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Buyers can soon book unsold HDB flats at any time: Lawrence Wong
Homebuyers who want to buy unsold flats from the Housing and Development Board (HDB) will soon be able to book them at any time.
Currently, they have to wait for the Re-Offer of Balance Flats (ROF) exercise – held twice a year – to book such flats.
The new booking option was announced on Thursday (7 February) by Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong on the ministry’s Housing Matters blog. It will start in the middle of the year with the first batch of about 120 flats.
“Flat buyers can apply online anytime on a first-come, first-served basis, and book a flat by the next working day. This will effectively reduce their waiting time to book a flat to just one day,” Wong said in his blog post.
The ROF exercise, where all unsold HDB flats from Build-To-Order or Sale of Balance Flats exercises are offered in a common pool, was introduced in 2017. Under this exercise, applicants need not indicate the flat type and location when applying, and can book any available units according to their eligibility.
The exercise has benefitted homebuyers who may be less particular about requirements such as location, or those with urgent housing needs.
“The ROF exercises have been popular, with about 2,500 households booking a flat since they were first launched,” Wong wrote in his post. “Nearly two-thirds of these households have already collected the keys to their flats.
“With the increased range of options available, I hope that it will be easier and more convenient for potential homebuyers to find a flat that meets their different needs, preferences, and budget.”
The minister estimates about 20,000 Singapore households buy HDB flats every year.
