Over 3,700 public flats launched in first HDB launch exercise of the year

SINGAPORE — The year’s first Build-to-Order (BTO) and Re-Offer of Balance Flats (ROF) exercise kicked off on Tuesday (Feb 12) with the Housing and Development Board (HDB) launching 3,739 flats for sale.

The HDB said 3,162 BTO units and 577 ROF units are available across various estates.

The next BTO launch will take place in May, where about 3,400 flats in Kallang Whampoa, Tengah and Woodlands will be put up for sale. A Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise will be held concurrently.

BTO EXERCISE

The BTO exercise is the first tranche of 15,000 BTO flats to be launched this year.

The 3,162 BTO flats on offer are spread across five projects:

• Three in the non-mature towns of Jurong West and Sengkang, and

• Two in the mature town of Kallang Whampoa.

First-timer families will get priority in flat allocation.

Married or courting couples who wish to live together with their parents may apply for a 3Gen flat, while those who wish to live near their parents or married children may submit a joint application under the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme.

ROF EXERCISE

The HDB is offering 577 unselected flats from May 2018’s SBF exercise across various estates including Punggol, Woodlands, Ang Mo Kio and Hougang. They comprise:

• 173 two-room Flexi units,

• 166 three-room units,

• 129 four-room units,

• 10 five-room units,

• 96 3Gen units, and

• Three units of executive flats

The HDB will set aside at least 95 per cent of the supply for first-timer families and up to 5 per cent for second-timer families.

The elderly may apply if they meet the eligibility conditions to buy a two-room Flexi, said HDB. Families will get priority for flat selection.

About 13 per cent of these ROF flats have been built, while the rest are under construction.

“Eligible families with more urgent housing needs and/or who are less particular about location and attributes may wish to apply,” said HDB.

Under ROF, buyers will be able to select their flats more quickly, and from a bigger pool of balance flats across different types and locations.

APPLY ON HDB INFOWEB

Applications for the new flats in the February BTO and ROF exercise can be submitted online on the HDB InfoWEB from Tuesday to next Monday.

Applicants may apply under either the BTO or ROF exercise, but not both.

• To apply for a BTO flat, they must select only one flat type in one town, said HDB.

• To apply for a ROF flat, they do not have to indicate a preferred flat type and town. Instead, eligible invited applicants may select a flat from the whole range of available units.

To take up an HDB housing loan for their flat purchase, applicants need to produce a valid HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) Letter when they book a flat, except for young couples who are eligible for deferment of income assessment.

Applicants can check their loan eligibility and apply for a HLE letter on the HDB website.