HDB RENTAL FLATS (Transfer of tenancy)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for National Development whether he will relax the rules on transfer of tenancy of Housing and Development Board rental flats to other sitting tenants.

Dr Lee Boon Yang (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, under the existing policy, tenancy of a rental flat can be transferred to the original permitted occupiers or "sitting tenants" under the following three situations:

(a) Death of the registered tenant.

(b) Separation or divorce from the registered tenant.

(c) Registered tenant moving out due to other reasons.

In cases of demise or separation or divorce from the registered tenant, HDB has recently relaxed its rules to allow the remaining single occupier to retain the rental flat, provided he or she meets the normal conditions, such as citizenship. The condition of a family nucleus will be waived.

Where the registered tenant has moved out for other reasons, the original permitted occupiers are only allowed to retain the flat if they can comply with all eligibility conditions for rental flats, such as family nucleus and income ceiling.

Dr S. Vasoo (Tiong Bahru GRC): Sir, is the Minister of State aware that there are permitted occupiers who have given undertakings that with subsequent changes they are not able to take up the flats? I would like to ask whether these occupiers would be allowed to take over the tenancy of flats which are supposed to be rented out?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am afraid I have not got the point of the question. If they have given an undertaking that they do not wish to take up the flat, then that is the end of the matter.

Dr Vasoo: Sir, what I would like to clarify is that there are people who are allowed to occupy the flat but the HDB has in fact said that because they are not the permitted occupiers they would be allowed to stay in the flat when the original registered tenants leave the flat. There are quite a lot of them who are required to give up their flats. I would like to ask whether these cases would be reviewed sympathetically?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Sir, I believe the Member is referring to those whom HDB has allowed to live in rental flats as a casual boarder. In this case, we cannot really treat a casual boarder on a better level than we treat those permitted occupiers. If the casual boarder needs rental housing, I think he should apply on his own and qualify accordingly.