Yahoo! Newsroom
- New measures are introduced to allow above-35 singles to be able
to purchase selected HDB flats (Yahoo! file photo)
Singles aged 35 and above,
earning $5,000 and below, will be able to buy new two-room flats
directly from the Housing Development Board (HDB) beginning July
this year.
The news was announced by Minister for National
Development Khaw Boon Wan in
Parliament Friday as Budget debates continue.
The new two-room flats will be only available for singles in
non-mature estates, between 35 to 45 square metres. Khaw said that
the measure would probably be launched at the Sengkang
precinct.
“Firefighting for first-timers is over… but it is still
uncomfortable, I know,” said Khaw in Parliament. “We’ll do all we
can to prevent property bubbles.”
Quotas for second-time buyers in non-mature estates will double to
30 per cent, of which a tenth of this will be reserved for widows
and divorcees with children below 16. These quotas will apply for
two-room and three-room flats.
To further assist divorcees who face debarment from subsidized
flats, the period will be shortened from 5 years to 3.
The second-time buyer quota increment will be applied in
the Build-to-Order
(BTO) launch in May.
All married couples eligible for rental flats
Also announced were measures to extend the eligibility of
direct-from-HDB flats to couples who are already married but do not
have children yet.
All married HDB first-timers, with or without children, will now be
able to rent rental flats provisionally under the Parenthood
Priority Housing Scheme (PPHS). This is set to take into effect
from the May BTO launch onwards.
Khaw promised that such married couples will be eligible for an
interim flat under the scheme. However, he said that if a shortage
in housing occurs in the future, priority will go to couples will
children. More details are expected from HDB at the April BTO
launch.
“We’ll do more to reduce BTO prices relative to income,” said
Khaw.
Foreigner restrictions and elderly schemes
To avoid enclaves to be formed by foreigners in HDB flats, Khaw
announced plans to impose a quota on the number of flats rented out
to foreigners, although he admitted he was still undecided on the
percentage.
Non-Malaysian non-citizens will now have to renew their tenancy
agreements every 1.5 years, shorter than the current 3-year
subletting period for flats and rooms. Malaysians are excluded as
Khaw believes they have less difficulty integrating. This measure
will take place with immediate effect.
Khaw also announced a new Studio Apartment Priority Scheme, where
half of the supply of new studio apartments will be reserved for
seniors who buy flats near their current flat or those of their
children.
Khaw expects an additional 63,000 housing units – made up
of HDB flats and
non-landed private housing units – to be made in 2016 to cater to
growing demand. This is some 13,000 units more than the expected
number of housing units to be made next year.
