Flexibility for Proximity or Priority Scheme Appeals for BTO or Resale Flats where Distance Requirement is Slightly Exceeded for Caregiving or Valid Reasons

46 Mr Lee Hong Chuang asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether flexibility can be granted to applicants for Build-To-Order or resale flats who wish to appeal for proximity grants or priority schemes if they fall slightly outside the current four-kilometre radius but are the primary caregivers for their parents; and (b) if so, what flexibility can be granted.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Family Care Scheme (FCS) and Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) help parents and their children live with or near each other for mutual care and support. FCS (Proximity) provides priority access to new flats, while PHG is a housing grant for resale flat buyers.

In 2018, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) relaxed the proximity condition from “within two kilometres or the same town” to “within four kilometres”. We assess that the four kilometres-radius is adequate to meet the needs of buyers, as they can choose from a wide range of housing options.