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HDB Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS): Number of flats available to double by 2025
The bulk of the additional PPHS flats will come from about 2,000 vacated HDB flats at Tanglin Halt, HDB said.
SINGAPORE — The Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced on Monday (5 February) that it will double the number of flats available under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) from 2,000 flats currently to 4,000 flats by 2025.
The bulk of the additional PPHS units will come from about 2,000 vacated HDB flats at Tanglin Halt that were identified for the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), said HDB.
The PPHS, which started in 2013, provides an additional temporary housing option for households waiting for their new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats to be completed. The scheme allocates flats by prioritising married couples with at least one child aged 18 and below and includes expectant parents. According to HDB, more than 4,200 families have benefited from the PPHS since its inception.
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Since August 2021, HDB said that families in greater need of subsidised temporary housing have been prioritised through refinements made to the PPHS eligibility conditions and allocation process. The result was a lowering of PPHS application rates – from over 20 times in 2021 to 2.6 times in December 2023.
Interim flats to be spruced up before being rented out
The vacated HDB flats at Tanglin Halt, comprising some 2,000 flats across 17 blocks, will be spruced up before being put to interim use to meet PPHS demand. According to HDB, these blocks are among 31 blocks in the Tanglin Halt estate that were announced for redevelopment under SERS in 2014. The flats are slated to be demolished for redevelopment after serving their interim use to meet demand from PPHS families.
The blocks to be spruced up for interim use under PPHS comprise Blocks 55, 56, 58-60, 62 Commonwealth Drive, and Blocks 33-38 and 40-44 Tanglin Halt Road. The HDB said that the works to refurbish the flats include replacing fittings and fixtures such as water pipes, floor tiles, and sanitary wares, as well as electrical and painting works. Improvement works will also be carried out in common areas such as the lifts and outdoor areas.
HDB said that it is also working with stakeholders on the provision of amenities such as playgrounds and childcare centres, and residents will be served by the nearby Tanglin Halt market which includes eateries and shops. Upon completion, HDB said that the flats will be progressively let out for temporary housing under PPHS from the second half of 2025.
Applications made for interim rental housing under the PPHS will be considered on a case-by-case basis by HDB. It added that "lower-income households without any other housing options may contact HDB".
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