HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS

HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS

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(Review of age criterion for purchase by singles): **

27.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Minister for National Development in view of the increasing average age of Singaporeans getting married, (a) will the HDB review its policy of allowing singles below 35 to purchase public housing; and (b) whether the HDB has surveyed the demand of HDB flats among young singles who wish to stay on their own.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Our public housing policies are designed to be pro-family in orientation. A proper family nucleus is thus required for the purchase of a HDB flat. Single citizens are considered as part of a family unit, and are encouraged to live together with their parents for mutual care and support.

Nonetheless, we recognise that there are some older Singaporeans who remain single and who may prefer to live on their own. To meet the housing needs of this group, HDB allows single Singapore citizens who are at least 35 years of age to buy resale flats. Single citizens who are first-timers are eligible for a CPF housing grant*.

In line with the Government’s objective to encourage family formation, there are no plans at this juncture to lower the qualifying age for single Singaporeans to buy a resale HDB flat. Single persons below 35 years of age who wish to live alone have other housing options, such as renting a room or whole flat from other HDB lessees under the Approved Subletting Scheme.

• $11,000 under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme, or a higher grant of $22,000 under the Joint Singles Scheme.

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