Number of Divorcees Not Qualified for HDB Rental Flats Because of Their Income and Yet Unable to Afford HDB Flat in Open Market

Mr Sharael Taha asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Ministry tracks the number of divorcees who do not qualify for HDB rental flats because of their income and yet also unable to afford any HDB flat in the open market; and (b) if so, what is the current number.

Mr Desmond Lee: Public rental flats are intended to provide highly-subsidised rental housing to low-income and vulnerable citizen households who have no other housing options. HDB carefully assesses every request for a rental flat to understand each household's budget and circumstances, such as whether they can afford to buy a flat, rent from the open market, or stay with their family.

HDB does not reject requests based on income alone and will assist households with a rental flat if they have no other housing options. Hence, we do not track the number of divorcees whose requests for public rental were rejected because of their income, and are unable to provide the number of those who cannot afford an HDB flat on the open market.