A home for everyone: Singapore's public housing

Singapore’s housing landscape has come a long way. Since the introduction of the Home Ownership Scheme in our early years of independence to solve the housing shortage, we now have more than a million HDB flats spread across 24 towns and 3 estates.

Land-scarce Singapore needs a sustainable model to house our citizens. Beyond ensuring that our citizens have a roof over their heads, the Government also strives to create a quality living environment through innovation and upgrading.

Today, first-timer homebuyers can buy subsidised new flats from the HDB. These flats are priced at a discount to comparable resale prices, and eligible buyers may receive housing grants on top of this. Alternatively, they can also purchase a resale flat from the open market with a housing grant.

Different flat choices

A wide range of flats in different locations are available to suit the different needs of families and individuals.

Housing grants for families

A host of grants are available to families looking to purchase a flat, regardless of whether it is a BTO or a resale flat. First-timer families can get up to $120,000 (for new flats) on top of the market discount, or $230,000 (for resale flats).

Housing grants for singles

Singles aged 35 and above can buy Standard and Plus resale flats of any size, and 2R Flexi Prime resale flats. Since Oct 2024, with the implementation of the new flat classification framework, if they are first-timers, they can also buy any new 2-room Flexi flat across the island. First-timer singles aged 35 and above can get grants of up to $60,000 (for new flats) or $115,000 (for 5-room or smaller resale flats).

About 8 in 10 first-timer families buying new or resale flats today can afford their first flat without paying any cash out-of-pocket for mortgage instalments.

Reducing waiting time for flats

To help Singaporeans secure their first home, at least 95% of the 4-room and larger flat supply are set aside for first-timers. Since Nov 2018, the Government has also launched some BTO flats with a shorter waiting time of 2 to 3 years, compared to the normal 3 to 4 years. While waiting times were affected by pandemic-induced delays, HDB has been launching 2,000 to 3,000 Shorter Waiting Time flats since 2024.

Furthermore, priority is given to the following groups:

• First-timer married couples;

• First-timer households with young children;

• Families with three or more children;

• Elderly parents who wish to live near their children;

• Second-timer divorced or widowed persons with children below 18 years old; and

• Families living in HDB public rental flats.

How public housing schemes have evolved

From providing basic housing and amenities to estate renewal and upgrading, Singapore’s housing policies have evolved along with the changing lifestyles and needs of Singaporeans.

At the Forward Singapore engagements in 2023, in conversations on refreshing our public housing compact, Singaporeans affirmed that:

• Homeownership remains a key part of our Singapore Story.

• We must act against strong socioeconomic forces, to keep our neighbourhoods diverse and inclusive.

• Singapore must continue to be a liveable city for all.

This feedback was valuable in informing policy moves made since.

• A new priority category – First-Timer (Parents & Married Couples), as well as tightening of non-selection rules for new flats, was introduced to provide greater support for first-timer families to secure their first home sooner.

• The Government introduced a new flat classification framework, implemented from Oct 2024, to classify new HDB BTO projects by their locational attributes, instead of by mature or non-mature estates. This will allow HDB to continue building homes in more attractive locations, while keeping public housing affordable, and ensuring a good social mix in our HDB estates and a fair system of subsidies.

• Under the new classification framework, singles can purchase a new 2-room Flexi flat in any location, compared to only in non-mature estates previously.

• More Community Care Apartments are being built across Singapore to provide additional housing options to seniors.

Helping the vulnerable

More is also being done to help Singaporeans who live in  public rental flats.

For instance, improvements are being made to rental blocks and flats, and the Home ownership Support Team (HST) has been set up to provide personalised support for rental families who are ready for home ownership. The HST will provide these families with comprehensive guidance at every step of their home ownership journey – from planning their home purchase right through to the time they collect the keys to their home.

For more information about HDB grants and schemes, go to www.hdb.gov.sg.