The Singapore government is reviewing two key public housing policies — the eligibility age for singles to buy Build-to-Order (BTO) flats and the income ceiling for applicants — with changes to be introduced at an “appropriate time”, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat.

Speaking on the need to balance supply with policy adjustments, Mr Chee noted that demand for homes remains strong, particularly among younger Singaporeans keen to own property earlier in life.

Housing Supply Boost After Pandemic Delays

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has stepped up efforts to increase housing supply after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. All previously delayed projects have since been completed.

Between 2021 and 2025, the government had committed to launch 100,000 new flats. That target has already been surpassed, with about 102,300 units rolled out.

Looking ahead, Mr Chee said the government will focus on “building more and building faster.” Around 55,000 BTO flats will be launched from 2025 to 2027 — 10 per cent more than the earlier target of 50,000.

These will be spread across new estates such as Mount Pleasant, Woodlands North Coast, Sembawang North, and the former Keppel Club site.

To further ease waiting times, about 4,500 new BTO flats with completion periods of less than three years will be launched this year, up from an earlier plan of 3,800. From 2026, HDB will offer around 4,000 such flats annually, exceeding earlier commitments of 2,000 to 3,000 per year.

Private Housing Supply to Remain Steady

The government also plans to sustain private housing supply. More than 25,000 units will be launched between 2025 and 2027 through the Government Land Sales programme. Together with 45,000 units already in the pipeline, over 70,000 new private homes are expected to be completed by around 2030.

Policy Shifts for Singles and Higher-Income Families

Currently, singles can only buy BTO or resale flats from age 35, while BTO applications are capped at a household income ceiling of S$14,000.

The government is studying whether to lower the age threshold for singles and raise the income ceiling, so that more families and individuals can qualify for new flats.

“To what extent we can make adjustments to these two (policies) will depend on what is the supply that we can introduce in the next few years,” Mr Chee said.

He stressed that lowering the singles’ age limit or raising the income ceiling could increase demand, so supply must first be sufficient to support such moves.

Stabilising the Resale Market

On the resale market, Mr Chee acknowledged concerns over rising prices in recent years. Since late 2021, the government has introduced four rounds of cooling measures, including the most recent in August 2024, which tightened HDB loan limits to curb demand.

The minister said the government’s aim was for resale prices to grow in line with household incomes, without excessive volatility. Recent data shows some moderation, with HDB’s resale price index registering its slowest quarterly growth in five years.

Looking ahead, more BTO flats will hit the resale market as they reach their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). About 13,500 flats will become eligible for resale in 2026, up from 8,000 this year, with the number rising further to 15,000 in 2027 and 19,500 in 2028.

This, along with increased BTO supply, is expected to ease pressure on resale prices.

Phasing Out the 15-Month Wait-Out Period

One policy that could be reviewed soon is the 15-month wait-out period for private property owners before they can purchase a non-subsidised resale flat. Introduced in September 2022 to cool the market, the measure was described as temporary.

“Once the market prices stabilise in the resale market, I think it (will be) timely for us to then consider removing this temporary cooling measure,” Mr Chee said.