More HDB flats to cater to singles

SINGAPORE - The building of HDB flats has been ramped up slightly to cater to both singles and families, Minister of National Development Khaw Boon Wan said during Monday's Parliament sitting.

Mr Khaw was responding to Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Liang Eng Hwa's question on whether there was enough Housing & Development Board (HDB) flats to meet projected demand and if HDB would consider keeping a reserve of surplus flats to meet unanticipated demand.

In his speech, Mr Khaw said that the HDB has been building 25,000 flats each year for the past two years, compared to only 15,000 marriages involving Singapore citizens each year.

HDB also took into account additional demand from upgraders, downgraders and second-time applicants and kept to the target of 25,000 flats a year.

Mr Khaw said he would have started winding down flat-building, but 'deliberately ramped it up a little bit higher' due to the Government's plan to tweak a policy restricting singles from buying HDB flats.

He also said that the Government is mulling over it because it is hard to put a figure on how many units should be catered for singles.

At present, singles are only able to purchase resale HDB flats, and only if they are above 35 years old.

paullim@sph.com.sg