1- AND 2-ROOM HDB FLATS (Particulars)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he will indicate the number of 1-room and 2-room Housing and Development Board flats that will be retained after the relocation exercise; (b) whether there will be plans to upgrade these flats; and (c) whether the HDB will review the age criteria set for application for these flats.

Dr Lee Boon Yang (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the relocation exercise is being carried out in phases. The existing stock of rental flats is 120,000 units. Under Phase 1, some 39,000 units of these rental flats are affected. They will be demolished when the tenants affected are completely relocated. The numbers affected in Phase 2 and subsequent phases will be reviewed in the light of experience of Phase 1.

It is not the intention to demolish all rental flats. Some 3-4% of the population will continue to require rental flats. These include people who cannot afford or who do not need home-ownership flats, newly-weds and other groups who rent housing as an intermediate step before upgrading to buy their flats. The HDB will retain sufficient numbers of rental flats to cater to their needs.

Sir, the rental flats that will be retained will be subject to the normal maintenance cycle. In addition, the general environment of the rental blocks that remain will be improved through the redevelopment of some of the vacated sites. New amenities and landscaped areas will be included in such redevelopment programmes.

Thirdly, Sir, the age limit of 29 years is based on the average national marriage age. Until such time when there is a significant change in this national average, the HDB has no plans to review the existing age limit.