Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on applications for BTO flats and rental flats
Feb 12, 2015
Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Minister for National Development:-
(a) what is the number of applications received for
i. HDB Built-To-Order (BTO) flats and
ii. rental flats annually from 2008 to 2014; and
(b) what is the percentage of successful applications for
i. BTO flats and
ii. rental flats annually from 2008 to 2014.
Answer:
The number of unique BTO applications received from families was 17,900 in 2008, and 28,300, 48,400, 50,000, 55,000, 43,700, and 34,200 in subsequent years.
Before the surge in demand in 2008, first-timer families could generally book a BTO flat in a non-mature estate within three applications. This rose to seven attempts in 2010. In response, HDB ramped up the BTO flat supply, and offered more than 100,000 flats between 2011 and 2014. This has successfully cleared the queue and today, almost all first-timer families are successful in their first application for a BTO flat in a non-mature estate.
Applications for public rental flats are assessed and approved on a needs basis to safeguard rental flats for the needy. From 2008 to 2014, HDB received an average of 9,000 applications a year for rental flats. One-third of them were successful. The rest did not meet the eligibility criteria, as they had family support or were assessed to be able to buy a small flat. Nevertheless, where there are genuine hardship cases, HDB will exercise flexibility, even if they do not fulfil the eligibility criteria.