HDB FLATS

HDB FLATS

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(Fiance/Fiancee Scheme): **

6.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for National Development over each of the last five years (a) how many couples have applied for new HDB flats under the Fiance/Fiancee Scheme; (b) what are their ages; and (c) how many applications for new flats under this scheme have been cancelled as a result of annulment/divorce.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: The Fiance/Fiancee Scheme allows courting couples with marriage plans to apply for an HDB flat in advance. The scheme provides such couples with the flexibility to plan ahead and time their flat purchase according to their marriage plans.

From 2002 to 2006, HDB received a total of about 22,500 applications for new flats under the Fiance/Fiancee Scheme (FS). This works out to an average of about 4,500 applications annually.

About 30% of the applications were from couples up to 25 years old, 55% were aged between 26 and 30 years, and the remaining 15% were aged 31 years and above.

Out of the 22,500 FS applications received, about 15,000 proceeded to book a flat from HDB. FS applicants may decide not to book a flat from HDB for various reasons. For instance, some may have subsequently chosen to stay with their parents, while others may have purchased a resale flat from the open market under the CPF Housing Grant Scheme.

Among the 15,000 FS applicants who booked a flat from HDB over the past five years, less than 200 cases (about 1.2%) cancelled their flat booking due to break-up of relationship, including annulment/divorce.