HOME OWNERSHIP (Policy changes)

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HOME OWNERSHIP:

(Policy changes): The following Question stood in the name of Mdm Ho Geok Choo -

2. To ask the Minister for National Development (a) what are some of the driving assumptions for policy changes with regard to home ownership; and (b) what will be the tipping point for his Ministry to recognise singles for absolute home ownership.

Dr Ong Chit Chung: Question No. 2, Sir.

Mr Speaker: The Minister who is replying is not here yet. I will go to the next Question.

Later ---

The Minister of State for National Development (Dr Vivian Balakrishnan) (for the Minister for National Development): Column: 554

Mr Speaker, Sir, the objective of the public housing programme is to provide affordable housing for Singaporeans. Home ownership remains the key mission of public housing, as it gives Singaporeans an asset and a stake in the nation. As our home ownership policy is premised on the family as the basic unit of society, the existence of a family unit remains one of the basic eligibility conditions for the purchase of an HDB flat.

Over the last four decades, the Government has successfully housed more than 80% of Singaporeans in HDB estates, and enabled over 90% of Singapore households to become home-owners. Nonetheless, there is still a need to provide for the housing needs of the new households that are formed each year, some of whom will have to turn to HDB for a flat. The Government will ensure that affordable public housing continues to remain available to them.

Single citizens are considered as part of a family unit and are encouraged to live together with their families for mutual support and care. Therefore, a single child forming a family unit with his parents is eligible to purchase any type of HDB flat.

At the same time, the Government recognises that there are some older Singaporeans who remain single and who prefer to live on their own. To meet the housing needs of this group, HDB has implemented two housing schemes for citizen singles who are 35 years old or older. Under the Joint Singles (JS) Scheme, two or more singles can jointly buy any type of resale flat, while under the Single Singapore Citizen (SSC) Scheme, a single can purchase a 3-room or smaller resale flat alone. Eligible singles can also enjoy a housing grant of $11,000 or $22,000 under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme and the Joint Singles schemes respectively.

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Therefore, singles are already recognised under our home ownership policy. We will continue to review our housing policies for singles regularly to ensure that they remain fair and relevant.