High Quality of Life: Housing a Nation

Singapore’s housing policy is one of its building blocks of liveability. After the Second World War, many lived in overcrowded, dilapidated slums and squatter settlements with poor sanitation. One of the densest areas had almost 83 people living together in a single shophouse. Singapore’s public housing programme was thus quickly launched to resettle people into HDB units. The HDB had its first five-year building programme spanning 1960–1965, helping to break the backbone of Singapore’s housing problem. Fast forward to present day, it has a one-of-a-kind system which provides public housing for 80% of its residents, 90% of whom own their home. While providing citizens with good homes, the high ownership rate also encourages people to have a stake in the country.

Over the years, the HDB has improved its housing offerings in response to growing standards of living and aspirations. This includes flats with a range of layouts and sizes as well as some that are designed with smart and sustainable features. Various schemes and flat types have also been introduced to address the gap in senior housing options. For example, assisted living public housing flats were announced in 2020 for elders that wish to live independently. Named Community Care Apartments, these flats are incorporated with senior-friendly fittings like grab bars and slip-resistant flooring. In addition, residents can enjoy recreational programmes held within their block and tap on customisable care services such as housekeeping or medical transport.

The first Community Care Apartments were launched as a pilot in Bukit Batok in 2021 (Housing and Development Board)

On a larger scale, the HDB aims to develop pleasant residential environments. Proper estate management plays a critical role in keeping Singapore’s living areas clean and well-maintained, which in turn cultivates pride and a sense of ownership by residents. Since the 1980s, the maintenance of common properties in HDB towns were progressively decentralised to Town Councils or autonomous legal entities to oversee. In 2014, the Municipal Services Office (MSO) was set up as a division in the Ministry of National Development to supplement the estate management ecosystem by coordinating multi-stakeholder efforts to tackle municipal issues—many of which straddle the domains of different government agencies (click here for a box story on the MSO).

Singapore's housing estates and towns are self-sufficient with amenities like markets, hawker centres, libraries and transport hubs within walkable distances. Going forward, the HDB will continue to tailor its provision of housing according to changing lifestyle preferences by taking a long-term approach to land use planning and stewarding Singapore’s land carefully.

Rising costs of living have been a perennial challenge for many global cities including Singapore. Public housing has been kept affordable for residents because it is sold by the government at highly subsidised prices or with housing grants when purchased on the open resale market—such as the Proximity Housing Grant which is available to eligible flat buyers who will live near their parents or children. For lower-income households, the Public Rental Scheme is in place as a social safety net. This allows flats to be rented at further subsidised rates and is paired with efforts to facilitate a transition towards home ownership. These moves also help to integrate lower-income families in public housing neighbourhoods, and promote social mixing.

From the second half of 2024, Singapore adopted a new national housing framework where new housing projects will be re-classified as Standard, Plus, and Prime flats. This new classification reflects Singapore’s collective ideals to keep homeownership affordable, maintain a good social mix across different parts of the island, and keep the system of allocating subsidies and support fair in attractive and central locations. Enhanced grants are also provided to support first-timer families and singles in purchasing a home.

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