# Supporting the Housing Needs of Low-Income Families – Enhancements to Fresh Start Housing Scheme

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2022-03-08T08:45:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/supporting-the-housing-needs-of-low-income-families-enhancements-to-fresh-start-housing-scheme
- **Topics:** Market Updates

## Featured rationale

The enhancements could enable more low-income second-timer rental households to regain home ownership while the 20-year MOP supports longer-term residential stability.

## AI summary

The Fresh Start Housing Grant increased from $35,000 to $50,000 from the May 2022 sales launch, with shorter-lease 3-room flats also planned.

## Original article

At MND’s Committee of Supply debate 2022, Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee, announced enhancements to the Fresh Start Housing Scheme. These measures are part of our efforts to support low-income families in their journey towards home ownership.

Helping Rental Tenants Realise their Home Ownership Aspirations

Enhancements to Fresh Start Housing Scheme

The Fresh Start Housing Scheme was introduced in 2016 to help rental tenants who are second-timers[1] with children and who are currently staying in public rental flats, to buy a home of their own again. Compared to first-timers who receive substantial housing subsidies to buy their first flat, second-timer families receive less subsidies. The Fresh Start Housing Scheme takes a targeted approach to help these families buy a 2-room Flexi flat to start afresh in a new home. It integrates financial assistance, in the form of the Fresh Start Housing Grant, with personal responsibility and social support.

The Fresh Start Housing Scheme was enhanced in 2018 and 2019 to benefit more families, while also providing stronger support to help these families stay on track in their home ownership journey (refer to Annex A for more information on the Fresh Start Housing Scheme).

To help more public rental tenants who are second-timers with children, HDB will further enhance the Fresh Start scheme through the following measures:

(i) The Fresh Start Housing Grant will be increased from $35,000 to $50,000. Eligible families will receive an upfront disbursement of $35,000 into their CPF Ordinary Account at key collection. Another $15,000 will be disbursed into their CPF Ordinary Account in equal tranches over five years after key collection. This will be implemented from the May 2022 HDB sales launch.

(ii) Currently, Fresh Start families can buy 2-room Flexi flats with lease lengths ranging from 45 to 65 years in five-year increments. To meet a wider range of housing needs, we will offer these families the option to buy 3-room flats with the same lease lengths, i.e. 45 to 65 years in five-year increments, as long as the lease of the flat can cover the youngest applicant/spouse-occupier up to the age of 95.

These shorter-lease 3-room flats will be more affordable than those on 99-year leases, while ensuring families still have a home for life. Families will also attend annual social assessments by HDB and receive social support from an appointed social service agency. This is to ensure that they stay on track in their home ownership journey. Flats sold under the Fresh Start scheme will continue to have a 20-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), to ensure a stable home for the families and children. HDB is working on the implementation for the offer of 3-room flats under Fresh Start, and will announce the details when ready.

Together, these measures will provide significant help for these families to own a home again.

[1] Second-timer families refer to households who have previously enjoyed one housing subsidy.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 支援低收入家庭的住房需求——加强“重新开始”购屋计划

在国家发展部2022年拨款委员会辩论中，国家发展部部长李智陞先生宣布加强对“重新开始”购屋计划（Fresh Start Housing Scheme）的措施。这些措施是我们支援低收入家庭迈向置业之路的努力的一部分。

协助租户实现置业 Aspiration

加强“重新开始”购屋计划

“重新开始”购屋计划于2016年推出，旨在帮助目前居住在公共租屋、育有子女的二次购屋家庭[1]（second-timers）再次购买属于自己的房屋。与获得可观住房津贴以购买首个组屋的首次购屋者相比，二次购屋家庭获得的津贴较少。“重新开始”购屋计划采取有针对性的方式，协助这些家庭购买二房式灵活组屋（2-room Flexi flat），在新家中重新开始。该计划将以“重新开始”住房津贴形式提供的经济援助，与个人责任及社会支援相结合。

“重新开始”购屋计划曾于2018年和2019年加强，以惠及更多家庭，同时提供更有力的支援，帮助这些家庭在置业路上保持正轨（有关“重新开始”购屋计划的更多信息，请参阅附件A）。

为帮助更多育有子女的二次购屋公共租屋租户，建屋发展局将通过以下措施进一步加强对“重新开始”计划：

(i) “重新开始”住房津贴将从35,000新元增至50,000新元。符合资格的家庭将在领取钥匙时，先获一次性发放35,000新元至其公积金普通账户（CPF Ordinary Account）。另有15,000新元将在领取钥匙后五年内，以等额分期方式发放至其公积金普通账户。此措施将从2022年5月的建屋发展局售屋计划起实施。

(ii) 目前，“重新开始”家庭可购买租约年期为45至65年（以五年递增）的二房式灵活组屋。为满足更广泛的住房需求，我们将为这些家庭提供购买相同租约年期（即45至65年，以五年递增）的三房式组屋的选择，前提是组屋租约能覆盖最年轻的申请人/配偶同住者至95岁。

这些较短租约的三房式组屋将比99年租约的组屋更实惠，同时确保家庭仍拥有可安居一生的家园。家庭每年还将接受建屋发展局的社会评估，并由指定的社会服务机构提供社会支援，以确保他们在置业路上保持正轨。根据“重新开始”计划出售的组屋将继续设有20年最低居住期（Minimum Occupation Period，MOP），以确保家庭和子女有一个稳定的家。建屋发展局正就在“重新开始”计划下提供三房式组屋的实施细节进行筹备，并将在准备就绪后公布详情。

综合来看，这些措施将为这些家庭再次拥有房屋提供显著帮助。

[1] 二次购屋家庭是指此前已享有一次住房津贴的家庭。