 2018, while pet cat nuisance feedback rose from around 500 to 900 over the same period.
In Chong Pang constituency, cat nuisance feedback has remained relatively constant over the same period.
The Minister's response did not provide year-by-year data for the full 10-year period as requested, citing the AVA's tracking starting only in 2016.

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18 Feb 2019

Number of Recipients and Income Criteria for Silver Support Scheme

The Silver Support Scheme targets the bottom 20% of elderly Singaporeans aged 65 and above, with possible support extending to the next 10%, providing quarterly cash payouts of $300 to $750 based on HDB flat type.
From 2016 to 2019, 33,000 initial recipients became ineligible (14,000 passed away, 18,000 incomes rose), while 42,000 new recipients were assessed eligible, leading to a net increase and total annual payouts exceeding $330 million.
The government will periodically review the scheme to ensure it supports low-income elderly with little family support and assesses appeals case-by-case, including reconsidering sibling income in household means-testing if circumstances warrant.

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13 Feb 2019

Measures to Address Constituencies with Declining Population Size and Age

The Government does not track average household size by constituency but monitors it by Planning Area, with the average resident household size in Singapore decreasing from 3.53 in 2012 to 3.30 in 2017.
Agencies use population trends to plan amenities and services, such as using geospatial tools to locate Senior Care Centres in areas with higher senior populations.
The Housing and Development Board builds new flats in older estates to maintain a vibrant mix of residents across different generations.
The Government continues to monitor population distribution across Planning Areas and takes timely steps to meet the varying needs of Singaporeans.

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13 Feb 2019

Average Sale Price for Land Sold to Private Developers and HDB

The Minister explained that private housing land is sold via the Government Land Sales Programme, while HDB acquires state land at market value assessed by the Chief Valuer, with lower valuations for public housing compared to private housing.
Between 2015 and 2018, the average price for private housing land sold through the Government Land Sales Programme was about $7,000 per square metre, excluding the Core Central Region.
In the same period, HDB paid an average of about $2,000 per square metre for land to develop public housing in mature estates.

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12 Feb 2019

Cool Climate Solutions for Singapore in Light of Rapidly Rising Global Temperatures

The Singapore government is addressing rising temperatures and the Urban Heat Island effect through measures such as designing HDB flats for better wind flow, incorporating green spaces, and using building materials that limit solar heat absorption.
Energy efficiency is a key strategy, with policies like the amended Energy Conservation Act, a carbon tax, and enhanced grants to reduce industrial energy consumption and emissions.
Household and building sectors are targeted through mandatory energy labelling and minimum performance standards for appliances, alongside promoting energy-efficient building designs.
The government continues to invest in research and development to study the local microclimate and leverage technology to help Singaporeans cope with increasing heat.

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12 Feb 2019

Extending HDB's Deferred Downpayment Scheme to 4-room and 5-room BTO Flats

Member Ong Teng Koon asked whether HDB’s deferred downpayment scheme could be extended to 4-room and 5-room BTO flats and to low-income applicants, questioning the need for a downpayment when an existing flat owner is buying a new flat with HDB controlling both transactions.
Minister Lawrence Wong explained that downpayments ensure commitment and prevent depriving other buyers, but HDB already offers the Staggered Downpayment Scheme for young couples and those rightsizing, and case-by-case assistance is available for those facing difficulties.
The Minister reiterated that the deferred downpayment scheme is specifically for seniors aged 55 and above rightsizing to smaller flats, and current policies aim to support different groups while maintaining financial prudence.

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12 Feb 2019

Approval Rate for HDB Non-concessionary Housing Loans

Ong Teng Koon asked about the approval rate for non-concessionary HDB loans and whether HDB could expand such loans for residents who cannot secure bank financing, while proposing a less risky over-collateralized loan structure.
The Minister for National Development explained that HDB provides up to two concessionary loans and may consider a third on a case-by-case basis, having assisted about 20% of the 4,500 appeals for a third loan in the past year.
He clarified that HDB does not approve a third loan if a commercial bank loan is available, and when applicants cannot get a bank loan, it is typically due to insufficient income to service the debt.
The Minister emphasized that increasing non-concessionary loans is constrained by the need to ensure applicants are not overstretching themselves financially and that they should first build up savings and stable income.

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12 Feb 2019

Feedback on Pollution Produced by Burning of Joss Paper and Incense

The Ministry received about 1,100 pieces of feedback on joss paper and incense burning in 2015, declining to around 500 in 2018, and works with Town Councils and religious groups to promote responsible burning through educational materials and cleaner joss burners.
To address large-scale burning, the Ministry advises locating metal cages away from dense residential areas and has introduced eco-friendly burners with filtration systems at venues like Mandai Columbarium and Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.
Mr Gan Thiam Poh inquired about incentives to improve the design of large metal cages used in public housing estates, especially since their proximity to homes causes complaints.
The Ministry explained that large metal cages require temporary approval from Town Councils for specific events like the seventh month festival or funerals, and it encourages better burner designs and trials of eco-friendly technology to minimize smoke and fly ash emissions.

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11 Feb 2019

CPF Withdrawal Limit for Housing Mortgages

About 6,000 CPF members (0.8% of property owners using CPF for housing) have reached their withdrawal limits and are financing mortgages through other means, mainly due to reaching the Valuation Limit or the 120% Withdrawal Limit cap.
The Special and Retirement Accounts are generally protected for retirement and not used for housing, but the CPF Board allowed around 8,000 appeals in 2018 to use such savings for housing based on retirement adequacy and loan circumstances.
The CPF Board assesses each appeal case by considering the member's retirement adequacy and outstanding loan amount before granting exceptions to use restricted account savings.

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11 Feb 2019

Unusual Divergence in Price Trends for Private Homes and HDB Resale Flats in 2018

The Minister acknowledged that divergence between private home and HDB resale price indices occurred, including between Q2 2017 and Q3 2018, driven by euphoric sentiment in the private property market.
He attributed the divergence to unsustainable price increases in private homes, which prompted the introduction of cooling measures in July 2018.
The Minister stated that the government will continue to monitor both markets to ensure stability and sustainability.
He did not directly address whether leasehold decay concerns contributed to the divergence or whether it is a cause for concern if unaddressed.
Both indices are confirmed to track all transactions in their respective markets, with convergence generally expected due to shared underlying factors.

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11 Feb 2019

Treatment of Proceeds from Lease Buyback Scheme

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry inquired whether flat owners must use Lease Buyback Scheme proceeds to repay CPF used for the flat purchase before topping up their Retirement Account, and if half the proceeds could be given in cash to those in need.
Lawrence Wong clarified that there is no requirement to refund CPF used for the flat purchase; proceeds first go to CPF Retirement Account top-up, with any remainder and a bonus available in cash.
He added that most seniors receive some cash after meeting the CPF requirement and that HDB provides personalized counseling to help seniors choose suitable options.

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11 Feb 2019

Community Housing Solutions for Just-released Prisoners

Saktiandi Supaat asked about the number of released prisoners with homes, solutions for those without, and inter-ministry coordination on interim housing.
K Shanmugam stated that most released inmates have homes to return to, with about 3% (850) referred to halfway houses or shelters via the Family Resource Centre.
The Ministry of Home Affairs works with Singapore Prison Service to coordinate interim housing through referrals, with the Family Resource Centre facilitating these arrangements.

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