Plans to Prepare Low-income Tenants of HDB's Public Rental Scheme for Eventual Home Ownership

40 Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for National Development in relation to the Joint Singles Scheme Operator-Run pilot under HDB's Public Rental Scheme for flats where a significant proportion of tenants are low-wage workers or self-employed persons earning less than $1,500, what are the Ministry’s plans to prepare this demographic for eventual home ownership.

Mr Desmond Lee: All single Singaporeans, including singles in public rental housing, can benefit from housing grants for singles of up to $40,000 when they purchase a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat, or up to $95,000 when they purchase a resale flat. Public rental tenants can also get personalised guidance from the Housing and Development Board's (HDB's) Home Ownership Support Team to plan for and buy a flat.

Tenants under the Joint Singles Scheme Operator-Run pilot receive support from the social service agencies appointed as the operators. Besides managing the flat-sharing arrangements, the operators also check in on the tenants regularly and ensure that they are supported by national and local schemes, such as for assistance on financial or employment issues, as needed. This supports tenants towards attaining stability, self-reliance and social mobility.