BTO income ceiling, age floor for singles being reviewed: Minister

The income ceiling for couples applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, as well as the minimum age of 35 for singles purchasing flats, is being reviewed, and changes to these policies—if any—will depend on upcoming flat supply and demand, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat.

- Ng Keng Gene

Speaking to local media on Aug 5, when he laid out some of his ministry's priorities, Mr Chee said a continued strong supply of BTO flats is needed to make any changes to the eligibility conditions for flat buyers.

To this end, he said 55,000 BTO flats will be launched between 2025 and 2027—10 per cent more than the Government's previous supply commitment of 50,000 flats over the same period.

Apart from potential changes to public housing policies, Mr Chee also made announcements on plans to enliven commercial spaces, as well as improve the maintenance of private estates.

ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS FOR FLAT BUYERS

On BTO eligibility conditions that exclude couples who currently exceed the $14,000 income ceiling, as well as singles who are not aged 35 yet, from applying for flats, Mr Chee said these are still being reviewed.

"I want to assure Singaporeans that we are reviewing both income criteria and also the age requirement for singles, and at an appropriate time, we do intend to make some moves," he said.

"But I want to make sure that when we make those moves, we will not end up with a situation where there is insufficient supply," he added, noting that the Government has worked very hard to ease the BTO supply crunch caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, when many applicants were not able to choose flats, or faced a very long wait for their new homes.

From 2021 to 2024, 82,710 BTO flats were launched—more than 20,600 per year on average—while about 19,600 are slated to be launched in 2025, with 10,579 launched thus far.

Mr Chee said demand for new flats remains strong, including from young couples who want to own their own home while also living near their parents, instead of the whole family living in the same flat—a practice more common in the past.