# More BTO Flats Set Aside for First-Timers

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2022-08-27T02:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/more-bto-flats-set-aside-for-first-timers
- **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, New Launches, Government & Policy

## Featured rationale

The higher quotas respond to first-timer application rates rising to 4.1 per BTO flat and could improve access while reducing supply available to second-timers.

## AI summary

From the August 2022 BTO exercise, first-timer families received at least 85% of 3-room and 95% of larger flats in non-mature estates.

## Original article

BTO allocation quota adjusted to give first-timer families and singles greater certainty in securing a BTO flat in non-mature estates

The Government is committed to helping Singaporeans own their first homes. In view of the strong housing demand from first-timer (FT) applicants for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, MND and HDB will adjust the BTO allocation quotas to give FT applicants greater certainty in securing their first homes.

With effect from the August 2022 BTO exercise to be launched on 30 Aug 2022, more BTO units in non-mature estates will be set aside for FT applicants:

a) FT families: At least 85% of the 3-room BTO flat supply and 95% of the 4-room and larger flat supply in non-mature estates will be set aside for FT families. This is up from the current levels of at least 70% and 85% respectively. (For mature estates, we will continue to set aside at least 95% of BTO flat supply for FT families.)

b) FT singles: Up to 65% of the non-senior 2-room Flexi flats in non-mature estates will be set aside for FT singles, an increase from up to 50% currently.

This is consistent with our past approach to revise the BTO allocation quota based on demand from FT applicants and second-timer (ST) families. For example, in Nov 2009, we increased the BTO allocation quota for FT families to meet FT demand amidst tight housing supply during the period, and in Mar 2012, we increased the ST allocation quota for all BTO flats in non-mature estates to provide them with more housing options after largely fulfilling FT demand. 

Strong housing demand from first-timer families and singles

Currently, FT applications continue to form the bulk of BTO applications. The number of unique FT family applicants seeking new flats has increased significantly from over 19,000 in 2018 to about 34,000 in 2021. There were 4.1 FT family applicants per BTO flat in 2021, compared with 2.2 in 2018, signalling robust demand for housing among this group. We also recognise that FT applicants generally have more pressing and immediate housing needs to start their life plans. With the adjustments, more BTO flats in non-mature estates will be set aside for FT families, and this will increase their chances of securing their first home.

Demand from FT singles for 2-room Flexi flats in non-mature estates has also increased. In 2021, there were 7.5 FT single applicants per 2-room Flexi flat in non-mature estates, up from 5.1 in 2020. On the other hand, application rates from FT and ST families for such flats have remained low at 0.5 and below for the past two years. To meet the demand from FT singles, a larger proportion of 2-room Flexi flats in non-mature estates will be allocated to this group. 

Support for second-timer families

While the majority of our new flat supply will be set aside for FT applicants, HDB will continue to set aside part of the BTO supply for ST families to meet their housing needs. We will also ensure that ST households in need of subsidised housing will continue to have access to BTO flats:

a) We will continue to set aside 5% of 2-room Flexi and 3-room BTO flats in non-mature estates for divorced or widowed parents with child, under the Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/ Widowed Parents) (ASSIST).

b) Public rental households who are able and ready to move to homeownership will continue to enjoy priority under the Tenants’ Priority Scheme. These households will also benefit from our generous grants (e.g. Fresh Start Housing Grant, Step-Up CPF Housing Grant) to help them own a flat again. They will receive one-to-one guidance from HDB’s Home Ownership Support Team (HST) on their housing budget, options and available grants in their homeownership journey.

For ST applicants with extenuating circumstances who need further assistance, HDB will assess their situation on a case-by-case basis and see how best to help them.

Advice for flat buyers

Flat buyers can maximise their chances of securing a flat by considering the following:

Apply for BTO flats in non-mature estates. FT families who have been unsuccessful in two or more BTO flat applications in non-mature estates will be given an additional ballot chance at their subsequent BTO flat application in a non-mature estate. Virtually all FT families applying for BTO flats in non-mature estates have been successful within their first three tries.

Refer to the median application rates on the HDB Flat Portal during the BTO exercises and consider flat categories with lower application rates, to improve their chances of securing a flat.

Book a flat when invited to do so. For FT families who turn down one chance to book a flat in the BTO or Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise, any additional ballot chances accumulated from past unsuccessful BTO applications in non-mature estates will be set to zero. Those who turn down two chances to book a flat will be considered as ST applicants in the computer ballot for one year, and may find themselves taking a longer time to secure a new HDB flat.

Flat buyers with specific locational preferences or more immediate housing needs may also consider buying a resale flat on the open market, where FT families may be eligible for up to $160,000 in housing grants.

More flats coming onstream

To meet the strong housing demand, HDB has been ramping up the supply of BTO flats and will launch up to 23,000 flats per year in 2022 and 2023. This is a significant increase of 35 per cent from the 17,000 flats launched in 2021. We are also prepared to launch up to 100,000 flats in total from 2021 to 2025, if needed. The increased supply of flats will provide more affordable housing options for BTO applicants, including young couples in their marriage and parenthood journey, as well as ST families, seniors and singles. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and explore other ways to provide further support to first-timers and other groups in their homeownership journey.

Issued by: MND & HDB

Date: 27 Aug 2022

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 更多预购组屋单位预留给首次购屋者

调整预购组屋分配配额，让首次购屋家庭和单身人士在非成熟组屋区获得预购组屋更有把握

政府致力于帮助新加坡人拥有首套住房。鉴于首次购屋者（FT）对预购组屋（BTO）的住房需求强劲，国家发展部（MND）与建屋发展局（HDB）将调整BTO分配配额，让首次购屋申请人更有把握获得首套住房。

自2022年8月30日推出的2022年8月BTO销售活动起，非成熟组屋区将有更多BTO单位预留给首次购屋申请人：

a）首次购屋家庭：非成熟组屋区至少85%的三房式BTO供应，以及95%的四房式及更大单位供应，将预留给首次购屋家庭。这高于目前分别至少70%和85%的水平。（在成熟组屋区，我们将继续把至少95%的BTO供应预留给首次购屋家庭。）

b）首次购屋单身人士：非成熟组屋区非乐龄两房式灵活（2-room Flexi）组屋中，最多65%将预留给首次购屋单身人士，高于目前最多50%的水平。

这与我们过去根据首次购屋申请人和二次购屋（ST）家庭需求调整BTO分配配额的做法一致。例如，2009年11月，我们在住房供应紧张时期提高了首次购屋家庭的BTO分配配额，以满足其需求；2012年3月，在大体满足首次购屋需求后，我们提高了非成熟组屋区所有BTO单位的二次购屋分配配额，为他们提供更多住房选择。

首次购屋家庭和单身人士住房需求强劲

目前，首次购屋申请仍占BTO申请的大部分。寻求新组屋的首次购屋家庭独立申请人数量显著增加，从2018年的逾19,000人增至2021年的约34,000人。2021年，每套BTO组屋对应4.1名首次购屋家庭申请人，而2018年为2.2人，显示该群体住房需求强劲。我们也认识到，首次购屋申请人通常有更迫切、更即时的住房需求，以开启人生规划。经此调整后，非成熟组屋区将有更多BTO单位预留给首次购屋家庭，从而提高他们获得首套住房的机会。

首次购屋单身人士对非成熟组屋区两房式灵活组屋的需求也有所增加。2021年，非成熟组屋区每套两房式灵活组屋对应7.5名首次购屋单身申请人，高于2020年的5.1人。另一方面，过去两年首次和二次购屋家庭对此类组屋的申请率一直维持在0.5及以下的低水平。为满足首次购屋单身人士的需求，非成熟组屋区将有更大比例的两房式灵活组屋分配给该群体。

对二次购屋家庭的支持

尽管大部分新组屋供应将预留给首次购屋申请人，建屋发展局仍将继续为二次购屋家庭预留部分BTO供应，以满足其住房需求。我们也将确保有补贴住房需求的二次购屋家庭继续有机会申请BTO组屋：

a）我们将继续在非成熟组屋区预留5%的两房式灵活和三房式BTO组屋，供带有子女的离婚或丧偶父母在二次购屋者（离婚/丧偶父母）援助计划（ASSIST）下申请。

b）有能力且准备从公共租屋过渡到自购住房的租户，将继续在租户优先计划下享有优先权。这些家庭也将受惠于我们慷慨的津贴（例如重新开始购屋津贴、升级公积金购屋津贴），以帮助他们再次拥有组屋。他们将在购屋过程中获得建屋发展局居者有其屋支援团队（HST）一对一指导，了解住房预算、选项及可用津贴。

对于有特殊情况、需要进一步协助的二次购屋申请人，建屋发展局将逐案评估其情况，并设法尽可能提供帮助。

给购屋者的建议

购屋者可通过考虑以下方式，尽量提高获得组屋的机会：

申请非成熟组屋区的BTO组屋。在非成熟组屋区两次或以上申请BTO未成功的首次购屋家庭，在随后于非成熟组屋区再次申请BTO时将获得额外抽签机会。几乎所有在非成熟组屋区申请BTO的首次购屋家庭，都能在前三次尝试内成功。

在BTO销售期间参考建屋发展局组屋门户网站上的中位申请率，并考虑申请率较低的单位类别，以提高获得组屋的机会。

获邀选购时务必选购单位。首次购屋家庭若在BTO或剩余组屋销售（SBF）中放弃一次选购机会，其因过去在非成熟组屋区BTO申请未成功而累积的额外抽签机会将归零。若放弃两次选购机会，将在一年内的电脑抽签中被视为二次购屋申请人，并可能需要更长时间才能获得新的建屋发展局组屋。

对地点有特定偏好或住房需求更迫切的购屋者，也可考虑在公开市场购买转售组屋；首次购屋家庭可能合资格获得最高16万新元的购屋津贴。

更多组屋陆续推出

为满足强劲的住房需求，建屋发展局一直在加大BTO供应，并将在2022年和2023年每年推出最多23,000套组屋。这比2021年推出的17,000套显著增加35%。如有需要，我们也准备在2021年至2025年期间合共推出最多10万套组屋。增加供应将为BTO申请人提供更多可负担的住房选择，包括处于婚姻与育儿阶段的年轻夫妇，以及二次购屋家庭、乐龄人士和单身人士。我们将继续密切关注情况，并探索其他方式，为首次购屋者及其他群体的购屋之路提供进一步支持。

发布机构：国家发展部及建屋发展局

日期：2022年8月27日