Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on public rental requests from parents with children
Sep 2, 2019
Mr Gan Thiam Poh: To ask the Minister for National Development in the past 10 years:
(a) what is the total number of appeals for HDB rental flats which cite reasons of disagreement with children, disowned by children or got chased out/abused by children;
(b) what is the number of such cases wherein the children live in (i) HDB flats or (ii) private property;
(c) how many of such appeals have been successful; and
(d) what are the conditions for such approval.
Answer:
HDB only started tracking data on such cases from 2016 onwards. From 2016 to May 2019, HDB received about 2,600 public rental requests from parents with children who should have been able to provide housing for them. The common reason cited for their rental request was conflict with their children. About 560 requests were acceded to, based on the specific circumstances of each person. HDB does not track whether their children were living in HDB flats or private residential properties.
We encourage rental applicants who face conflict with their children to first seek mediation assistance from a Family Service Centre. If they are still unable to reconcile, and if the children have no means to provide alternative housing for their parents, HDB will help such seniors with a public rental flat.
Seniors whose children have the means to provide for them can also consider making an application for maintenance at the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents.