Leong Mun Wai says PSP push ‘paid off' as Chee Hong Tat announces review of BTO age limit for singles
Leong's comments came a day after National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat, in his first in-depth media interview since taking office in May, revealed that the government is studying potential changes to two public housing policies.
Chee said the review covers the age at which singles can apply for BTO flats — currently 35 years — and the income ceiling for BTO applicants, presently set at S$14,000 for families.
He added that any adjustments would be made 'at an appropriate time' and would depend on whether housing supply could meet potential increases in demand.
According to Chee, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has already recovered from COVID-19 construction delays and surpassed its earlier target of 100,000 new flats from 2021 to 2025, launching 102,300 units in that period.
To meet strong demand, the government will launch around 55,000 BTO flats between 2025 and 2027, a 10 per cent increase from the earlier projection of 50,000 units over three years.
Chee cautions that lowering singles' age limit could drive surge in housing demand
Chee said lowering the singles' age limit or raising the income ceiling would make more people eligible for public housing, inevitably increasing demand.
'It's important for us to create the right conditions to be able to make these policy moves at the appropriate time,' he noted.
In his Facebook post, Leong said that he and fellow former NCMP Hazel Poa have repeatedly called in Parliament for singles to be allowed to buy BTO flats from the age of 28, with eligibility for three-room units.
These proposals, he said, were central to the PSP's General Election manifesto, aimed at promoting fairness for younger Singaporeans seeking independence.
Leong urged the government to implement the change promptly, describing it as 'a significant step forward'.
Currently, single citizens aged 35 and older can only apply for 2-room Flexi BTO flats, though they may receive up to S$60,000 in Enhanced CPF Housing Grant. Alternatively, they may buy resale flats from the open market.
Leong urges quick release of VERS details
Leong also welcomed Chee's announcement that the government will work out details of the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS) within the current term, saying this has been another long-standing PSP concern.
He warned that the absence of a clear plan for lease expiry disadvantages low-income homeowners and pressed for quick release of VERS details to provide certainty and compensation.
Chee explained that VERS, unlike the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), will be voluntary and offered to precincts when flats reach about 70 years old.
Residents will vote on whether to proceed, similar to the Home Improvement Programme (HIP).
Compensation terms are likely to be less generous than SERS because the flats will be older.
VERS was first announced in 2018 by then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, with the aim of redeveloping older HDB towns over 20–30 years.
Chee reiterated this week that the scheme would be staged progressively to avoid mass relocation in the 2070s and 2080s when many 99-year leases would otherwise expire.
The government aims to identify pilot VERS sites before September 2030, with implementation likely from the first half of the next decade.
Chee confirmed there are currently no plans for new SERS projects, with resources focused on VERS. The last SERS project was in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, announced in April 2022.
Supporting residents outside VERS
Chee said residents who choose not to take up VERS will still be able to remain in their flats until leases expire.
They will be supported by programmes such as the Silver Upgrading Programme and HIP II, which offers all flats a second upgrade at 60–70 years of age.
HIP II will include more extensive works than the original programme, with corrosion-resistant repairs for spalling concrete and microwave scanning to detect hidden damage or water seepage.
These technologies have been tested in complex cases and are intended to make flats durable until the end of their leases.
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