In the event you’ve ever navigated HDB flat functions as a single individual in Singapore, you’re seemingly intimately accustomed to the normal course of. For many years, the dream of proudly owning a house, particularly one close to ageing mother and father, has felt like an unique membership with a really particular entry requirement.
However maintain onto your hats, singles, as a result of July 2025 would possibly simply be the month the tide turns. HDB’s July BTO and Sale of Stability Flats (SBF) train, boasting 10,200 items, isn’t simply one other housing train. It additionally introduces a ground-breaking coverage: the Household Care Scheme (FCS).
For the primary time, singles and multi-generational households aren’t simply getting a seat on the desk; they’re getting a devoted categorical lane to use for residences close to their family members, and we’re all for it!
Desk of Contents
- Peek into the previous
- Earlier than: Restricted choices, lengthy waits
- After: Prioritising proximity and caregiving
- For households: A brand new Approach to apply collectively
- Software particulars: What you should know
- An indication that housing coverage is adapting to actual life
Peek into the previous
To actually respect this coverage shift, let’s briefly revisit the historic context. For a lot of Singapore’s early growth, public housing insurance policies have been primarily designed to foster sturdy nuclear households, seen because the cornerstone of society. Subsidised HDB flats have been predominantly allotted to married {couples} to encourage household formation and nation-building.
It wasn’t till October 1991 that the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme was launched, lastly permitting singles aged 35 and above to buy HDB flats. Initially, this was restricted to 3-room or smaller resale flats in particular, non-central areas.
This coverage change happened as housing wants for households have been largely met, and the federal government acknowledged the rising variety of Singaporeans selecting to not marry or preferring to reside independently. As an example, in his 1991 Nationwide Day Rally speech, then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong famous that there have been roughly 67,000 eligible singles on the time aged between 35-49, out of which 37,000 have been males.
This marked the start of a gradual rest of guidelines for singles, a response to evolving societal norms and protracted advocacy. Through the years, these guidelines have been additional liberalised:
- From September 2004, single Singaporeans have been capable of purchase flats of any measurement within the resale market.
- In July 2013, they have been allowed to buy new 2-room Flexi flats immediately from HDB for the primary time.
- Extra not too long ago, in October 2024, singles turned eligible to use for brand spanking new 2-room Flexi flats throughout all HDB venture sorts (Customary, Plus, and Prime), a big enlargement from the earlier restriction to non-mature estates.
Earlier than: Restricted choices, lengthy waits
Below the sooner guidelines, the housing panorama for singles aged 35 and above meant that singles may apply just for 2-room Flexi flats in non-mature estates. There was no particular consideration for desirous to reside close to mother and father.
Even in the event you have been the first caregiver for aged mother and father, your utility was a part of common poll pool. Except you have been a part of a married couple or making use of below an current, restricted household scheme, it was powerful to get good items close to one’s mother and father!
After: Prioritising proximity and caregiving
Enter the Household Care Scheme (Proximity)! From July 2025, first-time singles aged 21 and above who’re making use of to reside with or close to their mother and father will lastly qualify for precedence below a devoted quota. At the moment, as much as 65% of 2-room flexi BTO flats, and 5% of SBF flats are put aside for first-timer singles, after allocating flats to seniors. From the July BTO onwards:
- As much as 30% of such 2-room Flexi flats in Customary BTO tasks can be now reserved particularly for singles below FCS
- In extremely coveted Prime tasks, a big 20% of 2-room flats are equally put aside
- For the SBF train, singles making use of below FCS achieve entry to 2% of flats in Customary tasks and 1% in Prime tasks
Whereas these percentages could appear smaller, in a extremely aggressive market, any devoted allocation is a big win. This variation isn’t nearly opening doorways; it’s about acknowledging the various realities of Singaporean households.
It’s a transparent sign that HDB insurance policies are catching as much as the numerous real-life situations the place single candidates are essential pillars of assist, caring for or co-residing with ageing mother and father, and the place dwelling close by is just not a luxurious, however a necessity.
For households: A brand new approach to apply collectively
However the FCS isn’t only for singles. A second, equally impactful element, FCS (Joint Balloting), will take impact from the October 2025 BTO launch. This modern scheme permits mother and father and youngsters to collectively apply for 2 separate flats throughout the similar BTO venture.
Whereas there isn’t a hard and fast quota, chosen tasks will supply this selection the place the structure permits, offering a versatile resolution for multi-generational households. This replaces the sooner Multi-Era Precedence Scheme, which was extra restrictive in its utility.
For households who cherish proximity but in addition worth particular person area, this gives unparalleled flexibility and long-term planning stability. It’s a game-changer for ageing mother and father who would possibly desire unbiased dwelling whereas nonetheless being only a quick raise trip away from their kids, fostering a wonderful mix of independence and intergenerational assist.
Software particulars: What you should know
Able to dive in? Purposes for the July 2025 BTO and SBF launches are open from Tuesday, 23 July 2025 to Tuesday, 30 July 2025, 11:59 PM.
To use:
- Go to the HDB Flat Portal.
- Log in together with your Singpass.
- Submit your utility throughout the specified window.
Bear in mind: this isn’t a race! The applying course of is not first-come-first-served. All functions submitted throughout the week are entered into the poll, so there’s no have to frantically apply on day one. Take your time, evaluate your choices, and apply confidently.
This spherical consists of:
- 5,547 BTO flats throughout eight tasks in Bukit Merah, Bukit Panjang, Clementi, Sembawang, Tampines (Simei), Toa Payoh, and Woodlands
- 4,662 SBF flats, over 1,700 of that are already accomplished and prepared for near-immediate move-in
- 2,171 BTO flats with ready instances of three years or much less, providing faster routes to homeownership
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An indication that housing coverage is adapting to actual life
The Household Care Scheme received’t clear up each housing problem in a single day (no single coverage can!). Nevertheless, it’s an simple and highly effective sign that the HDB is embracing a extra nuanced and compassionate view of how Singaporeans reside, work, and look after one another.
Singles, who’ve for too lengthy felt ignored within the flat utility course of, now have a real and prioritised pathway to reside close to their households, fostering stronger bonds and facilitating essential caregiving. Multi-generational households, equally, are lastly outfitted with the instruments to coordinate their housing functions, changing the earlier scramble throughout separate launches with a streamlined and wise method.
We’re excited to see how these new coverage modifications impression the housing panorama in SingSing and we are going to maintain you up to date on market actions! Until then, drop in your ideas on these modifications within the feedback, or observe us to remain related.
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