Proposal to Allow One Year for Disposal of Additional HDB Flat for Couples Aged above 35 Who Each Own an HDB Flat Prior to Their Marriage

39 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for National Development whether HDB can change the six-month requirement to one-year for the disposal of the additional HDB flat for couples aged above 35 years who each own a HDB flat prior to their marriage.

Mr Desmond Lee: To manage demand for public housing, each eligible family unit may own only one HDB flat. A married couple is considered one family unit and can thus only own one HDB flat at any one time. Individuals who each own an HDB flat before marriage are, therefore, given six months from the date of their marriage to relinquish ownership of one of the flats they own. Similarly, all other flat owners who have collected the keys to another BTO or resale flat also have up to six months, from the time of key collection, to dispose of their existing flat.

This six-month period is, generally, sufficient for flat owners to market and sell their flat or to transfer the flat ownership to eligible family members. Flat owners who need more time to relinquish their interest in the flat can approach HDB for assistance. HDB will consider the circumstances of the case and exercise flexibility on a case-by-case basis.