Minimum Space Standards for HDB Flats

14 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development how does HDB determine what qualifies as over-crowding in HDB flats and whether Minimum Space Standards, or similar objective criteria, can be published to improve transparency.

The Minister for National Development (Mr Lawrence Wong): Mr Speaker, as Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats primarily serve to meet the housing needs of flat owners and their family members, there is no limit imposed on the number of family members who can live together in an HDB flat.

However, HDB imposes an occupancy cap on flats which are rented out to unrelated persons. This is to minimise the disamenities caused by overcrowding and to maintain a conducive living environment in our public housing estates.

HDB reviews the occupancy cap from time to time to ensure that it remains relevant. Currently, the cap is four persons for 1- and 2-room flats, six persons for 3-room flats, and nine persons for 4-room and larger flats.

From 1 May 2018, the occupancy cap for 4-room and larger flats will be reduced to six persons, in line with the rule for private residential properties, and these rules are published on HDB InfoWeb. Appropriate action will be taken against the flat owners if the number of tenants exceeds the occupancy cap.

Mr Speaker: Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang.

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): I thank the Minister for the reply. Will the Minister consider using this maximum number of occupants allowed in a flat that is being rented out as the same criteria to be applied when the single unwed parent or a divorcee is considered whether they can live with their parents or family members as an alternative accommodation?

I am suggesting this as this would make sense if the family wanted to rent out the flat and they are not allowed to because they have met the maximum number of occupant limits and would be considered overcrowded. Then, surely, the same family cannot provide accommodation to their child or siblings who are single, unwed or divorced.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Mr Speaker, as I had mentioned earlier, the cap on flats is applied only for flats which are rented out to unrelated parties. There is presently no occupancy cap on families living together in their own HDB flats and that should be the standard we apply similarly, whether or not it is a family or it is a single unwed parent.

Mr Speaker: Mr Louis Ng.

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: I also asked in the Parliamentary Question about the minimum space standard. Can the Minister clarify why we are not going to publish this minimum space standard? This is what is actually being done in the European Union and Canada already.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Mr Speaker, I think we should look at this in context and perspective. Different countries have different standards. Not all countries have a minimum space standard and, even those that do, use these standards as guidelines. These are not necessarily legislated in some of the countries that Mr Louis Ng mentioned.

In Singapore's context, all of us know that space is limited and we have to optimise space to the best of our abilities. What we do for HDB flats is that we publish the size for the different flat typologies – 1-room, 2-room, 3-room, 4-room – all of different flat sizes. The floor space for each of these HDB unit types is made public and families can choose which ones they would like to apply for.

Mr Speaker: Er Dr Lee Bee Wah.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister: in the recent review or reduction of the number of people who can stay in a rented HDB flat, the same criteria were applied to those old jumbo flats which consisted of one 4-room and one 3-room combined, and it can only be leased out to six persons. I would like to ask the Minister whether the Ministry can review this. It is actually two units together. We have residents from Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency requesting for it because we have some old jumbo flats.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the question. In fact, I vaguely recall, and I stand corrected if my memory is wrong, that we had an earlier debate on this under the Planning Act, and it was Er Dr Lee herself. At that time, the HDB occupancy cap was still 9-6-4, but we had moved or we were planning to move it to six for private residential units. And Er Dr Lee had passionately advocated for HDB to align its standards to the Urban Redevelopment Board (URA) standard, which is six, and this is what we have done.

So, Er Dr Lee has now asked for more flexibility for the jumbo flats. We will have to look at whether or not this is feasible. But we have aligned the standards between HDB and URA; and it is a standard of six for the larger flat types in the HDB case presently.

Mr Speaker: Mr Louis Ng.

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: Just one last question. We talk about over-crowding and I cannot see a reason why whether a person is related or not would determine whether the place is over-crowded. If there are nine people staying in there who are related, it would still be over-crowded, even if the nine people were unrelated. So, can the Minister clarify why there is this point about whether they are related or not, in terms of deciding whether it is over-crowded?

Mr Lawrence Wong: Mr Speaker, as I had mentioned earlier, we do not prescribe minimum standards of space for Singaporean families who purchase their own flats. It may be a family with five children, three children, four children, what flat type you wish to choose is entirely up to you. The different flat types are made available. There are generous grants given, and then you decide what flat you choose. That is a policy that has served us well and will remain. The occupancy standard applies for rental and that standard applies really to minimise over-crowdedness and to maintain the residential character of the HDB estate as one meant primarily for families to live and stay in. That is why there is this occupancy cap and it is applied to unrelated persons.

Mr Speaker: Er Dr Lee Bee Wah.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: Yes, Minister, I support the change to cap the number of people in rented HDB flat because HDB flats are mainly for people to stay in. But what I am requesting for review are those jumbo flats because it consists of one 4-room flat and one 3-room flat. Based on current ruling, 4-room you can lease out to six, 3-room you can lease out to six, so it is 12 in total, actually. But the Ministry of National Development has put it together and caps it at six only.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for her clarification. As I have said, we have made this change to align with URA standards and we will continue to study and review if further modifications and enhancements are needed.