Automatic Inclusion of Package 3 of Optional Component Scheme under Sale of 2-Room Flexi Flats for Elderly Buyers
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin’s inquiry on automatically including senior-friendly fittings for elderly buyers of short-lease 2-room flexi flats and extending the Optional Component Scheme (OCS) to Sale of Balance Flats. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee stated that the opt-in approach preserves flexibility, as 30% of seniors did not choose these fittings in the last three years. He explained that OCS is generally unavailable for Sale of Balance Flats because procurement orders are finalized before flat selection begins. However, HDB will assess individual appeals based on construction progress, material availability, and the potential impact on the project completion schedule. This case-by-case assessment ensures that additional installations do not delay the overall construction progress or disrupt site operations for other buyers.
Transcript
40 Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether HDB will consider having Package 3 of the Optional Component Scheme under the sale of 2-room flexi flats on short leases to be automatically included for elderly buyers to enable the flats to be in a move-in condition; and (b) whether such a package can also be made available for flats purchased at Sale of Balance Flats exercises.
Mr Desmond Lee: Currently, seniors aged 55 and above can choose from three packages of fixtures and fittings under the Optional Component Scheme (OCS) when they buy a 2-room flexi flat on short lease in a Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise. The three packages are flooring (Package 1), sanitary fittings (Package 2) and senior-friendly fittings (Package 3). Those who opt in for all three packages will have their new flat fitted in a move-in condition.
While the three OCS packages have been well received, about 30% of the seniors did not opt in for Package 3 in the last three years. An automatic inclusion of Package 3 may be less ideal than the current approach of giving seniors the flexibility to opt in for Package 3 according to their needs and preferences.
OCS is not available for flats sold under the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise, as the building contractors would generally have finalised the orders for OCS items by the time SBF applicants select their flats. However, HDB will assess appeals for OCS items to be installed depending on the construction stage of the flat, availability of building materials and whether these appeals can be accommodated without affecting site and completion progress.