Applications from Single Unwed Parents to Purchase or Rent HDB Flats
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns an inquiry by Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang regarding the statistics and rejection reasons for single unwed parents applying to purchase or rent HDB flats. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee stated that HDB assesses requests holistically, allowing those aged 21 and above to purchase up to 3-room flats in non-mature estates or resale flats. For those unable to afford a purchase, public rental housing may be offered based on the child's best interests and social worker input. Statistics show HDB supported 72% of purchase requests and 46% of rental requests over the past two years. Common reasons for applications not being successful include applicants not following through, having sufficient means to buy a flat, or having existing family support for housing.
Transcript
11 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development (a) for each year in the past two years, how many single unwed parents have applied to (i) purchase or (ii) rent a HDB flat from HDB, respectively; (b) how many of such applications have been rejected respectively; and (c) what are the reasons for the rejections.
Mr Desmond Lee: HDB assesses all requests from single unwed parents holistically, based on their individual circumstances. Those who are aged 21 and above and can afford to buy a flat, will be allowed to buy up to a 3-room flat in a non-mature estate from HDB or a resale flat. Those who cannot afford to buy a flat may be offered public rental housing, if it is assessed to be in their child's best interests, taking into account input from social workers as necessary.
Purchase of Flats
Over the past two years, HDB supported an average of 72% of requests from single unwed parents each year to purchase a flat from HDB. See Table 1 below for details.
For the remaining requests, these included applicants who did not follow through with their applications, or did not have sufficient budget at that point in time to buy a flat.
Public Rental Flats
Over the past two years, HDB assisted an average of 46% of requests from single unwed parents each year to rent a public rental flat. See Table 2 below for details.
For the remaining requests, these included applicants who did not follow through with their applications, had the means to purchase a flat or had family members who could house them.
[1] 14 requests received in late 2023 are currently being processed.
[2] Single unwed parents who made multiple requests in different years have been reflected in the figures based on the date of their latest request.