Govt to consider lowering eligibility age for singles to buy HDB flats: Chee Hong Tat

The government is considering lowering the eligibility age at which singles can buy Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, said Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat.

Chee was speaking at the opening of the 11th Singapore Economic Review Conference on Jul. 28.

Policy under "careful review"

According to CNA, the minister said the policy is under "careful review".

"While the government will continue to encourage marriage and parenthood, and support families to achieve home ownership, we have progressively opened up public housing options to singles," he said.

The government has progressively expanded public housing options for singles over the years.

In the 2010s, singles could buy two-room Built-To-Order (BTO) flats directly from the government, but only in non-mature estates.

These estates included Choa Chu Kang, Jurong East and Woodlands.

In 2024, with the introduction of the new flat classification framework, the government expanded the scheme islandwide, allowing singles to apply for two-room Flexi flats across Singapore.

In 2025, the government also extended priority access under the Family Care Scheme to singles who apply for a new flat to live with or near their parents for mutual care and support.

Previously, such priority was available only to married children under the Married Child Priority Scheme.

The Senior Priority Scheme also sets aside flats for seniors who wish to live with or near their married child or parents.

Chee said the government is now looking at further supporting younger singles by reviewing the current eligibility age of 35.

"These examples reflect the government's pragmatic approach to policy making," he said. "Moving in tandem with changing times and keeping our policies relevant are essential in ensuring that the policies can deliver good outcomes for our people."