POV: My wife & I have 2 children & a 3rd on the way. We need more space, but our flat hasn't reached MOP

Singapore's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) dropped to a new low of 0.87 in 2025.

The issue quickly became a matter of priority to the government. In April this year, a new workgroup was launched in a bid to tackle the problem.

Workgroup chairperson Indranee Rajah called for a marriage and parenthood reset and said the crisis requires "all of society" to play a part, not just the government alone.

She pointed to a number of potential reasons for the low birth rates, including cities like Singapore having a faster and more intense pace of life.

But one Singaporean dad, 38, thinks it's not that couples don't want more children — it's just hard to find the room.

By Daryl Boey

I am a father of two toddlers, aged 11 and 28 months.

My wife and I are expecting our third baby this December.

We initially intended to have two children only. We purchased our four-room resale flat at Kallang/Whampoa in October 2022.

Back then, we did not have the means to buy a larger five-room flat.

Nor were we expecting to have our third child so soon, within the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP).

But given the government's recent introduction of enhanced parental benefits — increased leave, monetary support and so on — we became more open-minded about having a larger family.

Space crunch

Right now, we are facing a space crunch.

With our third child due in December 2026, the permanent head-count (including our domestic helper) will jump to six.

This hits the absolute maximum occupancy limit permitted by HDB for a four-room flat.

This doesn't even count the live-in confinement nanny (temporary) and potentially an additional live-in domestic helper we are considering hiring.

Between the equipment and space required for three young children, our current home will no longer be a conducive or safe environment for our children's development.

We are hence looking to move to a five-room flat in the vicinity to continue being near to my parents and the girls’ preschool.

Restricted by MOP

Because our MOP only ends in January 2028, we applied for a waiver.

We weren't asking for a handout—just the permission to sell our place at current market prices and to buy a bigger HDB resale flat with our own means.

But HDB rejected our appeal on May 19, 2026.

In its rejection, HDB questioned our proposal for a separate infant room, and dismissed my need for a work-from-home space as a mere "lifestyle choice".

This is despite the fact that I work from home three to four days a week.

HDB suggested that we could "surrender" our flat to HDB.

But this is financially impossible for us, as the standard HDB compensation framework doesn't reflect current resale market values or the loans we have already serviced.

As such, surrendering the unit would result in a severe financial loss.

Based on our financial situation, selling our flat on the open market is our only viable path to upgrading to a larger flat without sinking into severe debt.

Sought help of MPs

I eventually escalated the case to the the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Meet-the-People Session (MPS) and Minister Josephine Teo.

The Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng MPS team later responded, saying they would assist in processing the request and raise the case to HDB for official reconsideration.

But the second appeal was also rejected.

An existential crisis?

During a family day event which we attended, Minister Josephine Teo and the MPs of Jalan Besar GRC congratulated us and thanked us for “serving the nation” when we told them we were expecting baby number three.

But when families actually answer the call to have more children, the bureaucracy shuts the door on them.

Yes, it is true that thousands of families past and present have "made do" with smaller spaces.

But continuing to justify such a rigid and strict policy is looking backward.

Public policy is supposed to progress, not regress.

If our society relies on past (or present) hardships to justify current rigidities, it would defeat the purpose of evolving government support.

As a family, we have answered the call to have a larger family.

If a citizen's commitment to raising three children under immense spatial constraints does not qualify as an "exceptional circumstance", how can this country claim in good faith that it is doing everything possible to resolve the "existential crisis" of our persistently low TFR?

HDB's response

In response to Mothership's queries, a HDB spokesperson emphasised that HDB flats are meant for long-term owner occupation.

The MOP upholds this intent and ensures that flat buyers purchase HDB flats with the intent of living in the flat, while deterring the "speculative purchase of HDB flats".

"Flat buyers are informed of the MOP requirement at various stages of their flat purchase journey for both new and resale flats," the spokesperson said.

With regard to MOP waiver appeals, HDB assesses these on a case-to-case basis. Waivers have been granted for reasons such as financial hardship, divorce, or demise of a flat owner.

In Boey's case, HDB said it had "carefully considered their circumstances but are unable to accede to their request, to ensure fairness to other flat buyers".

While it had extended the option of allowing them to return their flat to HDB, they did not take up the offer, and continued to appeal for the MOP waiver, the spokesperson said.

Different housing needs

To cater to the housing needs of growing families, families with three or more children, or who are expecting a third child — like the Boeys — may apply for a flat under the Third Child Priority Scheme.

The scheme sets aside up to 10 per cent of BTO flats, and up to 10 per cent of Sale of Balance flats for eligible first and second-timer families.

"HDB recognises that families' housing needs may evolve over time," the board said.

"For larger families that fall slightly short of meeting the MOP, HDB is prepared to exercise flexibility and will assess each case on its individual merits.

We remain committed to supporting Singaporeans at different life stages, and will continue to review our housing policies and schemes to ensure they remain accessible and relevant."