Rents fall for 1100 HDB tenants, rise for 5100

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Rents have declined for 1,100 rental flat tenants, while another 5,100 have had their fees increased, revealed National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday.

He was responding to a question raised in Parliament by Dr Lily Neo (MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC), who wanted to know how the HDB has adjusted its rents over the last two years and how many people have been affected. 

The HDB tightened the eligibility criteria for its heavily subsidised rental flats in 2009. Aside from the tenant's income, assets such as savings and car ownership were also taken into consideration. 

Meanwhile, Sengkang West MP Lam Pin Min pointed out that Singaporeans’ median household income rose to S$5,000 last year. He noted that it was perhaps time to review the S$1,500 income ceiling for HDB rental flats. 

However, Mr Khaw clarified that despite the increase in median household income, the existing income ceiling for HDB rental flats would not be raised, as it currently covers the bottom 20 percent of households. 

“It is fair that if you are earning more, your subsidy will be less than those earning less,” Mr Khaw added.  

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