HDB RENTAL FLATS (Waiting list)

Encik Othman bin Haron Eusofe asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many applicants are on the waiting list for one-, two- and three-room Housing and Development Board rental apartments; (b) what is the estimated waiting time for new applicants for two- and three-room rental apartments; and (c) whether the HDB will consider converting some of the vacant two- and three-room sale apartments to rental apartments to help expedite the allocation of rental apartments.

Dr Lee Boon Yang (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as at 28th February 1987, there were 3,014 applicants on the waiting list to rent 1- and 2-room flats (976 of which were for 1-room flats and 2,038 applicants for 2-room flats). There are no applicants on the waiting list to rent 3-room flats as HDB has stopped registering such applications.

Sir, only 5,960 units of vacant flats are available for letting. These flats are also required for tenants affected by relocation from existing 1- and 2-room rental flats. Therefore, public applicants have to wait for 2 1/2 to three years for allocation of a rental flat.

The HDB no longer builds 2-room flats for sale under the Home Ownership Scheme because of lack of demand. The available 3-room vacant flats were built for sale in line with the Government's objective to promote full Home Ownership. Converting the 3-room home ownership flats for rental would be inconsistent with this policy. Furthermore, the monthly instalment of $142 for 20 years for a 3-room flat is comparable to the rental of a 3-room flat at $110 for a 3-room simplified flat, and not many people would want to rent such 3-room flats. Sir, there is no plan to convert these sale flats for rental.