Govt considers allowing couples to co-rent larger flats

The Ministry of National Development (MND) is looking at allowing some couples to co-rent larger HDB flats under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS).

This was revealed recently by National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan in Parliament, in response to a query about the scheme's take up rate and rental formula.

Media reports stated that when it was launched in January 2013, the scheme was exclusively for married couples with children applying as first-timers in need of interim housing while waiting for the completion of their new flats.

The scheme was extended in September to widowed and divorced parents as well as to couples where one spouse is a first-time applicant while the other is a second-timer.

Although the number of applicants peaked at 409 in September, it has since dropped to 81.

To date, more than 900 of the 1,150 flats have been occupied and the remaining 250 units consist of four- and five-rooms.

"Currently, three-room PPHS flats are most in demand because PPHS applicants tend to be small families and a smaller flat is sufficient to meet their needs," said an MND spokesman.

In his response, Mr Khaw also noted that rents under the scheme are 40 to 60 percent lower than market rents within the area.

Moreover, the cost of providing flats includes the cost of retrofitting the units before they are let out as well as the units' management and maintenance fees, he said.

Muneerah Bee, Senior Journalist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email muneerah@propertyguru.com.sg

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