# Affordable Homes, Closer Families, Stronger Ties

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2015-08-24T08:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/affordable-homes-closer-families-stronger-ties
- **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, Transactions & Deals

## Featured rationale

Broader eligibility and larger subsidies could strengthen demand for BTO and resale flats while encouraging households to choose homes near extended family.

## AI summary

From 24 August 2015, housing measures introduced grants of up to $20,000, raised HDB household income ceilings to $12,000 and increased combined grants to $80,000.

## Original article

Today, the Ministry of National Development (MND) and the Housing & Development Board (HDB) introduced three new measures to help more extended families live closer together for mutual care and support, and to make public housing more affordable for more Singaporeans, from lower- to upper-income households. MND and HDB also announced that they are studying a new Fresh Start Housing Scheme to help families with young children staying in public rental flats, who had previously owned a subsidised flat, achieve homeownership again. 

I) Helping Extended Families Live Together or Closer By 

Today, MND and HDB introduced a new Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) to further help Singaporeans buy a resale flat, with or near their parents or married child, for mutual care and support. With effect from 24 August 2015, all Singapore citizen families who buy a resale flat to live with or near their parents or married child1 will receive PHG of $20,000. Eligible singles will also enjoy PHG of $10,000 if they buy a resale flat with their parents. 

All Singaporeans are eligible for PHG once, regardless of a) whether they had enjoyed housing subsidies before, including the Higher-Tier CPF Housing Grant, b) their household income or c) ownership of private property. The grant recipients and their parents or married child must live with or in close proximity to each other for at least 5 years. 

Currently, eligible first-timer families who buy a resale flat to live with or near their parents or married child receive the Higher-Tier CPF Housing Grant of $40,000 ($10,000 more than the basic $30,000 CPF Housing Grant for family). Eligible singles get $20,000 if they buy a resale flat to live with their parents ($5,000 more than the basic $15,000 CPF Housing Grant for singles). 

The new PHG provides additional benefits, compared to the current Higher-Tier CPF Housing Grant. First, it doubles the additional grant quantum eligible first-timer families receive if they buy a resale flat with or near their parents or married child from $10,000 to $20,000. The additional grant quantum eligible singles receive is likewise doubled from $5,000 to $10,000. Second, Singaporeans who have enjoyed housing subsidies, have exceeded the income ceiling and/or are private property owners, all of whom did not qualify for the Higher-Tier CPF Housing Grant previously, will now qualify for the PHG when they buy a resale flat, with or near their parents or married child. With the implementation of PHG, the Higher-Tier CPF Housing Grant will be discontinued. The basic CPF Housing Grant for Family/Singles and Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) will still be available for those eligible. Please refer to Annex A for a summary of the changes. 

The PHG is the result of a series of Housing Conversations on “Closer Families; Stronger Ties” MND organised in 2014 with Singaporeans at different life stages. It will benefit a wide spectrum of Singaporeans looking to live with or near their parents or married child. These include a) young courting couples who wish to live with or near their parents; b) married couples who bought their first flat far from their parents but now wish to move back closer, especially after they have children and/or their parents are not well; and c) parents who wish to monetise to a resale flat with or near their married child, including those who have enjoyed housing subsidies before and/or are private property owners. 

The new PHG offers more help to more Singaporeans and gives them more options to buy a resale flat with or near their parents or married child, in their own preferred location and time in the HDB resale market. It complements other recent measures to help Singaporeans buy a new HDB flat with or near their parents or married child, including the Married Child Priority Scheme, Multi-Generation Priority Scheme, Senior Priority Scheme and the Three-Generation flats. 

II) Raising Income Ceilings 

MND and HDB is committed to helping Singaporeans own a flat, particularly young couples setting up their first homes. With effect from 24 August 2015, MND and HDB will raise the income ceilings for citizen households to buy new flats from the HDB and HDB resale flats with the CPF Housing Grant, from $10,000 to $12,000. MND and HDB will also raise the income ceiling for citizen households to buy new Executive Condominium (EC) units with tiered CPF Housing Grant from $12,000 to $14,000. 

Correspondingly, the income ceilings for single Singaporeans to buy new flats from the HDB or HDB resale flats with CPF Housing Grant will be raised from $5,000 to $6,000. The income ceilings for elderly citizens to qualify for monetisation options, including the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS), the Silver Housing Bonus (SHB) and short-lease 2-room Flexi flats, will also be raised from $10,000 to $12,000. Details are at Annexes B1 and B2. 

MND and HDB last raised the income ceiling in 2011, which has benefited more than 21,000 families. Incomes of Singaporeans have risen since then. Increasing the income ceiling will avail more Singaporeans the option of buying a new HDB flat, instead of a resale flat or a private property. 

III) Helping Lower and Middle-Income Families Afford Their First Home 

MND and HDB will increase the Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) to further help lower-income and middle-income households afford their first home. Specifically, 

a) The maximum SHG amount will be doubled from $20,000 to $40,000; and 

b) The income ceiling for the SHG will be raised from $6,500 to $8,500. 

With the enhancement, more than two-thirds of Singaporean families can qualify for the SHG, compared to more than half currently. Households earning up to $7,000 will enjoy the full $20,000 increase. These include the median household, who will receive $30,000 of SHG, instead of $10,000 currently. 

Correspondingly, the SHG income ceiling for singles buying a 2-room Build-To-Order (BTO) or balance flat in the non-mature estates, under the Single Singapore Citizen (SSC) Scheme will also be raised from $3,250 to $4,250. The maximum grant amount will be doubled from $10,000 to $20,000. Please see Annex C for details. 

Currently, eligible first-timer families buying new flats enjoy up to $60,000 of housing grants. This includes the AHG of up to $40,000 and the SHG of up to $20,000. With the enhanced SHG, the maximum combined AHG and SHG for new flats will be $80,000. 

These are significant enhancements. As an illustration, an eligible first-timer family earning $4,000 a month who buys an average-priced 4-room BTO flat in a non-mature estate will find the flat price drop from $295,000 to $240,000, after grants of $55,000. An eligible first-timer family earning $2,000 a month who buys an average-priced 3-room BTO flat will find the flat price drop from $185,000 to $110,000, after grants of $75,000. An eligible first-timer family earning $1,000 a month who buys an average-priced 2-room BTO flat will find the flat price drop from $110,000 to $30,000, after grants of $80,000. 

With the increase in SHG, if the same family earning $1,000 buys a lower-priced 2-room flat, the total grant amount may exceed 95% of the BTO selling price. In such cases, they will only need to pay 5% of the flat price (e.g. $3,750 for a $75,000 flat) using their CPF or cash; the remaining sum will be fully covered by the grant. Any excess grant amount can be used to pay for optional items, such as flooring, or will go into their CPF Special Account (SA)/ Retirement Account (RA) and Medisave Account (MA). 

If the flat is subsequently sold, the first $60,000 of housing grants will be credited to their CPF Ordinary Account. The additional grants will be credited to their CPF SA and MA; this will better help them with their housing, healthcare and retirement needs in a holistic way. 

The increase in SHG and corresponding adjustments will apply from the September 2015 BTO and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise. 

Helping Lower-Income Own a Home Again 

In addition, MND and HDB are studying a Fresh Start Housing Scheme to help families with young children currently in HDB rental flats start afresh with a 2-room flat if they are committed to make the effort. One suggestion is to offer these families a 2-room Flexi flat on shorter lease and with stricter resale conditions. MND and HDB are prepared to consider a new Fresh Start Housing Grant to help them pay for the flat, if the families are prepared to put in the effort to remain in employment and put their children in school. The details are important to ensure that the scheme meets its objective. We will consult the public and work with social service agencies to design a practical and meaningful scheme. 

Enquiries 

For enquiries on the various housing measures, the public can contact HDB: 

• Sales/Resale Customer Service Line : 1800-866-3066 

• Branch Service Line : 1800-225-5432 

Issued By : MND & HDB

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 可负担住屋、更亲近的家人、更牢固的亲情纽带

今天，国家发展部（MND）与建屋发展局（HDB）推出三项新措施，协助更多大家庭住得更近以便相互照顾与支持，并让更多新加坡人——从低收入到较高收入家庭——更能负担公共住屋。国家发展部与建屋发展局也宣布，正研究一项新的“重新开始住屋计划”（Fresh Start Housing Scheme），协助目前住在公共租赁组屋、曾拥有过受津贴组屋、且育有年幼子女的家庭再次实现置业。

一）协助大家庭同住或住得更近

今天，国家发展部与建屋发展局推出新的近亲住屋津贴（Proximity Housing Grant，PHG），进一步协助新加坡人购买转售组屋，与父母或已婚子女同住或住在附近，以便相互照顾与支持。自2015年8月24日起，凡新加坡公民家庭购买转售组屋以便与父母或已婚子女同住或住在附近¹，可获2万新元的近亲住屋津贴。合资格单身人士若与父母同购转售组屋，亦可获1万新元近亲住屋津贴。

所有新加坡人一生仅可领取一次近亲住屋津贴，不论：a）是否曾享有住屋津贴，包括较高档次公积金住屋津贴（Higher-Tier CPF Housing Grant）；b）家庭收入；或 c）是否拥有私人房产。津贴领取人及其父母或已婚子女须同住或住在近距离范围内至少5年。

目前，合资格首次购屋家庭若购买转售组屋与父母或已婚子女同住或住在附近，可获4万新元的较高档次公积金住屋津贴（比家庭基本3万新元公积金住屋津贴多1万新元）。合资格单身人士若与父母同购转售组屋，可获2万新元（比单身基本1.5万新元公积金住屋津贴多5,000新元）。

与现行较高档次公积金住屋津贴相比，新的近亲住屋津贴提供额外好处。第一，合资格首次购屋家庭若购买转售组屋与父母或已婚子女同住或住在附近，额外津贴数额由1万新元加倍至2万新元。合资格单身人士可获的额外津贴数额同样由5,000新元加倍至1万新元。第二，曾享有住屋津贴、已超过收入顶限及/或是私人房产拥有者——这些人以往均不符合较高档次公积金住屋津贴资格——如今在购买转售组屋与父母或已婚子女同住或住在附近时，均可申请近亲住屋津贴。近亲住屋津贴实施后，较高档次公积金住屋津贴将停办。家庭/单身基本公积金住屋津贴及额外公积金住屋津贴（Additional CPF Housing Grant，AHG）仍继续向合资格者提供。变更摘要请参阅附件A。

近亲住屋津贴是国家发展部于2014年围绕“更亲近的家人；更牢固的亲情纽带”主题与处于不同人生阶段的新加坡人举行一系列住屋对话后的成果。它将惠及广泛希望与父母或已婚子女同住或住在附近的新加坡人，包括：a）希望与父母同住或住在附近的年轻恋爱情侣；b）首次购屋时住得离父母较远、如今尤其在有了孩子及/或父母身体欠佳后希望搬回附近的已婚夫妇；以及 c）希望套现并购买转售组屋与已婚子女同住或住在附近的父母，包括曾享有住屋津贴及/或是私人房产拥有者。

新的近亲住屋津贴为更多新加坡人提供更多协助，并让他们在组屋转售市场上按自己偏好的地点与时间，有更多选择购买转售组屋与父母或已婚子女同住或住在附近。它与近期其他协助新加坡人购买新组屋与父母或已婚子女同住或住在附近的措施相辅相成，包括已婚子女优先计划、多代同堂优先计划、乐龄优先计划以及三代同堂组屋。

二）提高收入顶限

国家发展部与建屋发展局致力于协助新加坡人拥有组屋，尤其是组建首个家园的年轻夫妇。自2015年8月24日起，国家发展部与建屋发展局将把公民家庭购买建屋发展局新组屋、以及以公积金住屋津贴购买建屋发展局转售组屋的收入顶限，由1万新元提高至1.2万新元。国家发展部与建屋发展局亦将把公民家庭以分级公积金住屋津贴购买新的执行共管公寓（Executive Condominium，EC）单位的收入顶限，由1.2万新元提高至1.4万新元。

相应的，单身新加坡人购买建屋发展局新组屋、或以公积金住屋津贴购买建屋发展局转售组屋的收入顶限，将由5,000新元提高至6,000新元。乐龄公民合资格申请套现选择——包括租约回购计划（Lease Buyback Scheme，LBS）、乐龄安居花红（Silver Housing Bonus，SHB）及短租约两房式Flexi组屋——的收入顶限，亦将由1万新元提高至1.2万新元。详情见附件B1及B2。

国家发展部与建屋发展局上一次提高收入顶限是在2011年，已惠及超过21,000个家庭。此后新加坡人收入有所上升。提高收入顶限将让更多新加坡人有机会选择购买新组屋，而非转售组屋或私人房产。

三）协助中低收入家庭负担首个家园

国家发展部与建屋发展局将提高特别公积金住屋津贴（Special CPF Housing Grant，SHG），进一步协助低收入及中等收入家庭负担首个家园。具体而言，

a）特别公积金住屋津贴最高金额将由2万新元加倍至4万新元；以及

b）特别公积金住屋津贴的收入顶限将由6,500新元提高至8,500新元。

加强后，超过三分之二的新加坡家庭可合资格申请特别公积金住屋津贴，而目前为超过半数。月入最高达7,000新元的家庭可享有全额2万新元的增额。这包括中位数家庭，他们将获3万新元特别公积金住屋津贴，而非目前的1万新元。

相应的，在单身新加坡公民（Single Singapore Citizen，SSC）计划下，单身人士在非成熟市镇购买两房式预购组屋（BTO）或剩余组屋的特别公积金住屋津贴收入顶限，亦将由3,250新元提高至4,250新元。最高津贴金额将由1万新元加倍至2万新元。详情请见附件C。

目前，合资格首次购屋家庭购买新组屋最多可获6万新元住屋津贴。这包括最高4万新元的额外公积金住屋津贴及最高2万新元的特别公积金住屋津贴。特别公积金住屋津贴加强后，新组屋的额外公积金住屋津贴与特别公积金住屋津贴合计最高可达8万新元。

这些是显著的加强措施。举例说明，一个合资格、月入4,000新元的首次购屋家庭，若购买非成熟市镇平均定价的四房式预购组屋，在获5.5万新元津贴后，组屋价格将由29.5万新元降至24万新元。一个合资格、月入2,000新元的首次购屋家庭，若购买平均定价的三房式预购组屋，在获7.5万新元津贴后，组屋价格将由18.5万新元降至11万新元。一个合资格、月入1,000新元的首次购屋家庭，若购买平均定价的两房式预购组屋，在获8万新元津贴后，组屋价格将由11万新元降至3万新元。

随着特别公积金住屋津贴提高，若同一月入1,000新元的家庭购买价格较低的两房式组屋，总津贴金额可能超过预购组屋售价的95%。在此情况下，他们只需以公积金或现金支付组屋价格的5%（例如，售价7.5万新元的组屋只需支付3,750新元）；其余款项将全额由津贴覆盖。任何超额津贴可用于支付可选项，例如地板，或存入其公积金特别户头（Special Account，SA）/退休户头（Retirement Account，RA）及保健储蓄户头（Medisave Account，MA）。

若组屋其后售出，首6万新元住屋津贴将存入其公积金普通户头。额外津贴将存入其公积金特别户头及保健储蓄户头；这将以更全面的方式更好地协助他们满足住屋、医疗保健及退休需要。

特别公积金住屋津贴的提高及相应调整，将自2015年9月预购组屋及剩余组屋发售（Sale of Balance Flats，SBF）活动起适用。

协助低收入家庭再次置业

此外，国家发展部与建屋发展局正研究“重新开始住屋计划”，协助目前住在建屋发展局租赁组屋、育有年幼子女的家庭，若愿意付出努力，可重新开始购买两房式组屋。一项建议是向这些家庭提供租约较短、转售条件较严格的两房式Flexi组屋。若家庭愿意努力继续就业并送子女上学，国家发展部与建屋发展局愿意考虑新的“重新开始住屋津贴”协助他们支付组屋。细节很重要，以确保该计划达到目标。我们将征询公众意见，并与社会服务机构合作，设计务实而有意义的计划。

查询

有关各项住屋措施的查询，公众可联络建屋发展局：

• 销售/转售客户服务热线：1800-866-3066

• 分局服务热线：1800-225-5432

发布单位：国家发展部与建屋发展局