HDB's July BTO exercise: Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families

A slew of policy changes will kick in, starting with the upcoming HDB Build-To-Order (BTO) flat sales exercise in July, benefiting singles as well as families looking to upgrade or right-size their homes.

- Wong Pei Ting Correspondent

Laying out the changes in a statement on July 20, the Housing Board said the one benefiting singles involves a previously announced new Family Care Scheme, meant to provide singles with priority access to BTO flats when they buy one near or with their parents.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had announced the scheme in his first National Day Rally speech in 2024 as a means to bolster inter-generational support among families.

Without the update, priority access would remain reserved only for married couples and their parents.

HDB said on July 20 that first-time single buyers currently have up to 65 per cent of two-room flexi BTO flats and up to 5 per cent of Sale of Balance Flat (SBF) units set aside for them after such units are allocated to seniors.

Within these quotas, up to 30 per cent of two-room flexi BTO flats and up to 2 per cent of balance flats will be set aside for first-timer singles applying under the new scheme.

The remaining quotas will be for other first-timer singles, HDB said.