RENTAL FLATS

RENTAL FLATS

3.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many applications for rental housing were received in 2002, 2003 and 2004; (b) how many of the applicants were allocated flats and accepted them; (c) how many were allocated flats but rejected them; (d) how many applicants did not qualify for the rental flats because their household income or per capita income exceeded the stipulated amount; and (e) what is the average waiting time of successful applicants for the allocation of a rental flat.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: HDB lets out 1- and 2- room flats at subsidised rents to low-income citizen families under the Public Rental Scheme. Before 1st October 2003, the monthly household income ceiling for eligible applicants was $800. After this date, it was raised to $1,500. HDB received 3,125, 3,491 and 4,188 rental applications in 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively.

The number of rental flats accepted by rental applicants increased from 2,226 in 2002, 2,594 in 2003 to 3,001 in 2004. Over the same period, the number of applicants who were allocated flats but rejected them was 295, 264 and 468 respectively.

Since the implementation of the revised income ceiling of $1,500 from 1st October 2003, 12 applications for rental flats were rejected as the gross income of the household had exceeded the ceiling.

The average waiting time for a rental applicant on the queue to be allocated a flat in an area of his choice is about 1.5 months for a 1-room flat and 4.5 months for a 2-room flat. Rental applicants who are in urgent need of accommodation can participate in HDB's Daily Selection Scheme where HDB will offer rental flats in less popular estates for immediate selection and allocation on a daily basis. Applicants who are not choosy over location or floor level would be allocated a rental flat immediately and there is no waiting time.

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