HOUSING OPTIONS OF SELLERS OF HDB FLATS

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for National Development for each of the years from 1990 to 1995, how many Housing and Development Board flat owners sold their flats and (i) bought another similar size HDB flat from the open market; (ii) bought a smaller size HDB unit from the open market; (iii) bought a bigger size HDB unit from the open market; (iv) moved into a new unit allocated by the HDB through direct application; (v) upgraded to private property.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: The information on the housing options taken by sellers of HDB flats in the resale market are based on results compiled through a survey questionnaire given to sellers at the time of processing the resale transactions. On average, about 13% of HDB flat sellers bought flats of similar or smaller flat-types from the resale market. 14% upgraded to bigger HDB flats and 33% moved to new units bought directly from HDB. Another 12% upgraded to private properties. Year (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Others Total 1990 869 472 1,308 5,523 1,986 4,226 14,384 (6%) (3%) (9%) (38%) (14%) (30%) (100%) 1991 678 479 1,369 5,574 2,236 4,517 14,853 (5%) (3%) (9%) (38%) (15%) (30%) (100%) 1992 599 597 1,653 6,226 2,173 5,344 16,592 (4%) (4%) (10%) (38%) (13%) (31%) (100%) 1993 1,189 1,478 3,030 5,705 2,705 6,360 20,467 (6%) (7%) (15%) (28%) (13%) (31%) (100%) 1994 2,826 2,891 5,381 7,903 2,968 8,433 30,402 (9%) (10%) (18%) (26%) (10%) (27%) (100%) 1995 3,443 3,288 6,032 9,202 2,487 6,362 30,814 (11%) (11%) (20%) (30%) (8%) (20%) (100%) Average 7% 6% 14% 33% 12% 28% 100% Notes:

Figures in brackets are the percentages of the total for that year. The figures in the "Others" column include staying with relatives, renting a flat, subletting room(s) from HDB lessess, etc.

(a) bought similar size HDB flat from open market

(b) bought smaller size HDB flat from open market

(c) bought bigger size HDB flat from open market

(d) bought a new unit directly from HDB

(e) upgraded to private properties.