MORE HOUSING CHOICES FOR SINGLES

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PRESS RELEASE

more housing choices for singles

From 15 September 2004, single citizens can buy any type of resale HDB flats on their own under the Single Singapore Citizen (SSC) Scheme.

Revised Single Singapore Citizen Scheme

2 Currently, under the SSC scheme, a single citizen aged 35 and above can buy a 3-room or smaller resale HDB flat alone. To provide singles with more housing choices and to meet their aspirations of owning bigger homes, the Government will lift the flat type restriction and allow singles to buy any type of resale HDB flat from the open market on their own.

3 The eligibility criteria for the singles housing grant and HDB concessionary loan under the SSC scheme will be refined to maintain parity of treatment for enjoyment of housing and mortgage subsidies between singles and families. The income ceiling to qualify for the singles grant and concessionary loan will be revised from $8,000 to $3,000 per month. The singles grant and concessionary loan will also be extended to singles buying 5-room or smaller resale flats.

Other Policy Refinements

4 In line with the revised SSC scheme, the rehousing benefits for single lessees whose flats are affected by SERS will be revised. Single SERS lessees will now be offered a 3-room replacement flat or up to the equivalent of their existing flat type. They will enjoy a 20% price discount on the subsidised selling price of the replacement flat up to a maximum of $11,000, if they buy up to the equivalent of their existing flat type and not bigger than a 5-room flat.

5 The resale levy on the sale of flats bought with a singles housing grant under the SSC scheme will be reduced to half of the prevailing levy rates of the respective flat type.

6 The revised housing policies for singles under the SSC scheme and the implementation dates are at Annexes A and B respectively.

Public Enquiries

7 For enquiries, the public can visit the HDB Infoweb at www.hdb.gov.sg or contact HDB through the following channels:

(a) Resale/Sales Enquiry Line : 1800 8663 066

(b) SERS Enquiry Line : 1800 8663 070

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Issued by : Ministry of National Development

Date : 31 August 2004

ANNEX A

REVISED HOUSING POLICIES FOR SINGLES

Single Singapore Citizen (SSC) Scheme
Current Policy	Revised Policy
Singles can buy only 3-room or smaller resale HDB flats	Singles can buy any type of resale flat
Eligible first-timer singles with income not exceeding $8,000 per month and buying up to a 3-room resale flat can apply for the singles housing grant and HDB concessionary loan	Eligible first-timer singles with monthly income not exceeding $3,000 and buying up to a 5-room resale flat can apply for the singles housing grant and HDB concessionary loan
Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) Rehousing Benefits
Current Policy	Revised Policy
Single lessees are offered a 3-room replacement flat, with a 20% price discount up to a maximum of $11,000	Single lessees are offered a 3-room replacement flat or up to their equivalent flat type, with a 20% price discount up to a maximum of $11,000 if they buy up to a 5-room replacement flat.
Resale Levy
Current Policy	Revised Policy
Single lessees who sell their flat bought with a singles housing grant under the SSC scheme are liable to pay 100% of the prevailing resale levy rates	Single lessees who sell their flat bought with a singles housing grant under the SSC scheme are liable to pay 50% of the prevailing resale levy rates

ANNEX B

IMPLEMENTATION DATES

Revised SSC Scheme

Type of transaction	Date of Exercise of Option to Purchase	Date of Resale Application/Receipt of Request to Transfer Flat	Policy Applicable
Buy resale flat	Before 15 Sep 04	On or before 15 Oct 04	Existing SSC Scheme
	Before 15 Sep 04	After 15 Oct 04	Revised SSC Scheme
	On or after 15 Sep 04	On or after 15 Sep 04	Revised SSC Scheme

Take over flat ownership by transfer	NA	Before 15 Sep 04	Existing SSC Scheme
Take over flat ownership by transfer	NA	On or after 15 Sep 04	Revised SSC Scheme

SERS REHOUSING BENEFITS FOR SINGLES

Type of transaction	Date of Announcement of SERS Site	Policy Applicable
SERS rehousing benefits for single lessees	Before 15 Sep 04	Existing rehousing benefits
	On or after 15 Sep 04	Revised rehousing benefits
	On or after 15 Sep 04	Revised rehousing benefits

Resale levy

Type of transaction	Date of Resale Application/Receipt of Request to Transfer Flat	Policy Applicable
Resale of flat or Transfer of flat ownership	Before 15 Sep 04	Existing resale levy
	On or after 15 Sep 04	Revised resale levy
	On or after 15 Sep 04	Revised resale levy