Desmond Lee
Singapore
“The Leadership, Enrichment, Achievement, Participation and Service (LEAPS) 2.0 is a framework for recognising student participation and achievement in secondary school co-curricular programmes.”
“The Ministry of Education (MOE) is mindful of the impact that rising temperatures may have on our students, teachers and officials taking part in the National School Games. Matches are scheduled only after students have had the time to train and become progressively more heat acclimatised.”
“As shared in Parliament in March 2026, the proportion of students with special educational needs (SEN) in mainstream schools has remained stable, at around 7% of the overall student population. This stability is observed across both primary and secondary schools.”
“The Ministry recruits and assesses applicants based on merit and suitability for the teaching profession, regardless of gender. We look for individuals with a passion for teaching, a belief in the potential of every child, and who possess the values and character to make a positive difference in students' lives.”
“Over the past five years, an average of 750 teachers resigned from the Education Service annually, representing a resignation rate of around 2%.”
“MOE has also progressively strengthened open access within the Primary 1 Registration Framework through Phase 2C, which is open to students regardless of whether they have prior connections to the school. MOE had increased the number of reserved Phase 2C places from zero to 20 in 2014; and from 20 to 40 in 2022.”
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“To provide greater clarity to users of our park connector network (PCN), the Nationl Parks Board (NParks) has been reviewing the lane markings on our park connectors in consultation with the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the Friends of the Park Connector Network (FoPCN) and the Active Mobility Advisory Panel. Most of our park connectors are shared paths due to land constraints in Singapore. For these paths, the revised lane markings will include signs to remind all users to keep left when using the park connectors. For park connectors that are demarcated with separate lanes, the revised lane markings will clearly indicate the different types of users allowed on each lane, such as pedestrians, cyclists and users of personal mobility devices. NParks has started to roll out the revised lane markings at selected park connectors and will review public feedback before implementing them progressively across park connectors island-wide. NParks works closely with LTA, volunteers and the community to conduct joint engagement sessions on the safe use of our PCN, especially for park connectors with high usage and more frequent feedback on user conflicts. NParks has also collaborated with the Singapore Kindness Movement to raise public awareness on PCN etiquette through its Kindness Ambassadors. NParks will continue to work with the FoPCN and the community to promote gracious path sharing through workshops, cycling events, social media and banners along park connectors.”
“HDB does not publish a rental price index. It publishes median rental figures on the HDB InfoWEB. Median rentals are a better indication of open market rental price trends, as average rentals could be affected by outliers. The median rentals by flat type for the letting of HDB flats in the open market are given in Table 1. Overall, there has been an increase in the median rental for all flat types from 3Q2017 to 2Q2022 of $100 to $500.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) monitors the utilisation rate of HDB car parks to ensure that there is a good balance between providing season parking lots for residents and having sufficient capacity for short-term or visitor parking. Parking utilisation rates vary across car parks as these are dependent on various factors, such as the flat mix and profile of residents. On average, the season parking take-up rate is around 66% across all HDB car parks islandwide. For the HDB car parks in Sengkang and Punggol specifically, the season parking take-up rate ranges from 50% to 70%. For car parks where parking utilisation is lower, HDB currently considers repurposing them to other uses, subject to factors such as technical feasibility and an assessment of the potential dis-amenities to residents. For example, as part of efforts to intensify greenery in HDB estates under the HDB Green Towns Programme, suitable HDB Multi-storey Car Parks (MSCP) rooftops are being converted to community gardens or commercial urban farms.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) undertakes compulsory acquisition against flat owners who commit major infringements, such as the unauthorised renting out of their flat. HDB may also take compulsory acquisition action as a last resort, in mortgage arrears cases where the flat owners persistently refuse to resolve their arrears, or work towards a sustainable solution, despite the assistance given by HDB. HDB's compensation policy for flats that are compulsorily acquired takes into account various factors, including the severity of the infringement and the circumstances of the case, as well as the administrative and holding costs in acquiring the flat. The policy also ensures that flat owners who infringe the rules will not enjoy undue financial gains. Flat owners who are aggrieved by HDB's decision to compulsorily acquire a flat or the compensation amount can make a statutory appeal to the Minister for National Development. From January 2018 to June 2022, the Minister has acceded to 140 appeals against the compulsory acquisition of an HDB flat.”
“Our park connectors are located near to green spaces, along water bodies and provide recreational opportunities for Singaporeans to exercise and explore outdoor spaces. Some examples include the Changi Bay Park Connector and Alexandra Park Connector. Over the years, we have been expanding our park connector network. To date, there are about 370 kilometres (km) of park connectors islandwide, and the National Parks Board (NParks) aims to increase the length of park connectors to 500 km by 2030. We are also establishing a 360-km island-wide network of recreational routes across Singapore, comprising park connectors and trails. For example, the first phase of the Round Island Route was opened in January 2022, providing a 75-km recreational connection along the Eastern coastline, from Rower's Bay to Berlayer Creek. When completed, these island-wide recreational routes will provide more opportunities for Singaporeans to walk and cycle in natural spaces for longer distances. Besides providing opportunities for nature-based recreation, our park connectors and island-wide routes also help to enhance ecological connectivity between natural habitats, strengthening Singapore's ecological resilience as we transform into a City in Nature. Together, these efforts contribute to our goal of enabling all households to be within a 10-minute walk from a park by 2030.”
“The import of sand for construction and reclamation purposes is done on a commercial basis. Importers are expected to abide by the laws and regulations of the source countries. These include sourcing from legally permissible areas, obtaining the proper export documentation and permits from the relevant authorities, as well as complying with local environmental regulations governing the proper extraction and transportation within source countries. Where applicable, our agencies will check that the necessary environmental-related approvals from the source countries are in order, before contractors are allowed to commence sand imports.”
“The conduct of property agents is governed by the Estate Agents Act (EAA) and its Regulations, including the Code of Ethics and Professional Client Care (CEPCC) which sets the standard of performance required of property agents in their dealings with clients and the public while carrying out estate agency work. The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) also has in place practice guidelines to provide detailed guidance to property agents on various areas, including advertising content and distribution methods. For example, property agents must distribute their marketing pamphlets properly, such as through mailboxes or under the doors of property units. CEA will investigate complaints against property agents and take action against those who breach the EAA and its Regulations. Depending on the severity of the infringement, errant property agents may be issued with warning letters, financial penalties and/or have their registration with CEA suspended or revoked. CEA will continue to study ways to further tackle the problem of improper flyer distribution. For instance, under the Real Estate Industry Transformation Map (RE ITM), CEA is engaging the industry to shift towards digital advertisements.”
“The percentages of young couples who successfully applied for an HDB flat through the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises, open booking of flats and Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) in each of the past five years between 2017 and 2021 are shown in Table 1. Unlike Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, SBF flats and open booking flats are not the mainstay of HDB's flat supply. The number of flats offered for sale depends mainly on the unsold flats from previous BTO exercises. Given the limited supply, we encourage young couples to apply for BTO flats in the non-mature estates (NMEs) instead. On average over the past few years, almost 90% of first-timer families applying in NMEs managed to secure their BTO flats within two attempts. Those who have been unsuccessful in two or more attempts for a BTO flat in the NMEs are given an additional ballot chance for each subsequent NME BTO application. As a result, virtually all first-timer families who apply for NME BTO flats are successful within their first three tries. First-timer families may also consider buying a resale flat on the open market and can receive up to $160,000 in housing grants. The Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) provides an additional temporary housing option for households waiting for the completion of their new flats. In August 2021, we fine-tuned the PPHS criteria to accord priority to applicants with more urgent need for temporary housing. We are also on track to increase the PPHS supply from 800 in 2021 to 1,800 in 2023. As a result, the share of young couples who had a chance to select a PPHS flat has risen in 2022 (up to September) to about 20%.”
“The National Parks Board (NParks) manages over 28 kilometres of mountain biking trails in our nature parks and areas, such as at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Chestnut Nature Park and Pulau Ubin. As part of our maintenance regime, each trail is inspected once every three months. In between scheduled inspections, we will conduct additional inspections, if there are prolonged periods of heavy rainfall or reports of trail-related issues. Following each inspection, NParks will carry out repair works as necessary. Through regular maintenance, NParks keeps our trails in good condition for the safety of mountain bikers, while preventing damage to the surrounding environment. Given that most mountain biking trails are situated in our nature parks, constructing more of such trails could have an adverse impact on our natural habitats, including our flora and fauna. We will continue to carefully balance our nature conservation efforts with the needs of the mountain biking community.”
“Member Mr Yip Hon Weng's question on public housing affordability will be answered during the Parliamentary Sitting on 4 October, together with other Parliamentary Questions on public housing affordability. [Please refer to "Affordability of Rising Public Housing Prices and Impact of Prices on Marriage and Fertility Rates", Official Report, 04 October 2022, Vol 95, Issue 70, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“As part of the Long-Term Plan Review, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) reached out to more than 15,000 people over a one-year period. Many Singaporeans shared their aspirations and hopes for Singapore's future, which helped shape our long-term land use strategies and plans. These were encapsulated in the Space for Our Dreams exhibition at The URA Centre and roving exhibitions in the heartlands from June to August this year. Close to 50,000 people visited these exhibitions. The positive response to the public exhibition reaffirmed our shared aspirations for a good quality living environment – one with diverse home typologies to meet different needs and aspirations, located in inclusive, well-connected and future-ready towns. Singaporeans also want to create distinctive spaces that convey a sense of identity, steward our natural capital and develop in a sustainable and resilient manner that will provide options and flexibility for future generations. We will translate the long-term planning strategies into the next Draft Master Plan to guide development for the next 10 to 15 years and continue to work closely with the public in the process.”
“As flat applicants might not apply in consecutive Build-To-Order (BTO) exercises, it may not be meaningful to track the average and longest wait time between applicants’ first flat application and when they book a flat. Furthermore, not all applicants who have the opportunity to book a flat proceed to do so. From past sale launches, about four in 10 applicants did not book a flat when invited to do so. As such, we monitor the average number of attempts for applicants to secure a BTO flat, which was less than two times over the last five years. We are committed to help Singaporeans own their first home. From the recent August 2022 BTO exercise, HDB has increased the first-timer BTO allocation quotas for flats in Non-Mature Estates (NMEs) to give first-timer applicants greater certainty in securing an NME flat. At least 85% of the 3-room and 95% of 4-room and larger BTO flat supplies are now set aside for first-timer families, an increase from 70% and 85%, respectively. At least 95% of BTO flat supply in the Mature Estates (MEs) continue to be set aside for first-timer families. HDB has also been ramping up the supply of BTO flats and will launch up to 23,000 flats per year in 2022 and 2023. This is a significant increase of 35% from the 17,000 flats launched in 2021. We are also prepared to launch up to 100,000 flats in total from 2021 to 2025, if needed. We will continue to closely monitor public housing demand and supply, so that we can meet the housing needs of Singaporeans, especially those buying their first home.”
“From the Housing and Development Board (HDB)'s past sales launches, about four in 10 applicants who were invited to book a flat under a Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise did not do so. Such applicants cited reasons such as their preferred units not being available, wanting to apply for flats in other sales exercises, or having decided to purchase a resale flat instead. While some of these applicants may have genuine reasons for non-selection, they do crowd out others with more pressing housing needs. HDB also has to expend resources to process their flat applications and to prepare the non-selected flats for future sales exercises. HDB therefore encourages all flat applicants to select a flat when they have the chance to do so. Those who choose not to book a flat will be issued a non-selection count. First-timer families who accumulate two non-selection counts will have their subsequent flat applications moved to the second-timer category for a year. Second-timer families who accumulate two non-selection counts will not be able to participate in subsequent sales exercises for a year. Additionally, first-timer families who have been unsuccessful in two or more attempts for a BTO flat in the non-mature estates (NMEs) receive an additional ballot chance for each subsequent NME BTO application. Virtually all first-timer families who apply for NME BTO flats are successful within their first three tries. However, the count of unsuccessful NME BTO applications will be reset to zero if a first-timer family chooses not to book a flat when offered a chance to do so.”
“On top of providing the details on the HDB InfoWEB, HDB works with media outlets, organises public talks and seminars, and sets up mini-exhibitions and enquiry booths at local community events. CPF Board invites members turning 55 and 65 years old to attend a CPF Retirement Planning Service which includes sharing on available housing monetisation options. HDB and CPF Board also send out letters on housing monetisation options to seniors. The letters provide seniors with personalised estimates of the proceeds and additional CPF monthly payouts they can receive if they take up the Lease Buyback Scheme and information on right-sizing with the Silver Housing Bonus. We will continue to explore ways to increase our outreach and communication efforts to seniors on the various housing monetisation options.”
“Between 2017 and 2021, the average annual number of seniors aged 65 and above who owned a 3-room and larger flat, and subsequently booked a 2-room Flexi flat in Housing and Development Board (HDB)'s Build-To-Order (BTO) exercises ranged from about 90 to about 440. For 2022, up to the month of August, the number of such seniors was 331. As seniors might not apply in consecutive BTO exercises, it is not meaningful to track the average time between their first flat application and when they book a 2-room Flexi flat. Based on HDB's records, the average number of attempts for seniors to secure a 2-room Flexi BTO flat was about 1.6. To increase seniors' chances of securing a 2-room Flexi flat, at least 40% of the 2-room flat supply is set aside for them. To meet the strong demand for public housing, we are also ramping up BTO flat supply and will launch up to 23,000 flats per year in 2022 and 2023, an increase of 35% from the 17,000 flats launched in 2021. The increased flat supply provides more housing options for all buyer groups, including seniors. In November 2022, we will be offering some 9,500 BTO flats. Of these, 2-room Flexi flats will be offered in Bukit Batok, Tengah, Yishun and Queenstown. The flats in Queenstown will be our second Community Care Apartments (CCA) pilot, with about 200 CCA units on offer. Next year, we will continue to launch 2-room Flexi flats in different towns. For instance, for the first BTO exercise in 2023, 2-room Flexi flats are planned in Kallang/Whampoa and Tengah. We will continue to monitor demand, and ensure that the supply of public housing remains responsive to the housing needs of our population, including seniors. We have adopted a range of efforts to reach out to seniors on their housing monetisation options.”
“There are currently five construction worksites in Marina South. They support infrastructure development such as roads, drains and sewers, as we progressively develop the area. The Ministry of National Development (MND) does not monitor the number of heavy vehicles on the roads leading to Marina South.”
“In addition, BCA requires all slopes that are formed or modified by building works to be assessed for risk of failure by a Qualified Person (QP) before construction commences. The QP is required to recommend slope protection measures to be put in place, such as earth retaining walls and stabilising structures, to ensure that the slope remains stable under adverse weather conditions, including extreme rainfall. The QP is also required to recommend measures to monitor the condition of the slope while works are ongoing. The frequency of monitoring may vary depending on the complexity of the works. For example, slopes may be monitored twice a week for relatively shallow excavation works and daily for works in close proximity to other buildings. As an additional precautionary measure following the slope failure incident on 2 September 2022, BCA has reminded QPs and builders to inspect slopes on or adjacent to construction sites and to take additional measures to ensure that these slopes remain stable, as needed. BCA will conduct checks to ascertain that project parties have taken these measures. BCA also issues regular advisories to remind land and building owners to implement measures to manage the risk of landslides for their slopes. These include ensuring adequate drainage and proper maintenance of slope- and earth-retaining structures. BCA will review the cause of the recent slope failure incident after the investigations have been completed and assess if additional measures are required to ensure the safety of slopes on or near construction sites.”
“The scale and impact of landslides, which are movements of a mass of soil down a slope, vary greatly, depending on the amount of soil movement. There were an average of four landslide incidents reported to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) per year between 2017 and 2019, and 21 per year in 2020 and 2021. These were all relatively minor cases involving the movement of shallow layers of soil and did not cause significant damage to infrastructure. Higher-than-normal rainfall was recorded in 2020 and 2021, which could be one factor that contributed to the higher number of incidents in these two years. As of end-September this year, there has been one landslide incident reported to BCA so far. This was the incident which occurred at the Clementi NorthArc Build-To-Order construction site on 2 September 2022. This was caused by slope failure, which refers to the sudden collapse of a slope due to changes in soil strength or the destabilisation of the slope. BCA has inspected the surrounding buildings and found them to be structurally sound. The cause of this incident is currently being investigated. Soil movements may be triggered by various factors, such as heavy and prolonged rainfall, additional loads on the slope, or changes to the slope profile due to construction work. Agencies that manage public land carry out regular inspections on slopes that may pose a risk to public safety and implement appropriate mitigation measures to stabilise the slopes as needed. Our agencies may also conduct inspections more frequently, such as on a weekly or monthly basis, during periods of intense wet weather.”
“Centralising the management of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultancy services has various benefits, such as raising standards across the industry and consolidating information on Singapore's biodiversity. Given the scale of Government projects and that the centralisation entails agencies restructuring their roles and processes, we will begin by piloting this approach for new HDB and JTC development projects requiring EIAs. The pilot will cover a sizeable number and mix of project types, including residential and industrial developments. When the pilot concludes in end 2024, we will review the outcomes before deciding whether and when to scale the centralisation further.”
“There are a total of 1,037,013 completed HDB flats, as at 31 July 2022. Of these, 1,465 flats, or 0.1%, were vacant units that had not been booked. Most of these units were either being offered under Sale of Balance Flats exercises where flat selection had not been completed or were scheduled for subsequent exercises. Please see Table 1 for details.”
“Should the public come across suspected cases where debarking of dogs and declawing of cats have been performed without due justification, they are encouraged to inform NParks, so that it can investigate and take the necessary actions.”
“Due to animal welfare concerns, countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the US, generally, do not encourage or allow debarking of dogs or declawing of cats, except for medical or health reasons or other circumstances. In a few US states, such as New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland, the debarking of dogs is prohibited, unless it is carried out on the advice of a licensed veterinarian and for medical reasons. Similarly, in the Australian states of Queensland and Victoria, debarking of dogs and declawing of cats are legally prohibited, unless carried out by a veterinary practitioner for therapeutic reasons. NParks' position on debarking dogs and declawing cats is aligned with the veterinary practices in these jurisdictions. We take a firm stance against such practices, except under certain circumstances, such as for medical or health reasons. This provides pet owners with an alternative, as opposed to giving up or euthanising the animal. NParks has put in place a framework to regulate such practices. The Code of Ethics for Veterinarians considers such practices unethical, unless they are performed as an alternative to euthanasia. Under the Code, veterinarians are required to advise pet owners of non-surgical alternatives and to ensure that all reasonable efforts have been made to manage the issue prior to performing such procedures. Failure to do so can result in written warnings, composition fines or suspension or revocation of veterinary licences. NParks will also continue to educate pet owners and raise awareness on alternatives to debarking and declawing.”
“The annual breakdowns by residential status of the number and percentage of private residential property purchases for 2019 to 1H2022 are provided in Table 1 below.”
“Both the Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (ASSIST) and the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) are already open to single parents with an Interim Judgment of Divorce (IJ). Since 2019, divorcing parties can apply for a flat from HDB once they have obtained an IJ, and have settled the ancillary matters relating to their matrimonial property and the custody, care and control of their child(ren). Those who are second-timers will be accorded priority under ASSIST if they apply for a 2-room Flexi or 3-room new flat in a non-mature estate, and meet the other eligibility conditions to purchase a flat. Those who have booked flats will also be eligible for PPHS if they meet the other eligibility conditions, such as citizenship and the income ceiling of $7,000.”
“HDB flats are primarily meant for owner-occupation. Nonetheless, HDB flat owners are allowed to rent out their whole flat after meeting the required minimum occupation period. Flat owners must obtain HDB's prior approval, and comply with the terms and conditions during the rent out period. HDB takes a serious view of unauthorised renting out of flat and will take action against errant flat owners. Depending on the severity and circumstances of the infringement, HDB may issue a written warning, impose a financial penalty of up to $50,000, or acquire the flats compulsorily from the owners. Between 2010 and 2021, HDB acted against a total of 730 cases of unauthorised renting out of flat, including ~70 which were compulsorily acquired. To uncover any unauthorised renting out, HDB conducts routine planned inspections and investigates all feedback from members of the public on suspected cases. Besides operating a dedicated hotline for the public to report suspected infringements, HDB also organises community programmes such as Heartland Talks, and publicises cases of action taken against flat owners to deter flat owners from breaching the rental rules.”
“The current average waiting time for rental flat allocation under the Public Rental Scheme is eight months. For applicants who are in urgent need of a rental flat, such as those with medical grounds or other exceptional circumstances, HDB will prioritise their applications and expedite flat allocation. Since August 2022, HDB has removed the zonal approach for applications under the Public Rental Scheme. This allows approved applicants to select from all available flats across Singapore and helps to alleviate the longer waiting time in certain zones. The overall supply of rental flats is currently sufficient to meet aggregate demand. Nonetheless, we are monitoring the situation closely, as the demand for rental flats has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic began. We are also studying options to augment the supply, where necessary.”
“NEA's Code of Practice on Environmental Health (COPEH) provides guidelines to address environmental health concerns in the design of buildings. This includes anti-mosquito breeding measures such as installing anti-mosquito devices at floor traps and using HDB-patented air-conditioner trays that do not trap stagnant water, if necessary. Roof gutters which can be clogged and become mosquito breeding sites are also disallowed in new developments. Developers are required to adopt the stipulated guidelines. HDB references the Code of Practice for anti-mosquito breeding measures, and considers ease of maintenance in the design of its buildings and estates. Measures adopted by HDB projects include providing an adequate gradient for roofs, paved-areas, and drains, to prevent water stagnation and mosquito breeding. Rainwater from roofs is also drained off directly through rainwater downpipes instead of through roof gutters. Additionally, anti-mosquito and insect filter devices are provided for floor traps within internal HDB units and common areas in HDB estates. For landscaping of HDB estates, some of HDB's design guidelines help prevent mosquito breeding. For example, HDB avoids growing plants that may potentially trap water (e.g. those that act as receptacles or with thick axils). HDB regularly reviews the design and provision of features when new technology to aid maintenance becomes available, and takes in feedback from Town Councils or residents through post-occupation surveys.”
“Residents who come across hoarding behaviour with public health and safety concerns may report such cases through the OneService App, which will then be referred to agencies for further assessment.”
“However, as recent cases have shown, decluttering is needed not just for the community, but to protect the individual's safety, and the HMCG will continue to work hard at this problem. We empathise with neighbours' frustration with the recurrence of inconveniences and dis-amenities, but also seek your understanding that the challenges and complexities in hoarding intervention require persistent efforts sustained over a long period, both on agencies' and the hoarder's part. To this end, agencies are committed to reviewing enforcement levers and acting more decisively on decluttering efforts. We plan to intensify actions to keep corridors clear for passage. In the coming months, agencies intend to work with TCs to step up enforcement on cluttered corridors. In tandem, MSO will work with the media as well as social and grassroots workers to further spread and reinforce key messages through more Public Education on the dangers of hoarding and cluttered corridors. We will also continue to tackle known cases of egregious hoarding within flats. We will work with agencies to assess risks posed by the worst hoarding cases. Where orders are issued for public health and safety reasons and hoarders are cooperative, we will proceed to declutter via the community-based approach with the assistance of volunteer groups. However, even in cases where hoarders are unwilling to part with their items, we will act firmly in the interest of public health and safety to intervene. We seek the understanding of the public that we cannot allow decluttering efforts to be blocked by the remonstrations of individuals who may be endangering public health and safety with their actions. Lastly, the HMCG alone cannot identify all hoarding cases.”
“However, even with the involvement of mental health agencies and professionals, deep seated issues may still result in recurrence as behavioural change is unlikely to happen overnight. Nevertheless, the HMCG has achieved some success, and as of 1H 2022, we have managed to reduce the severity of 210 cases of hoarding and are actively monitoring these cases to prevent recurrence. If your family member is a hoarder, we seek your strong support on agencies' efforts to declutter as family intervention has proven to be a major success factor in hoarding intervention. Agencies are currently working on another 260 active hoarding cases. These complex cases remain protracted and unresolved because it is difficult to gain hoarders' cooperation to declutter. Frontline officers face real tensions on the ground in balancing between the hoarder's individual right to choose how they want to upkeep their own home and their neighbours' enjoyment of their own residences, especially in cases where the clutter falls short of outright legal violations, or do not meet the threshold for public health and safety risks as determined by SCDF and NEA. In such cases, officers need to obtain the cooperation of the hoarder to help them declutter. This involves repeated engagements, persuasion, and at times, referrals to social workers and/or mental health professionals. We have encountered cases where hoarders refuse to open their door for inspections or cooperate in decluttering – some may even threaten self-harm at the thought of losing their belongings. Even if their homes were successfully decluttered once, the clutter may recur as habits do not change so quickly.”
“These public health and safety risks and dis-amenities warrant state intervention for the wellbeing of both the hoarder and the community. The Government has taken an inter-agency approach to address hoarding because of its complexity and potentially fatal public hazards. The Hoarding Management Core Group (HMCG), led by the Municipal Services Office (MSO), was set up in 2014 to coordinate efforts across agencies and resolve protracted and severe hoarding cases. The HMCG comprises HDB, NEA, NParks (AVS), SCDF, MSF, PA, and AIC. In the Hoarding Management Framework (HMF), hoarding cases are assessed and prioritised based on whether there is threat to public health and safety. Where risks are identified to the extent that established rules and laws are violated, regulatory agencies will issue orders or take enforcement action on the hoarder or homeowner. For example, NEA may order the owner to remove items contributing to pest infestations in their home, while SCDF may order the owner to cease hoarding flammable items such as fuel. AVS will also act against hoarding of animals within a HDB flat where animal welfare is harmed, or Town Councils may require owners to remove hoarding in the common areas. The HMCG considers community and social interventions in tandem with enforcement efforts. If the hoarder is suspected to have mental health issues, the hoarder will be referred to the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for professional assessment and treatment. Agencies work closely with healthcare workers, community partners such as social workers from Family Service Centres, grassroots leaders, volunteers and the hoarders' family members in a concerted effort to resolve hoarding cases.”
“Compulsive hoarding is characterised by the excessive acquisition of items that are of little or no value, and an inability or unwillingness to discard them. While hoarders' homes may be filled from floor to ceiling with what most may deem as "rubbish", they view these items as important and cannot bear to part with them. In the most severe cases, the hoarder may even rough sleep outside their homes as there is hardly any space left inside. Internationally, the Clutter Image Rating Scale (CIRS) is used to measure the extent and severity of hoarding. The root cause of a hoarder's behaviour is complex. For example, one's hoarding could be a symptom of underlying mental health conditions like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or developed after trauma or deep grief. Hoarding behaviours could also be exacerbated by social factors, such as disputes with one's family or the stockpiling of collected items at home for one's "karang guni" business. Hoarding strikes people of all ages. While hoarding is more often observed in the elderly, it is a behavioural trait that could have slowly deteriorated throughout adulthood and worsened as one ages. Hoarding can happen within the confines of one's flat, but can also spill out into common areas such as shared corridors. A hoarded home may be infested with pests from rotting food or pose a fire risk as occupants may be unable to escape in an emergency due to blockages to exit routes from the extreme accumulation of clutter. Hoarding that clutters corridors also obstructs evacuation routes for neighbours in times of fire. The emanating stench may also inconvenience neighbours and be a nuisance by preventing them from enjoying living in their own homes.”
“The number of residential fire incidents reported to HDB over the past five years are shown in Table 1. As of 31 July 2022, 51% of HDB flats are insured under the HDB Fire Insurance Scheme. It is mandatory for flat owners who take a mortgage loan from HDB on or after 1 September 1994 to purchase the HDB fire insurance from HDB’s appointed insurer. The HDB Fire Insurance Scheme relieves HDB flat owners of the financial burden of repair work to their flat in the event of a fire. The basic fire insurance premiums offered by HDB's appointed insurer are inexpensive. For a five-year coverage, the current premiums range from $1.62 for a 1-room flat, to $8.10 for an Executive/Multi-Generation flat. Flat owners who do not take a mortgage loan from HDB are not required to purchase the HDB fire insurance policy. We understand that some financial institutions do impose a requirement on HDB flat owners who took a mortgage loan from them, to buy home insurance from their appointed insurer. For all other flat owners, they have the option to purchase insurance cover with an insurer of their choice and are encouraged to ensure that their properties are adequately insured against damages caused by unfortunate accidents such as fire. As with many other forms of insurance, it is the responsibility of owners to ensure that they have proper insurance coverage or the financial means to repair and restore their properties in case of damage.”
“Since May 2019, lift and escalator (L&E) firms that tender to undertake Government contracts for lift maintenance have been required to adopt the progressive wage model (PWM) for local lift maintenance technicians. These firms have also been required to extend the PWM to local escalator maintenance technicians from 1 July 2022. BCA had issued notices to inform the relevant L&E firms of this. To ensure that these firms comply with the L&E PWM, BCA requires them to submit information on the wages of local L&E maintenance technicians that they employ to BCA annually. Local technicians in these firms who are offered employment contracts with wages lower than the PWM benchmark can report the non-compliances to BCA. BCA will also conduct audit checks. BCA will require errant firms to rectify non-compliances, and may suspend or revoke their eligibility to be awarded new Government tenders for lift maintenance. Government agencies may also terminate their lift maintenance contracts with errant firms that fail to rectify non-compliances. L&E technicians who are not remunerated in accordance with their employment contracts can also approach the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) for assistance. More than 40 L&E contractors, maintaining more than 90% of the L&E in Singapore, have adopted the L&E PWM. We intend to mandate the L&E PWM for all L&E contractors, and will provide more details when ready.”
“The Building and Construction Authority's (BCA) Accessibility Fund (AF) provides funding support for private building owners who undertake voluntary upgrading of their buildings to improve accessibility. The AF co-funds up to 80% of the construction cost of basic accessibility features, such as ramps, lifts and accessible toilets, and up to 60% of the construction cost of Universal Design features, including grab bars, child-friendly sanitary facilities and braille/tactile features. Based on feedback that BCA has received, the reasons why building owners do not tap on the AF to carry out basic accessibility upgrading include cashflow concerns when undertaking costlier works such as lift installation, and site or space constraints in older buildings. To help building owners with the cashflow for costlier works, BCA has enhanced the AF to provide an interim payment option for projects that involve lift installation and have a minimum value of $200,000 funding supported by the AF. Building owners can make a claim for reimbursement of up to 70% of the total supported funding during the implementation of the project, with the remaining amount to be reimbursed after all accessibility upgrading works have been completed. To accelerate accessibility upgrading in older buildings, BCA will also require owners of non-barrier free commercial and institutional buildings with a Gross Floor Area of more than 500 square metres to provide basic accessibility features whenever addition and alteration works are carried out in any part of the building. BCA will implement this requirement in early 2023.”
“For HDB estates, delivery workers can utilise the loading and unloading bays (LUBs) provided at every HDB block for quick loading and unloading activities. In HDB estates where multi-storey car parks (MSCPs) are provided, there are two LUBs per residential block. More bays would be provided if there are shops or eating houses located within the estate. In older estates with surface car parks, loading and unloading activities can be carried out from the parking lots directly. In general, we observe that the current provision of loading and unloading bays in HDB estates is still broadly sufficient. Nevertheless, HDB will continue to monitor the situation on the ground and adjust the provision of LUBs at localised spots where required. For private residential developments, LTA's Code of Practice on Vehicle Parking Provision encourages the provision of sufficient areas to facilitate deliveries by heavy vehicles. Management corporations (MCSTs) of strata-titled condominiums may choose to cater additional spaces to facilitate deliveries, based on the needs of their residents. Where MCSTs face constraints in designating dedicated delivery areas, they can consider alternative solutions such as allowing delivery vehicles to park within the estate when conducting deliveries. URA and BCA are also working with industry stakeholders and the relevant agencies to develop a set of best practices to guide MCSTs in facilitating deliveries to condominiums in a safe and practical manner.”
“From January to June 2022: (a) There were about 6,800 public rental households, on average, who were in rental arrears of three months or more. (b) About 1,200 public rental households in total were granted a waiver of their late payment charges. HDB reaches out to understand the difficulties that households in rental arrears face, and takes a holistic approach to assist them. Besides actively advising and guiding the affected households, HDB will consider reducing their rent and referring them to the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF) Social Service Offices for appropriate assistance. Late payment charges can be waived for tenants who take steps to address their rental arrears, such as working out a repayment plan or seeking financial assistance from the relevant agencies. For tenants who have passed on, if the flat has no other occupiers, HDB will terminate the tenancy and write off any remaining debts. If the flat has other occupiers, HDB will work with them to address the arrears.”
“In the last three years, 369 fire incidents were reported to HDB. Of these, 218 (or 59%) had a valid HDB fire insurance policy. HDB does not track whether flat owners bought other forms of fire or home insurance. Under the HDB Fire Insurance Scheme, all flat owners who take a mortgage loan from HDB are required to take up a fire insurance policy from the HDB’s appointed insurer and maintain it for the full duration of their loan. The HDB fire insurance policy provides basic coverage for the reinstatement cost of the building structures and fixtures provided by HDB in the event of a fire. This relieves HDB flat owners of the financial burden of repair work to their flat should a fire occur. To keep the premium low and affordable, the HDB Fire Insurance Scheme does not cover home contents such as furniture, renovation, or loss of personal belongings. Flat owners who wish to take up additional insurance cover for home contents have the flexibility to do so with an insurer of their choice.”
“NParks also works with HDB to ensure that new public housing estates are planned with green spaces, and provides incentive funding via the Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme to encourage building owners to retrofit vertical greenery and green roofs on existing buildings. We are also increasing the intensity and quality of our existing green spaces. For example, NParks is incorporating lush vegetation and natural landscapes in our parks and gardens, and naturalising our waterways and waterbodies, such as at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Jurong Lake Gardens. This provides better habitats for our biodiversity and a more immersive experience of nature for Singaporeans, while bringing practical benefits such as improving flood resilience. NParks is also incorporating more therapeutic landscapes in our parks, and working with Town Councils and grassroots organisations to set up therapeutic gardens in the heartlands. These are specially designed and programmed to meet the physical, psychological and social needs of Singaporeans. NParks is also planting native trees and plants in multi-tiered structures along our roads, which mimic the structure of our natural forests. This creates green corridors called Nature Ways that facilitate the movement of biodiversity like birds and butterflies across our island and strengthens ecological connectivity between our green spaces. We will continue to engage our community to co-create green spaces and press on with our greening efforts to transform Singapore into a City in Nature in the years to come.”
“Greening our city has always been a priority in the planning and development of Singapore. Today, we have safeguarded more than 7,800 hectares of green spaces in the form of nature reserves, nature parks, gardens and parks, and integrated greenery throughout the city. As a result of our greening efforts, Singapore’s green cover currently stands at over 40%. Singapore is considered one of the world’s greenest cities today. For instance, the 'Green View' Index developed by MIT’s Senseable City Lab on its Treepedia platform shows that we are ahead of most cities, including those with lower population densities, in our provision of urban tree coverage. We will continue to build on these efforts. For example, we will safeguard another 1,000 hectares of green spaces over the next 10 to 15 years. We are also planting one million more trees across Singapore by 2030, under the OneMillionTrees movement. Since the launch of the movement in April 2020, about 400,000 trees have been planted with the community, along our streets, in our parks, nature reserves and nature parks, and even industrial estates. We take a holistic view in greening our urban environment. Our strategies go beyond green cover, to strengthen our ecological resilience and create a liveable and endearing home for Singaporeans. In development planning, NParks requires tree planting within the green buffers and peripheral planting areas of developments, while URA’s Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises (LUSH) Programme ensures greenery is incorporated as part of new developments.”
“The qualifying age for the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) is set at the CPF Payout Eligibility Age of 65 to allow seniors to receive their monthly CPF payouts immediately after they take up the LBS. Nevertheless, HDB is prepared to and has exercised flexibility on the age requirement for those with long-term medical expenses and financial difficulties. This includes those who are or have become disabled, and experience challenges securing employment.”
“The vacant land along Fernvale Close and Fernvale Link is currently zoned as a Reserve site. To meet the housing needs of Singaporeans, URA has proposed to rezone this site as a Residential site. The rezoning plans were publicly exhibited in August, in line with the procedure to amend the Master Plan under the Planning Act. We have received feedback from some residents in the area regarding the need to address potential traffic congestion and provide more amenities to serve the local community. There are upcoming plans that will address these concerns, such as the construction of new roads to improve traffic circulation in the area, the expansion of the Sengkang-Punggol Light Rail Transit’s capacity, as well as park and recreational provisions. In addition to these plans, URA is also working with the relevant agencies to review and implement other measures to address the residents’ feedback. In land scarce Singapore, it is important for us to balance competing land use requirements, and cater to the needs and aspirations of different groups of Singaporeans. We will continue to work closely with agencies and key stakeholders in planning for the site.”
“Buyers of resale flats purchase the flat on a caveat emptor basis, which means that the onus is on them to inspect the condition of the flat that they are purchasing. The buyer is ultimately responsible for any irregularity which may subsequently be discovered after the purchase. Nonetheless, if unauthorised works are discovered after resale completion, buyers can approach HDB for advice. HDB will assess the situation and follow up with the parties involved on the remedial actions.”
“A temporary extension of stay is a private arrangement between flat sellers and buyers, and is subject to HDB’s approval. The sellers may request for a temporary extension of stay of up to three months. Both parties must agree on the terms of the stay, which can include the period of the extension, the rental rate and the flat condition, and may sign a private agreement between themselves on the terms of the stay. If there is a temporary extension of stay, the sellers shall deliver vacant possession of the flat to the buyers only upon the expiry or termination of the stay. Under the terms of the Option to Purchase signed between the parties, the sellers must deliver the flat to the buyers in a physical condition that both parties have agreed on. In addition, the sellers must allow the buyers to conduct a final inspection of the flat on or before the legal completion date of the transaction. This is regardless of any temporary extension of stay granted. HDB does not provide a checklist for the inspection, as the items and fixtures to check in the flat would depend on what has been negotiated between the two parties. The buyer may engage a Qualified Person (e.g. Building Surveyor) at his own expense to help him in the inspections. Prior to the resale completion, HDB also conducts an inspection to check for unauthorised renovation works in the flat which could damage or affect the structural stability of the flat/building. If any unauthorised works or structural alterations to the flat that may cause safety concerns are discovered during the inspections, they must be regularised before the resale can be completed.”
“The Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) is structured to moderate investment demand in residential property and is therefore differentiated based on the residency status of the buyer and the overall number of residential properties owned. ABSD discourages the purchase of multiple units, as higher rates generally apply to purchases by those who already own at least one residential property. Higher rates also apply to buyers who are not Singapore Citizens. In December 2021, we raised ABSD rates across all buyer profiles, except for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents purchasing their first residential property. Instances of property buyers who have purchased more than one unit in a single development are uncommon. Among all private residential property units transacted so far this year, units involved in such multiple-unit purchases accounted for about 1%. Units involved in multiple-unit purchases of more than two units are even lower, at about 0.2%. Hence, bulk property purchases are unlikely to have a significant impact on the property market. We will monitor developments in the property market closely and adjust our policies as necessary to promote a stable and sustainable property market.”
“From January 2020 to June 2022, 203 HDB flats were compulsorily acquired (see Table 1 for annual breakdown). Of these, 82% were acquired due to mortgage arrears. In these cases, compulsory acquisition was taken as a last resort as the owners persistently refused to resolve their arrears or work towards a sustainable solution, despite the assistance given by HDB. Of the 203 acquired flats, 91% have since been offered for sale in HDB's Sale of Balance Flats exercises, and the remainder will be offered in future exercises.”
“Shops that were sold to private entities make up 56% of HDB's commercial properties. HDB does not collect private rental data for sold shops, and owners who have rented out their shops are not obliged to report their rents to HDB. Since 1998, HDB has ceased the sale of shops. The remaining 44% of HDB's commercial properties are directly rented out by HDB and include those in newer towns and estates, like Sengkang and Punggol. These are directly owned and managed by HDB. A summary of the average rents across the three categories can be found in Table 1. In general, HDB rental shop rents are far below private rentals. Based on the Real Estates Information System (REALIS) data, median private rental outside the Central Area in 2021 was more than $13 per square foot. In 2018, HDB introduced Price-Quality tenders for coffeeshops directly owned by HDB, with 50% of points awarded for aspects such as the availability of budget meals, good track record and community initiatives. Operators who successfully tender for HDB coffeeshops typically provide budget food options at every stall, priced at around $3. The rentals under Price-Quality tenders are typically lower and less volatile than those tendered out purely based on price.”
“We encourage all flat buyers to exercise financial prudence and book a flat within their means.”
“New flat buyers who wish to take up an HDB housing loan for their flat purchase need to have a valid HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter when they book the flat. The HLE letter informs buyers of the HDB housing loan amount that they are eligible for, so that they can size up their housing budget and book a flat that is within their budget. When the keys to the new flat are ready for collection, HDB will review the flat buyers' financial situation and disburse the housing loan amount they are eligible for, based on their updated circumstances, for them to complete the flat purchase. This is to ensure that flat buyers have the means to service their housing loans. In addition to the housing loan, flat buyers can use their CPF and cash savings to complete their purchase. From 2017 to 2021, about 0.4% of first-timer 3-room and 4-room Build-To-Order (BTO) flat buyers, or between 13 and 84 cases per year (Table 1), were unable to complete their flat purchase due to insufficient loans. These flat buyers could have experienced changes to their financial situation, such as retrenchment, reduction in income, bankruptcy or indebtedness, which resulted in them being unable to qualify for a loan of sufficient quantum to complete the flat purchase. Others may have booked a flat that was outside their budget and their incomes had not risen to levels that would allow them to complete the purchase. For such cases, HDB assists them with various measures, on a case-by-case basis depending on their specific circumstances, such as a waiver of the financial forfeiture and the one-year wait-out period after cancellation of their flat booking or allowing them to switch to a flat that is within their budget. About two-thirds of home buyers in such cases have taken up these measures.”
“Under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), flat owners are compensated for their existing flats based on the prevailing market values at the time of the SERS announcement. In addition, they receive payment for reasonable expenses, comprising a removal allowance of $10,000 per flat, and stamp and legal fees for the purchase of a replacement flat that is assumed to be equivalent in value to their SERS flat. Before the announcement of a SERS site, HDB reviews the entire benefits package holistically. In reviewing the removal allowance, we consider factors such as the cost of engaging movers, which is typically between $300 and $500 per truck load. To minimise the need for renovations, flat owners can opt in for fittings and fixtures to be installed in their new flat under the Optional Component Scheme (OCS). The cost of the OCS will be incorporated into the flat price, which can be paid via CPF monies and/or the housing loan, thus reducing the cash outlay needed for renovations. We continue to monitor the costs closely and will review the grant as and when needed. The Land Acquisition Act provides for SERS flat owners to appeal to an independent Appeals Board if they have concerns over the reasonableness of the compensation for their SERS flat and/or the payments for reasonable expenses.”