Proposal to Allow HDB Rental Tenants to Buy 2-room Flexi Flats with Shorter Lease

20 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for National Development whether the HDB will allow HDB rental flat tenants to buy their own 2-room Flexi flat with a shorter lease and at a price within their current means and which lease can be topped up when their financial conditions improve.

Mr Desmond Lee: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) provides multiple forms of support to help rental tenants work towards home ownership, including priority in sales exercises and generous subsidies. In addition, the Home Ownership Support Team was set up to guide rental tenants who are ready to buy a flat, including advising them on their housing budget and options, and the available grants and schemes.

Seniors aged 55 and above can buy 2-room Flexi flats from HDB on shorter leases, and HDB has exercised flexibility on the age requirement on a case-by-case basis. Eligible second-timer families with young children who are living in public rental flats can also buy 2-room Flexi flats on shorter leases, under the Fresh Start Housing Scheme. Buyers of short-lease 2-room Flexi flats must choose a lease that can cover them and their spouse at least until age 95, so that the flat can be a home for life, and to avoid the situation where they outlive the lease of the flat.