Singapore’s singles to get priority for public flats near parents

The priority access, currently available to married children and their parents who apply for BTO apartments to live together or within a four-kilometer radius, will be extended to singles, according to The Straits Times. This change was announced during Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s first National Day Rally speech on Sunday.

Some 30% of the flat supply in each BTO launch is reserved for first-time families under this scheme.

At the moment, singles can only buy two-room flexi BTO units and only after turning 35.

Build-to-Order is one of the modes of sale of new public flats developed by the Housing and Development Board in Singapore, according to digital property marketplace PropertyGuru.

BTO sales launches take place every three months, and construction will start only if demand for apartments in a particular contract surpasses 70%.

In his speech, PM Wong noted that he had asked the Ministry of National Development to see what more can be done to aid single people.

“It is hard for us to make any major near-term changes because we are still ramping up the supply of new flats to catch up with the demand,” he explained.

Extending priority access to singles is one of the key housing policy changes proposed by the Singapore prime minister on Sunday, as reported by CNA.

He announced that more community care apartments, which combine senior-friendly design with on-site care services, will be introduced and the waiting time for BTO projects will be reduced from the current four years to less than three.

The government will also enhance the financial support provided to first-time homebuyers through the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant, which currently amounts to $80,000 for families and $40,000 for singles.

The boost aims to assist first-time homebuyers, particularly those from lower-income groups.

“This is my assurance to all young Singaporeans: Once you start work and wish to settle down, we will make sure that there is an HDB flat that is within your budget in every region,” PM Wong said. “We will always keep public housing in Singapore affordable for you.”