# COS 2015 - Helping Singaporeans Own Their Homes And Build Strong Families

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2015-03-10T11:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/cos-2015---helping-singaporeans-own-their-homes-and-build-strong-families
- **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing

## Featured rationale

The changes could reduce singles’ demand backlog and give more elderly owners monetisation flexibility, potentially influencing right-sizing and demand for smaller HDB flats.

## AI summary

From May 2015, singles could receive up to half of non-mature-estate 2-room BTO flats, while expanded Lease Buyback Scheme rules began on 1 April.

## Original article

Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament today that public housing affordability has improved since 2011, and efforts to tame the housing market have seen results. The housing market is still in transition. The Ministry of National Development (MND) will continue to monitor the market closely and work towards a soft landing. Through the lens of five Singaporean families, Minister Khaw outlined the following plans to help Singaporeans own their homes and build strong families. Key highlights are at Annex A.

I. A Home for Life

First, a home for life. The HDB flat is both a home and an asset which Singaporeans can monetise in their old age to supplement their retirement income.

With effect from 1 April 2015, we will implement four previously announced enhancements to the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS).

a) The LBS will be extended to elderly households in 4-room HDB flats.

b) The qualifying household income ceiling will be raised from $3,000 to $10,000 per month. The income ceiling for the Silver Housing Bonus will be raised from $3,000 to $10,000 correspondingly.

c) For households with two or more owners, each owner will only be required to top up his or her CPF Retirement Account (RA) to the age-adjusted prevailing Basic Retirement Sum, instead of the age-adjusted prevailing Full Retirement Sum, hence allowing more upfront cash.

d) Elderly can choose the length of lease to retain, from 15 to 35 years (in 5-year increments), subject to the lease covering the youngest owner till age 95, instead of a standard 30-year lease.

These four changes will avail the LBS to more elderly households, and provide greater flexibility to suit different preferences and needs. Details on the LBS enhancements and other monetisation options available are at Annex B.

MND will also study a new 2-room flat scheme, offering varying lease tenure and lease terms, to cater to the needs of different groups. When the Studio Apartment (SA) scheme was introduced in 1998, it provided a smaller flat option for seniors who wanted to right-size, as HDB had stopped building small flats then. Since 2006, HDB has re-introduced new 2-room flats. The new scheme, if implemented, will unify the existing SA and 2-room schemes.

To help more Singaporeans own an HDB home, MND will look into how to help those who marginally exceed the current income ceiling. MND last raised the income ceiling in 2011. To date, this has helped 18,800 more households purchase subsidised HDB flats and Executive Condominiums.

II. One Family, Two Flats

Second, one family, two flats. Helping extended families live together or close by, for mutual care and support, continues to be a priority.

MND will study whether to further help extended families who wish to buy a resale flat to live with or near one another, a feedback some Singaporeans have raised at the series of Housing Conversations on “Closer Families; Strong Ties” which MND held last year. This will be on top of recent enhancements which apply largely to BTO flats.

In November 2014, MND enhanced the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) to a quota-based scheme where up to 30% of the flat supply for first-timer families, and up to 15% of the flat supply for second-timer families are is set aside for those applying to live with or near their parents/married child.

At the same time, MND also launched 56 units of Three-Generation (3Gen) flats in a mature estate at Tampines North in the November 2014 BTO exercise. We will launch another 50 3Gen flats in Tampines in May this year. More details on existing schemes and initiatives to encourage mutual care and support are at Annex C.

III. Single and Secure

Third, single and secure. While marriage and parenthood will remain at the core of our housing policy, MND will help more single Singaporeans own their homes.

With effect from the May 2015 BTO exercise, up to half of the 2-room flats in the non-mature estates in each BTO launch will be set aside for single Singaporeans, up from 30% currently. The higher quota will help provide greater assurance to singles and reduce the demand backlog. More details are at Annex D.

IV. A New Beginning

Fourth, a new beginning. MND will continue to find ways to meet the housing needs of vulnerable families, including divorced and widowed parents, and help them start afresh.

MND will look into new measures to help divorced and widowed parents with children own their homes. Over the last three years, MND has improved support for divorced couples by reducing the time bar within which only one party can own a subsidised flat from 5 to 3 years, waiving the need for a divorced parent with custody, care and control of all children below 18 to get the ex-spouse’s consent to buy a subsidised flat, and introducing priority for divorced and widowed parents applying for a new flat with their children under the Assistance Scheme for Second Timers (Divorced/Widowed Parents). Details are in Annex E.

V. From Tenant to Owner

Fifth, from tenants to owners. For Singaporeans who cannot afford a home immediately and have no family support, MND provides heavily subsidised quality public rental flats, not as an alternative or substitute, but as a stepping stone to homeownership.

As part of a more inclusive and compassionate approach, MND will study ways to help more public rental tenants own their homes, including those who have previously enjoyed housing subsidies, but now no longer qualify. This will include greater incentive for self-reliance, conditions to prevent moral hazard, and stronger social support to ensure that families are able to sustain homeownership. More details on existing schemes to help low-income families, including public rental tenants, own a flat are in Annex F.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 2015年开支委员会——协助新加坡人拥有住房并建立稳固家庭

国家发展部长许文远今日在国会表示，自2011年以来，公共住房可负担性有所改善，抑制住房市场的努力已见成效。住房市场仍处于过渡阶段。国家发展部（MND）将继续密切监察市场，并致力于实现软着陆。许部长通过五个新加坡家庭的视角，概述以下协助新加坡人拥有住房并建立稳固家庭的计划。重点内容载于附件A。

一、一生的家

首先，是一生的家。组屋既是家，也是资产，新加坡人可在年老时变现，以补充退休收入。

自2015年4月1日起，我们将落实四项此前已宣布的租约回购计划（LBS）优化措施。

a）租约回购计划将扩展至四房式组屋的年长家庭。

b）合资格家庭每月收入顶限将由3,000元提高至10,000元。乐龄安居花红的收入顶限亦相应由3,000元提高至10,000元。

c）对于有两名或以上业主的家庭，每名业主只需将其公积金退休账户（RA）补足至按年龄调整的现行基本退休存款，而非按年龄调整的现行全额退休存款，从而可获得更多前期现金。

d）年长者可选择保留的租约年期，由15年至35年（以5年递增），惟租约须涵盖最年轻业主至95岁，而非统一的30年租约。

这四项调整将使更多年长家庭得以受惠于租约回购计划，并提供更大弹性，以配合不同偏好与需要。租约回购计划优化措施及其他变现选项详情载于附件B。

国家发展部亦将研究一项新的两房式组屋计划，提供不同租约年期与租约条款，以照顾不同群体的需要。当小型公寓（Studio Apartment，SA）计划于1998年推出时，为希望缩屋的乐龄人士提供了更小的单位选择，因建屋发展局当时已停止兴建小型组屋。自2006年起，建屋发展局已重新推出新的两房式组屋。若新计划落实，将统一现有的小型公寓与两房式组屋计划。

为协助更多新加坡人拥有组屋，国家发展部将研究如何协助那些略为超过现行收入顶限的人士。国家发展部上次提高收入顶限是在2011年。迄今，此举已协助多18,800个家庭购买受津贴组屋与执行共管公寓。

二、一个家庭，两套组屋

其次，是一个家庭，两套组屋。协助大家庭同住或就近居住，以便互相照顾与支持，仍是优先事项。

国家发展部将研究是否进一步协助希望购买转售组屋以同住或就近居住的大家庭——这是部分新加坡人在国家发展部去年举办的“更紧密家庭；更牢固纽带”住房对话系列中提出的反馈。此举将是在近期主要适用于预购组屋（BTO）的优化措施之上再行加强。

2014年11月，国家发展部将已婚子女优先配屋计划（MCPS）优化为配额制，为申请与父母／已婚子女同住或就近居住者，预留最多30%的首次购屋家庭单位供应，以及最多15%的二次购屋家庭单位供应。

与此同时，国家发展部亦在2014年11月预购组屋销售活动中，于成熟市镇淡滨尼北推出56个三代同堂（3Gen）组屋单位。我们将于今年5月在淡滨尼再推出50个三代同堂组屋。鼓励互相照顾与支持的现有计划与举措详情载于附件C。

三、单身且安稳

第三，是单身且安稳。虽然婚姻与为人父母仍将是我们住房政策的核心，国家发展部将协助更多单身新加坡人拥有住房。

自2015年5月预购组屋销售活动起，每次预购组屋推出时，非成熟市镇中最多一半的两房式组屋将预留给单身新加坡人，较目前的30%有所提高。更高配额将为单身人士提供更大保障，并减少积压需求。更多详情载于附件D。

四、崭新开始

第四，是崭新开始。国家发展部将继续设法满足脆弱家庭的住房需要，包括离婚与丧偶父母，并协助他们重新开始。

国家发展部将研究新措施，协助有子女的离婚与丧偶父母拥有住房。过去三年，国家发展部已改善对离婚夫妇的支援：将仅一方可拥有受津贴组屋的时限由5年缩短至3年；豁免拥有所有18岁以下子女监护权、照顾权与管养权的离婚父母须取得前配偶同意才能购买受津贴组屋的规定；以及在二次购屋者援助计划（离婚／丧偶父母）下，为与子女申请新组屋的离婚与丧偶父母提供优先。详情载于附件E。

五、从租户到业主

第五，是从租户到业主。对于暂时无法负担住房且没有家庭支援的新加坡人，国家发展部提供大幅津贴的优质公共租赁组屋——不是作为替代或取代，而是作为迈向自置居所的踏脚石。

作为更包容、更富同情心的做法的一部分，国家发展部将研究如何协助更多公共租赁租户拥有住房，包括那些过去曾享有住房津贴、但现已不再合资格者。这将包括加强自力更生的激励、防止道德风险的条件，以及更强的社会支援，以确保家庭能够持续自置居所。协助低收入家庭（包括公共租赁租户）拥有组屋的现有计划详情载于附件F。