# New Plus housing model with more subsidies for more affordable BTO flats in attractive locations - **Source:** Ministry of National Development - **Published:** 2023-08-20T14:00:00.000Z - **Author:** Ministry of National Development - **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/new-plus-housing-model-with-more-subsidies-for-more-affordable-bto-flats-in-attractive-locations - **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, Government & Policy ## Featured rationale The model may broaden access to attractive locations while moderating resale demand and windfall gains, potentially supporting longer-term affordability and owner occupation. ## AI summary From 2H2024, new Plus BTO flats in choicer regional locations will receive additional subsidies but carry subsidy recovery and a 10-year Minimum Occupation Period. ## Original article JOINT MND-HDB PRESS RELEASE New Plus housing model with more subsidies for more affordable BTO flats in attractive locations Plus flats will come with tighter conditions to support genuine homebuyers At the National Day Rally (NDR) on 20 August 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong announced a new classification of flats to better reflect the locational attributes of HDB’s Build-To-Order (BTO) projects. Potential homebuyers can look forward to more affordable BTO flats in attractive locations. Changing housing landscape 2. The distinction between mature estates and non-mature estates has blurred over the years as non-mature estates have become more built-up, with better amenities and transport infrastructure. The Government has invested heavily in these towns, and they now have excellent connectivity and a full suite of amenities. More information on the current classification of HDB estates is provided in Annex A. 3. With fewer large tracts of undeveloped land available for future public housing, HDB will increasingly build more projects within or near existing estates and more central areas. These are choice sites, which tend to be more popular among homebuyers due to their central locations, better connectivity and closer proximity to amenities. New social compact for public housing 4. During the Forward Singapore (FSG) engagement sessions over the past year, we heard from more than 16,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life regarding their housing aspirations and the way forward for a new social compact. Majority of Singaporeans consistently shared that our public housing system should reflect the following key values and priorities: a) Home ownership. Singaporeans firmly supported home ownership as a key tenet of our public housing system. They want public housing to remain affordable and accessible, so as to enable them to buy their first home. Many preferred HDB flats that are well-connected and near amenities. b) Inclusivity. Singaporeans emphasised the importance of maintaining inclusivity in our public housing estates so that they continue to reflect the diversity of our society. While they acknowledged that attractive BTO flats would come at a higher price point to reflect their choicer locations and higher demand, they hoped that these flats will continue to remain affordable for Singaporeans across different income groups, with greater support for the lower-income households. c) Fairness. Singaporeans agreed that public housing should be primarily for owner occupation, rather than investment. While the increased supply of BTO flats in attractive locations will meet the aspirations of many young homebuyers, Singaporeans agreed on the need to discourage excessive windfall gains from the sale of these flats to ensure equity across all homebuyers. Some suggested imposing tighter conditions for the purchase of flats in more popular or expensive BTO projects, similar to what we already do for Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) flats. d) Sustainability. Beyond meeting the needs of current homebuyers, they hoped that HDB flats will remain affordable and accessible for future generations of Singaporeans and that our system remains sustainable. 5. Taking into careful consideration these ideas and perspectives, MND and HDB will introduce new measures to address the changing housing landscape and evolving aspirations of Singaporeans. New Plus housing model 6. As announced by PM Lee, we will introduce a new classification system from 2H2024 to differentiate our BTO projects by their locational attributes: a) Standard flats will come with the standard subsidies and standard restrictions that are applied to all BTO flats. They will continue to form the bulk of the housing supply. b) Plus flats, a new category of flats, will be in choicer locations within each region across Singapore (e.g. near MRT station, town centre). For example, Plus flats could be offered in the upcoming housing precinct in Bayshore, which is close to amenities such as MRT stations, a community club and East Coast Park. These flats will come with more subsidies and tighter restrictions, compared to the Standard BTO flats. c) Prime flats are in the choicest locations within Singapore, usually closer to the city centre. They will come with the most subsidies across the three categories, and will have the tightest conditions. These flats are currently offered under the PLH model. See Table 1 for more details. Table 1: Comparison of Standard, Plus and Prime models Classification Classification Location Location Subsidies Subsidies Conditions Conditions Standard Standard Islandwide Islandwide Standard Standard Standard Standard [New] Plus [New] Plus Choicer (Region) Choicer (Region) More More Tighter Tighter Prime Prime Choicest (Singapore) Choicest (Singapore) Most Most Tightest Tightest 7. To ensure public housing remains inclusive to all Singaporeans, we will gradually provide more housing grants, especially those that are means-tested, so that lower- and middle-income households get the most support. Key features of the Plus housing model More subsidies to ensure affordability for more Singaporeans 8. As the new Plus flats would naturally command higher market values given their attractive locations, they will be priced with more subsidies, on top of the subsidies already provided for Standard flats today. This will keep these flats affordable and enable a wider range of Singaporeans to purchase them. Subsidy recovery upon resale of flat 9. For fairness across all homebuyers, Plus flat owners will have to pay a proportion of the resale price, reflective of the extra subsidies, if they choose to sell their flats later on. This will help mitigate excessive windfall gains and ensure equity with other flat owners who do not enjoy these additional subsidies. 10. As the extent of additional subsidies for Plus flats are typically lower as compared to Prime flats (see Table 1), the subsidy recovery rate imposed on Plus flat buyers will be lower than the recovery rate for Prime flats. Tighter sale conditions 11. To strengthen the owner-occupation intent for Plus flats, Plus flat owners will need to occupy their flats for at least 10 years (i.e. the Minimum Occupation Period or MOP) before they can sell their flats in the open market or invest in a private residential property. 12. We will also impose tighter resale conditions for Plus flats to moderate demand and prices of these flats so as to keep them affordable for future resale buyers and maintain a better social mix in the long term. More details will be shared soon. Enhancing housing access for singles 13. Changing lifestyle and social aspirations have resulted in a growing number of singles who prefer to buy and live in their own flats instead of with their families. During our FSG engagement sessions on public housing, some singles reflected their preference for flats in mature estates to be nearer to their elderly parents for mutual care and support. 14. The Government has been progressively enhancing public housing access for singles. Currently, first timer singles aged 35 and above are allowed to apply for new 2-room Flexi flats in only non-mature estates or buy resale flats in any estate.[1] See Annex B for more information on housing access and support for singles. 15. With the new classification, eligible first-timer singles can: a) Apply for 2-room Flexi BTO flats in all locations[2] across Standard, Plus and Prime housing projects; b) Buy a Standard or Plus flat of any size[3] in the resale market; or c) Buy a 2-room Prime flat in the resale market. 16. MND will continue to engage Singaporeans in the coming months, and we welcome views and feedback on these changes. The new classification will be implemented for BTO projects from the second half of 2024. The classification of the BTO projects on offer will be announced at HDB’s sales launches. No change to classification of existing flats 17. The new classification and Plus model will not be retroactively applied to existing flat owners and the current resale market. With the longer MOP, it will take more than 10 years before Plus flats are available in the resale market. We will continue to monitor the impact of our measures in the broader resale market and review them, if necessary. 18. With these measures, there will be a good mix of projects within and across regions to cater to the different budgets and needs of Singaporeans. Upgrading existing HDB homes and precincts for seniors 19. PM Lee also announced plans to enhance HDB homes and precincts to make them more liveable and senior-friendly: a) We will expand the suite of senior-friendly fittings under the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) 2.0 programme to further enhance mobility and comfort for senior residents within their homes. b) We will upgrade precincts to include more senior-friendly features to promote fitness and active ageing, as well as allow seniors to commute more safely and comfortably. c) We will launch more Community Care Apartments, which integrate senior-friendly housing with customisable care services, to enable seniors to age in place. 20. These improvements are part of Age Well SG, a national programme led by MOH, MND and MOT to support seniors to age gracefully in their homes and their communities. More details of these plans will be shared subsequently. 21. MND and HDB remain committed to provide Singaporeans with affordable, quality and inclusive homes. We will continue to review our housing policies and make adjustments where necessary to ensure they remain relevant to the evolving needs of Singaporeans. Issued by: MND & HDB Date: 20 Aug 2023 [1] With the exception of BTO flats under the PLH model. [2] This allows for singles to access wider public housing options, compared to today. [3] Except 3Gen flats which cater to the housing needs of multi-generation families and enable them to live in the same flat. ## Chinese translation > Translation model: grok_cli ### 新的Plus住房模式提供更多补贴，让更具吸引力地点的预购组屋（BTO）更实惠 国家发展部与建屋发展局联合新闻稿 新的Plus住房模式提供更多补贴，让更具吸引力地点的预购组屋（BTO）更实惠 Plus组屋将附带更严格条件，以支持真正有意自住的购房者 在2023年8月20日的国庆群众大会（NDR）上，总理李显龙宣布推出新的组屋分类，以更好反映建屋发展局预购组屋（BTO）项目的地段属性。潜在购房者可期待在具吸引力地点购得更实惠的预购组屋。 住房格局正在变化 2. 随着非成熟市镇日益完善、设施与交通基础设施改善，成熟市镇与非成熟市镇之间的界限多年来已逐渐模糊。政府在这些市镇投入大量资源，如今它们拥有出色的连通性及齐全设施。有关建屋发展局市镇现行分类的更多信息见附件A。 3. 由于可用于未来公共住房的大片未开发土地越来越少，建屋发展局将越来越多在现有市镇内或附近、以及更靠近中心的地区兴建项目。这些都是优选地段，因其位置较中心、连通性更好、更接近设施，往往更受购房者欢迎。 公共住房的新社会契约 4. 在过去一年的“前程新加坡”（FSG）对话会中，我们听取了超过16,000名来自各行各业新加坡人关于住房愿望及新社会契约方向的意见。大多数新加坡人一致认为，公共住房体系应体现以下核心价值与优先事项： a）居者有其屋。新加坡人坚定支持以居者有其屋作为公共住房体系的核心原则。他们希望公共住房保持可负担且可及，以便他们购买首个住家。许多人偏好交通便利、靠近设施的组屋。 b）包容性。新加坡人强调维持公共住屋市镇包容性的重要性，使其继续反映社会多元。虽然他们认同具吸引力的预购组屋因地段更优、需求更高而价格会较高，但希望这些组屋对各收入群体的新加坡人仍保持可负担，并对低收入家庭提供更大支持。 c）公平性。新加坡人同意公共住房应主要为自住而非投资。虽然在具吸引力地点增加预购组屋供应将满足许多年轻购房者的愿望，但新加坡人同意有必要抑制转售这些组屋所带来的过度暴利，以确保对所有购房者公平。有人建议对较热门或较昂贵的预购组屋项目购买施加更严格条件，类似于我们已对黄金地段公共住房（PLH）组屋采取的做法。 d）可持续性。除满足当前购房者需求外，他们希望组屋对未来世代的新加坡人仍保持可负担与可及，并确保体系可持续。 5. 在认真考虑这些意见与观点后，国家发展部与建屋发展局将推出新措施，以应对变化中的住房格局及新加坡人不断演变的愿望。 新的Plus住房模式 6. 正如李总理所宣布，我们将从2024年下半年起引入新的分类制度，按地段属性区分预购组屋项目： a）标准（Standard）组屋将附带适用于所有预购组屋的标准补贴与标准限制。它们将继续构成住房供应的主体。 b）Plus组屋是新类别，位于新加坡各区域内较优地段（例如靠近地铁站、市镇中心）。例如，Plus组屋可在即将推出的Bayshore住宅区提供，该区靠近地铁站、民众俱乐部及东海岸公园等设施。与标准预购组屋相比，这些组屋将附带更多补贴及更严格限制。 c）黄金地段（Prime）组屋位于新加坡最优地段，通常更靠近市中心。它们在三类中享有最多补贴，并设有最严格条件。这些组屋目前以黄金地段公共住房（PLH）模式提供。 详情见表1。 表1：标准、Plus与黄金地段模式比较 分类 分类 地段 地段 补贴 补贴 条件 条件 标准 标准 全岛 全岛 标准 标准 标准 标准 [新] Plus [新] Plus 较优（区域） 较优（区域） 更多 更多 更严 更严 黄金地段 黄金地段 最优（新加坡） 最优（新加坡） 最多 最多 最严 最严 7. 为确保公共住房对所有新加坡人保持包容，我们将逐步提供更多住房津贴，尤其是经经济状况审查的津贴，使中低收入家庭获得最大支持。 Plus住房模式的主要特点 更多补贴以确保更多新加坡人可负担 8. 由于新的Plus组屋因其具吸引力地段自然会有更高市值，它们将在现有标准组屋补贴之外再给予更多补贴定价。这将使这些组屋保持可负担，并让更广泛的新加坡人能够购买。 转售时收回补贴 9. 为确保对所有购房者公平，若Plus组屋业主日后选择转售，须按额外补贴相应比例支付部分转售价。这将有助于抑制过度暴利，并确保与未享有这些额外补贴的其他组屋业主之间的公平。 10. 由于Plus组屋额外补贴幅度通常低于黄金地段组屋（见表1），对Plus组屋买家施加的补贴收回比率将低于黄金地段组屋的收回比率。 更严格的转售条件 11. 为强化Plus组屋的自住意图，Plus组屋业主须入住至少10年（即最低居住年限或MOP），才可在公开市场转售组屋或投资私人住宅物业。 12. 我们也将对Plus组屋施加更严格的转售条件，以缓和这些组屋的需求与价格，使其对未来转售买家保持可负担，并长期维持更好的社会组合。更多详情将很快公布。 加强单身人士的住房机会 13. 生活方式与社会愿望的变化，使越来越多单身人士希望购买并住在自己的组屋，而非与家人同住。在我们关于公共住房的FSG对话会中，一些单身人士表示偏好在成熟市镇购买组屋，以便更靠近年迈父母，互相照顾与支持。 14. 政府一直在逐步加强单身人士的公共住房机会。目前，年满35岁的首次申请单身人士仅可在非成熟市镇申请新的两房式Flexi组屋，或在任何市镇购买转售组屋。[1] 有关单身人士住房机会与支持的更多信息见附件B。 15. 在新分类下，符合资格的首次申请单身人士可以： a）申请所有地点[2]标准、Plus与黄金地段住房项目中的两房式Flexi预购组屋； b）在转售市场购买任何户型[3]的标准或Plus组屋；或 c）在转售市场购买两房式黄金地段组屋。 16. 国家发展部将在未来数月继续与新加坡人接触，并欢迎对这些变化提出意见与反馈。新分类将从2024年下半年起适用于预购组屋项目。所推售预购组屋项目的分类将在建屋发展局销售推介时公布。 现有组屋分类不变 17. 新分类及Plus模式不会追溯适用于现有组屋业主及当前转售市场。由于MOP更长，Plus组屋进入转售市场将需逾10年。我们将继续监测措施对更广泛转售市场的影响，并在必要时进行检讨。 18. 有了这些措施，区域内及跨区域将有良好的项目组合，以满足新加坡人不同的预算与需求。 提升现有组屋与邻里以惠及乐龄人士 19. 李总理也宣布计划提升组屋与邻里，使其更宜居且乐龄友好： a）我们将扩大“乐龄易活”（EASE）2.0计划下的乐龄友好设施配套，进一步提升乐龄居民在家中的行动能力与舒适度。 b）我们将提升邻里，加入更多乐龄友好设施，以促进健身与积极乐龄，并让乐龄人士更安全、舒适地出行。 c）我们将推出更多社区护理公寓，将乐龄友好住房与可定制护理服务相结合，使乐龄人士能够在地安老。 20. 这些改善属于“安老无忧新加坡”（Age Well SG）的一部分，这是一项由卫生部、国家发展部与交通部牵头的全国性计划，支持乐龄人士在家中及社区优雅安老。这些计划的更多详情将随后公布。 21. 国家发展部与建屋发展局将继续致力于为新加坡人提供可负担、优质且具包容性的住家。我们将持续检讨住房政策，并在必要时作出调整，以确保政策继续切合新加坡人不断演变的需求。 发布单位：国家发展部与建屋发展局 日期：2023年8月20日 [1] 黄金地段公共住房（PLH）模式下的预购组屋除外。 [2] 这使得单身人士可获得比目前更广泛的公共住房选择。 [3] 三代同堂（3Gen）组屋除外，该类组屋满足多代家庭的住房需求，并使他们可同住一屋。