This data sees around 7,200 transfer applications due to divorce from 2015 to 2019, as received by the Housing and Development Board (HDB).
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) received around 7,200 transfer applications due to divorce from 2015 to 2019, revealed the Ministry of National Development (MND) in Parliament on Wednesday (14 October).
Of these, 70% or 5,100 of the flats were retained by the ex-wife.
“Following divorce, one party may retain the matrimonial flat via a transfer of flat ownership or resale of part-share, subject to meeting HDB’s eligibility conditions,” it said.
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It made the statement in response to MP Poh Li San, who asked for “the proportion of (i) the wife retaining the matrimonial flat (ii) the wife allocated a rental flat by HDB and (iii) the wife being unable to retain the matrimonial flat nor be allocated a rental flat” following a divorce.
The MND shared that around 580 resale of part-share applications were also received by HDB, of which 43%, or 250, were cases where the ex-wife acquired the ex-husband’s share and retained the flat.
“In addition, there were about 6,400 cases where the divorced couple sold the matrimonial flat on the open market and about 300 cases where the couple returned the flat to HDB as they have not met the minimum occupation period to sell the flat,” it said.
About 2,500 or 37% of these cases saw the ex-wife acquiring another new or resale flat or being listed as an occupier in the flat purchase.
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Moreover, about 1,600 rental flats were allocated to female divorcees with care and control of children over the last five years.
“There are also cases where the ex-wife may have moved back to stay with family, bought a private property to stay in, or rented a property to stay in. HDB does not track the specific numbers for these groups,” said MND.
It added that HDB will continue to assist all divorcees requesting for assistance on their housing needs.
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