MORE HOUSING CHOICES FOR SINGLES

As announced by the Prime Minister at the National Day Rally, the Ministry of National Development has relaxed the public housing policy for singles. From 28 August 2001, single citizens, aged 35 or above, can buy 3-room or smaller resale HDB flats in any location, including the seven urban estates.

Lifting the Restriction on Flat Location
The SSC Scheme was implemented in 1991. Under the scheme, single citizens who are 35 years or above can, on their own, purchase 3-room or smaller resale flats that are located outside the seven urban estates. The seven estates are: Bukit Merah, Central, Geylang, Kallang & Whampoa, Queenstown, Farrer Road, and Tanjong Rhu & Mountbatten.

To provide singles with a greater variety of housing choices, the Government will lift the restriction on flat location with effect from 28 August 2001. From tomorrow, singles under the SSC Scheme can purchase 3-room or smaller resale flats in any location, including in the seven urban estates. This means that if they are looking for a flat in the resale market, the 70,500 3-room or smaller flats that are located in the seven urban estates are now available to them to choose from.

The Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, said: "Singapore's public housing policy is guided by our pro-family social framework and the need to optimise the use of our limited resources. Nonetheless, the Government recognizes that single citizens have made valuable contributions to our society and economy, and will continuously review our policies on the issue of housing for singles, to ensure they remain fair and relevant."

Besides providing singles with more housing choices, the revised policy will make it easier for singles to live near their aged parents who may be living in the urban estates, so that they can provide mutual care and support to each other. As the population in the urban estates is ageing, the change will also help to improve the age profile of residents in the urban estates and help to revitalise community services and activities in these estates.

Revised SERS Rehousing Benefits for Singles
As part of the revised housing policy for singles, the Government has also refined the package of rehousing benefits for single lessees whose flats are affected by SERS.

Currently, single lessees who purchased 3-room or smaller HDB flats under the SSC Scheme are offered new 4-room replacement flats without any price discount if their flats are affected by SERS. Under the revised policy, singles who apply to buy 3-room or smaller resale flats under the SSC Scheme with effect from 28 August 2001 will be offered only 3-room replacement flats under SERS so as to optimise land use. However, they will be given a 20% discount on the subsidised selling price of the replacement flat, subject to a maximum of $11,000.

Single lessees who have already bought or applied to buy their flats under the SSC Scheme before 28 August 2001 will have two rehousing choices, should their flats be affected by SERS:

The Government will also extend the 20% price discount to single lessees under the Joint Singles (JS) Scheme if their flats are affected by SERS. The dollar cap will be $22,000 per flat. These lessees will continue to get 4-room replacement flats or the equivalent of their existing flat-type under SERS.

For enquiries on the revised housing policy for singles, the public can contact HDB through the following channels: