More singles getting two-room BTO flats
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE – More single applicants are successfully securing two-room flats in Build-To-Order (BTO) projects beyond the 30 per cent quota of smaller flats set aside for them, Minister of State (National Development and Defence) Maliki Osman said today (Feb 12).
“Our data shows that for 2013 and 2014, although the quota for singles is 30 per cent, the gross figure shows that about 77 per cent of the two-room flats were allocated to singles. Our experience is such that where there are leftovers from the families as well as second-timers, (these) two-room flats will then be allocated to the singles,” he told Parliament.
Dr Maliki was responding to concerns and suggestions, raised by Members of Parliament (MPs) Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) and Ms Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC), to help singles with their flat applications by increasing the quota or giving extra chances to repeat applicants.
In his reply to Mr Gan’s question on the number of single applicants who have yet to secure their flats, Dr Maliki said about 9,000 out of 18,300 applicants were able to select a flat since the scheme was introduced in July 2013.
For applicants who have repeatedly failed to get a flat, Dr Maliki said the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has to be fair to all applicants, and assistance given to singles in this group will be similar to the one given to family applicants facing difficulties, on a case-by-case basis.
On raising the quota, Dr Maliki said: “Even if the quota today stays at 30 per cent, the actual numbers that were allocated to singles are much higher. We will continue to monitor the situation and if … the demand from first-timers as well as families are coming down, we will consider the possibility of increasing the quota.”
However, Dr Maliki said single applications rates have already fallen from 58 applicants to a flat in July 2013 to 13 applicants in November 2014 as the HDB ramped up supply of flats last year.
Expecting the proportion of singles unable to get a flat to drop further, he added: “We suspect that as we meet the pent-up demand, the market will stabilise and they will be able to get their flats in due course.”
