Temporary Lodging Options to Ease Demand for HDB Rental Flats

Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider easing the short-term demand for HDB rental housing by providing temporary lodging similar to those built for foreign worker dormitories until the new rental flats are completed.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Currently, there are 1,900 applicants on the HDB rental flat waiting list. We have shortened the average waiting time to five months. As we ramp up the supply of rental flats, we will be able to clear the outstanding demand while meeting demand from new applicants.

Those in the rental queue who urgently need temporary housing can be offered a HDB flat under the Interim Rental Housing Scheme. Housing them in a HDB flat within a HDB community with access to HDB estate facilities is preferred over dormitory-type temporary housing. The latter may not be suitable for family-based households.

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