Singles who want to move out opt to buy own home: Survey

They would also prefer to purchase a new home over a resale unit, it finds

- Isabelle Liew

The majority of singles who intend to move out of their current homes would prefer to buy a home of their own, rather than rent or live with other people.

They would also prefer to purchase a new home over a resale unit due to affordability concerns and a desire for a newer living environment, the latest HDB Sample Household Survey published on Nov 27 showed.

About 7,000 households and more than 1,600 single occupiers across all HDB towns and estates were surveyed in 2023 and 2024 for the survey, which is conducted once every five years.

This is the first time the survey has delved into the housing aspirations of single occupiers.

Single occupiers refer to single Singapore citizens aged 21 to 54, who are living in sold or public rental flats, the Housing Board said.

A majority of the singles surveyed were aged 35 and below, living in four-room or bigger flats that were owned, and most resided with their parents or immediate family.

The report, which aimed to better understand the potential housing choices of singles, found that 80.3 per cent of singles surveyed did not have clear plans to get married. In this group, more than six in 10, or 66.2 per cent, wanted to move out of their current home.

Of those who intended to move, about seven in 10, or 72.3 per cent, preferred to buy their own home rather than rent or live with others.

Some 46.5 per cent would opt for a new public or private housing unit over a resale unit, citing affordability concerns and the preference for a newer living environment as key reasons, HDB said.