Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on whether there will be a change to the policy of HDB continuing to provide flats to 80% of Singapore’s resident population

Mar 5, 2021

Mr Gan Thiam Poh: To ask the Minister for National Development (a) whether there will be a change to the policy of HDB continuing to provide flats to 80% of Singapore’s resident population; and (b) whether HDB will review existing policies to further assist Singaporeans in owning HDB flats including giving all Singaporeans a chance to own a BTO flat.  

Answer:

Home ownership is the cornerstone of our public housing programme, and the Government is committed to providing Singaporeans with affordable homes.

To ensure affordability, HDB provides generous housing subsidies, especially to first-timer buyers. Eligibility conditions are put in place to ensure that these housing subsidies are targeted at those who need them the most. 

One such condition is the income ceiling. The income ceiling had been raised from $10,000 to $12,000 in August 2015 and from $12,000 to $14,000 in September 2019. At the current income ceiling of $14,000, about eight in 10 citizen households qualify for subsidised public housing. Those who do not meet the eligibility conditions for subsidised public housing have the option of buying a resale flat on the open market without subsidy. Such households may be eligible for the Proximity Housing Grant, which does not have an income ceiling. 

HDB will continue to monitor the housing market closely to ensure that housing policies remain relevant and responsive to the needs of the population.