Number of Applications to Purchase HDB Flats by Single Unwed Parents Rejected in Past Five Years

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development for each year in the past five years (a) how many single unwed parents have applied to purchase a HDB flat from HDB; and (b) how many of such purchase applications have been rejected.

Mr Desmond Lee: We recognise that many single unwed parents are in the situation not out of choice, but out of circumstance. MND announced at the Committee of Supply debate in March 2020 that we will assist single unwed parents who approach HDB with their housing needs, and that each case will be assessed holistically. For those who are in stable employment and can afford to buy a flat, we will allow them to buy up to a 3-room flat in a non-mature estate. For those who have insufficient finances and need a place to stay, we will continue to consider them for public rental if it is in their child’s best interests, taking into account inputs from social workers if necessary.

Between 2017 and 2019, HDB received an average of about 50 requests from single unwed parents to purchase a new flat from HDB. About 70% of these requests were rejected. Following MND’s announcement, HDB received about 200 such requests from single unwed parents in 2020. About 30% of these requests were rejected. The top reasons for rejections were not submitting the necessary documents for assessment and insufficient budget to buy a flat.