Availability of HDB Rental Flats and Rental Flats Converted for Sale

80 Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for National Development as of 31 December 2016, what is the number of (i) available vacant HDB rental flats, (ii) rental flats converted for sale with a shorter lease, and (iii) such converted flats sold.

Mr Lawrence Wong: As at end 2016, there were about 4,500 vacant rental flats.

To promote home ownership, when existing rental flats are vacated, they can be considered for conversion to sold flats if viable. Over the years, about 9,300 ex-rental flats were converted, most of them before 2011. These flats are sold with the balance of the 99-year leases. Of these, about 9,000 flats have been sold.