HDB MULTI-TIER FAMILY HOUSING SCHEME (Cases of abuse)

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for National Development how many cases of abuse have been detected under the 3-tier family privilege scheme introduced by the Housing and Development Board and how have they been dealt with.

Mr Dhanabalan: Sir, the Multi-tier Family Housing Scheme was introduced in May 1982. On allocation, the multi-tier family must stay together in the flat for eight years before the flat can be sold in the open market. Within the eight years, if the parents or grandparents are found to be not staying in the flat without valid reasons, the applicant would have breached a condition under the scheme. The HDB would then recover the flat to prevent abuse of the scheme.

As at 29th February 1988, of the 12,500 flats allocated under the Multi-tier Family Scheme, the HDB recovered 18 flats or 0.14%. Out of these 18 flats, 17 units were returned voluntarily to the HDB because the parents and the married children did not wish to continue staying together. In the remaining case, the applicant abused the scheme because he did not report to the HDB that the multi-family structure no longer existed. HDB recovered the flat when the Board found this out subsequently.