JOINT FAMILY HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS FOR HDB FLATS (Rationale for confinement to New Towns)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he will explain the rationale for confining joint family household applications for Housing and Development Board flats to New Towns; and (b) whether such a requirement will be reviewed in terms of its relevance.

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB Joint Selection Scheme of flat enables parents and a married child to purchase two units of flats to stay near each other. Allocation is determined by the lower of the two registration numbers. Thus the family with the higher number enjoys priority in allocation. Due to the limited supply of flats in the Inner Suburban and Urban Zones, there is a long waiting list of public applicants in these zones. If we add the joint selection priority scheme to the other priority schemes, non-priority applicants will have to wait even longer for allocation. Joint family household applicants for HDB flats are therefore confined to New Town and Outer Suburban Zones.

Flats in the Inner Suburban and Urban Zones will continue to be in short supply because of the limited availability of land for public housing in these zones. The Housing and Development Board will not therefore change in the foreseeable future the above rule concerning joint selection of flats.