# Ensuring Public Housing Remains Affordable, Inclusive, and Liveable - **Source:** Ministry of National Development - **Published:** 2021-03-04T14:15:00.000Z - **Author:** Ministry of National Development - **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/ensuring-public-housing-remains-affordable-inclusive-and-liveable - **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, New Launches, Government & Policy ## Featured rationale These measures may keep centrally located public housing accessible to diverse households while giving buyers earlier financing clarity and supporting more informed purchase decisions. ## AI summary HDB will develop a new model for prime-location flats and introduce a single HFE letter assessing purchase, grant and loan eligibility. ## Original article At MND’s Committee of Supply debate today, Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee, announced various measures to ensure that public housing remains affordable, inclusive and liveable for Singaporeans. Keeping Public Housing in Prime Locations Affordable and Inclusive As we rejuvenate Singapore in the years ahead, the Government will be launching HDB flats in prime locations. Given the high market value of flats in these locations, a new housing model is necessary to ensure that these flats remain affordable and inclusive to Singaporeans. This is important because we want our residential estates to be homes for residents of different backgrounds and walks of life. MND and HDB will further engage stakeholders and the public to hear their views and suggestions before finalising the details of the new housing model. Streamlining and Simplifying the Flat Buying Process To offer greater convenience to flat buyers and sellers, we will leverage technology and continue to streamline and simplify the processes related to the buying and selling of HDB flats. In 2018, HDB introduced the HDB Resale Portal to streamline the transaction process for resale buyers and sellers, and reduce the time needed for resale transactions. As an enhancement to complement this portal, we launched the HDB Flat Portal in Jan 2021, for home buyers and sellers to gather information on the purchase or sale of a flat, whether new or resale, on a single integrated platform. The HDB Flat Portal includes customised financial calculators for buyers to estimate their housing budget and sellers to estimate their sale proceeds, a one-stop loan listing service which offers information on housing loans offered by both HDB and participating financial institutions (FIs), and a flat-listing service with information on current and upcoming new HDB flats for buyers to compare their housing options holistically. To provide a more seamless experience for flat buyers, we will implement three new features on the HDB Flat Portal later this year: a. HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter; b. Integrated loan application service with participating financial institutions; and c. Digital platform to guide new flat buyers. HFE letter Currently, flat buyers’ eligibility for a flat purchase, CPF housing grants and HDB housing loan are assessed at different stages of their home buying journey. The new HFE letter will streamline the process by integrating the eligibility assessment for HDB flats, grants and loans via a single application through the HDB Flat Portal. The HFE letter will replace the HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter, enabling flat buyers to have upfront clarity on their total housing budget and financing options so that they can make prudent housing decisions. It will inform flat buyers of their eligibility for a new/resale flat purchase, housing grants, and HDB housing loan, including the amount of housing grants and HDB housing loan that they are eligible for. Integrated loan application service with participating financial institutions Besides providing information on housing loans offered by HDB and participating FIs, the HDB Flat Portal will include a new integrated housing loan application service to enable flat buyers to apply for In-Principle Approvals and Letters of Offer from participating FIs. This reduces the need for flat buyers to submit their housing loan applications to the FIs separately. Digital platform to guide new flat buyers HDB will make available a new digital platform in the HDB Flat Portal to guide new flat buyers on their housing journey. Some features of this platform include offering relevant information at appropriate milestones during the flat purchase process; helping flat buyers to plan ahead by working out their financial/ payment plans early; and allowing flat buyers to book their preferred appointment slot to collect their keys. Supporting Individuals and Families Living in Rental Flats Pilot Joint Singles Scheme (Operator-Run) Model HDB will continue to support the housing needs of Singaporeans who live in rental flats. Today, two or more singles may jointly apply for a public rental flat under the Joint Singles Scheme (JSS). They are encouraged to apply with someone they know, like a relative or friend, or they can approach HDB to source for a flat mate. The majority of JSS tenants are able to find a flat mate and live together amicably. However, some may not be able to do so. HDB will pilot an alternative JSS model that will allow single tenants to apply for public rental flats without having to find a flat mate first. HDB will appoint a social service agency as the operator to manage these flats, including the flat-sharing arrangements. The operator can help to mediate any issues between flat mates and arrange for them to switch to other flats, if necessary. Support for large families Currently, families with three or more members who are living in 1-room rental flats can request to transfer to a 2-room flat. Families that form two nuclei, such as families with children, parents, and grandparents living together, can apply for another flat and HDB will offer them a second rental flat in the same block where possible. To better support large families with children, while taking into account the very limited supply of 3-room rental flats, HDB will be working with MSF under Community Link (ComLink) to offer 3-room rental flats to these families on a case-by-case basis. At the same time, all families with children living in public rental flats will receive holistic support under ComLink to enable them to achieve stability, self-reliance, and social mobility, including home ownership, where possible. Enhancing liveability of HDB flats and estates As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure our HDB flats and estates remain highly liveable, we are studying additional ways to rejuvenate and revitalise our housing estates, including how to better engage and involve residents and stakeholders in the process. ## Chinese translation > Translation model: grok_cli ### 确保公共住屋继续可负担、具包容性且宜居 在国家发展部今日的拨款委员会辩论上，国家发展部长李智陞先生宣布多项措施，以确保公共住屋对新加坡人继续可负担、具包容性且宜居。 让优质地段的公共住屋继续可负担且具包容性 在未来数年更新新加坡的过程中，政府将在优质地段推出组屋。鉴于这些地段组屋的高市场价值，有必要采用新的住屋模式，以确保这些组屋对新加坡人继续可负担且具包容性。 这一点十分重要，因为我们希望住宅区成为不同背景、各行各业居民的家园。国家发展部与建屋发展局（HDB）将进一步与持份者及公众接触，听取意见与建议，然后再敲定新住屋模式的细节。 精简并简化购买组屋流程 为给组屋买卖双方提供更大便利，我们将善用科技，并继续精简及简化与组屋买卖相关的流程。 2018年，建屋发展局推出组屋转售门户网站，以精简转售买卖双方的交易流程，并缩短转售交易所需时间。作为对该门户的配套增强，我们于2021年1月推出组屋门户网站（HDB Flat Portal），让买卖双方可在单一综合平台上获取新组屋或转售组屋买卖相关资讯。组屋门户网站包括为买家估算住屋预算、为卖家估算出售所得而设的定制财务计算器；一站式贷款资讯服务，提供建屋发展局及参与金融机构（FIs）所提供住屋贷款的资讯；以及组屋上架服务，提供现有及即将推出的新建组屋资讯，方便买家全面比较住屋选择。 为让组屋买家获得更顺畅的体验，我们将于今年稍晚在组屋门户网站推出三项新功能： a. 组屋资格（HFE）信函； b. 与参与金融机构的综合贷款申请服务；以及 c. 引导新组屋买家的数码平台。 组屋资格（HFE）信函 目前，组屋买家购买组屋、公积金住屋津贴及建屋发展局住屋贷款的资格，是在购屋历程的不同阶段分别评估的。新的组屋资格信函将通过组屋门户网站的单一申请，整合对组屋、津贴及贷款的资格评估，从而精简流程。 组屋资格信函将取代建屋发展局贷款资格（HLE）信函，让组屋买家能事先清楚了解其总住屋预算及融资选择，从而作出审慎的住屋决定。信函将告知组屋买家其购买新组屋/转售组屋、住屋津贴及建屋发展局住屋贷款的资格，包括其合资格获得的住屋津贴金额及建屋发展局住屋贷款额。 与参与金融机构的综合贷款申请服务 除提供建屋发展局及参与金融机构所提供住屋贷款的资讯外，组屋门户网站将新增综合住屋贷款申请服务，让组屋买家可向参与金融机构申请原则批准及贷款邀约书。这可减少组屋买家须另行向各金融机构提交住屋贷款申请的需要。 引导新组屋买家的数码平台 建屋发展局将在组屋门户网站提供新的数码平台，引导新组屋买家的住屋历程。该平台的部分功能包括：在购屋流程的适当里程碑提供相关资讯；协助组屋买家及早拟定财务/付款计划以便提前规划；以及让组屋买家预约领取钥匙的首选时段。 支援租住组屋的个人与家庭 联合单身计划（运营商营运）模式试点 建屋发展局将继续支援住在租赁组屋的新加坡人的住屋需求。目前，两名或以上单身人士可在联合单身计划（JSS）下共同申请公共租赁组屋。他们获鼓励与认识的人（如亲属或朋友）一同申请，亦可向建屋发展局寻求室友配对。 大多数联合单身计划租户能够找到室友并和睦共住。然而，部分人士可能无法做到。 建屋发展局将试点另一种联合单身计划模式，让单身租户无需先找到室友即可申请公共租赁组屋。建屋发展局将委任社会服务机构为运营商，管理这些组屋，包括合住安排。运营商可协助调解室友之间的问题，并在有需要时安排他们调换至其他组屋。 支援大家庭 目前，有三名或以上成员住在一房式租赁组屋的家庭，可要求调迁至二房式组屋。形成两个核心家庭的家庭（例如子女、父母及祖父母同住），可申请另一套组屋，建屋发展局将在可能情况下于同一座楼栋向他们提供第二套租赁组屋。 为更好地支援有子女的大家庭，同时考虑到三房式租赁组屋供应非常有限，建屋发展局将与社会及家庭发展部（MSF）在社区联系（ComLink）计划下合作，按个别情况向这些家庭提供三房式租赁组屋。与此同时，所有住在公共租赁组屋并育有子女的家庭，将在社区联系计划下获得全面支援，以助其达致稳定、自力更生及社会流动，并在可能情况下实现置业。 提升组屋与市镇的宜居性 作为确保我们的组屋与市镇继续高度宜居的持续努力的一部分，我们正研究更多更新与活化住屋市镇的方式，包括如何在过程中更好地接触并让居民及持份者参与。