HDB WAITING LIST (Particulars)

Mr Liew Kok Pun asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many applicants are now on the waiting list for one- and two-room Housing and Development Board rental apartments and for three-, four- and five-room HDB apartments; (b) how many three-, four- and five-room units will be completed in 1984 and 1985; (c) whether all of those who are now on the waiting list will get their apartments by 1984-85; and (d) what is the present estimated waiting time for new applicants for three-, four- and five-room apartments.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: (a) As at 30 November 1983, the number of applicants on the HDB's waiting list for 1- and 2-room rental flats and 3-, 4- and 5-room sale flats was 109,506. The breakdown is as follows: 1-room rental flats - 6,502 2-room rental flats - 7,525 3-room sale flats - 32,064 4-room sale flats - 44,005 5-room sale flats - 19,410 (b) In 1984 and 1985, the HDB expects to complete a minimum of 78,000 3-, 4- and 5- room flats. The breakdown is as follows: 1984 - 16,000 3-room flats - 18,000 4-room flats - 5,000 5-room flats 1985 - 12,000 3-room flats - 22,000 4-room flats - 5,000 5-room flats

(c) Applicants who registered to purchase flats before March 1982 can expect to get their flats by 1985. The HDB has stopped constructing new rental flats. Therefore, the allocation of these flats depends completely on vacancies arising from tenancy terminations. Based on recent trends in tenancy terminations, the estimated waiting period for rental flats is 2 years for 1-room flats and 4 1/2 years for 2-room flats. This means that existing 1-room applicants will get their flats by 1985 while 2-room applicants will get theirs by 1987 or 1988. The waiting period could be much longer if the rate of terminations decreases. Applicants on the rental waiting list, especially those applying for 2-room units, are urged to switch to the sales register where they can be sure of a flat within a reasonable waiting period.

(d) The present estimated waiting period for new applicants of 3-, 4- and 5-room sale flats is 3 years.