Data on HDB Blocks That Did Not Garner 75% Votes for Home Improvement Programmes
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns HDB blocks failing the 75% voting threshold for the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and subsequent re-polling results. MP Ang Wei Neng requested data on failed votes, to which Minister Chee Hong Tat replied that six blocks failed in ten years, but four successfully re-polled following appeals. Minister Chee Hong Tat noted that HDB is reviewing the voting process for smaller blocks, including potentially grouping them into clusters to improve participation rates. Outside of HIP, HDB offers co-paid support for repairs and senior-friendly fittings through the Goodwill Repair Assistance and Enhancement for Active Seniors schemes. This approach seeks to help older estates benefit from improvements while respecting the decisions of eligible Singapore Citizen households.
Transcript
36 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for National Development (a) in the last 10 years, how many HDB blocks did not garner more than 75% of eligible Singapore Citizen household votes for the Home Improvement Programme; (b) of these, how many blocks were allowed to revote; and (c) what was the outcome of each revote.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Home Improvement Programme (HIP) aims to address safety and common maintenance issues that arise due to wear and tear in older flats. For HIP to proceed, majority consent of 75% of eligible Singaporean households in the block is required.
In the last 10 years, six residential Housing Development Board (HDB) blocks did not garner more than 75% of votes from eligible Singapore Citizen households for the HIP. These include one block at Serangoon Ave 2 in 2017 and three blocks at Lengkong Tiga in 2023. More recently, two blocks in Tiong Bahru polled unsuccessfully in November 2025.
For the four blocks at Serangoon and Lengkong Tiga, HDB received appeals from the flat owners and Advisers for a re-poll. After careful review, HDB allowed these blocks to re-poll after about one year from the first poll. All four blocks re-polled successfully for the HIP.
We understand that under the current voting process, blocks with fewer eligible units may face greater risks of not reaching 75% of votes to proceed with HIP. We will review the voting process for such blocks to balance between helping older estates to benefit from the HIP, while respecting the decision of flat owners. One option we are studying is to group the blocks with fewer units to vote together as one cluster, so that there are sufficient number of households taking part in the voting process.
Outside of HIP, HDB supports flat owners who require assistance with ceiling leaks and spalling concrete issues through the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme. Households with seniors who meet the eligibility criteria may also apply directly to HDB for the installation of senior-friendly fittings and accessibility solutions via the Enhancement for Active Seniors programme. For both assistance schemes, HDB will co-pay part of the repair or installation costs for eligible households.