Introduction

With 35 years of public housing experience HDB has achieved an intimate knowledge of residents' needs and aspirations. This wealth of knowledge has enabled HDB to draw up a master plan that would yield a quality living environment for residents. The emphasis of public housing has now shifted from the provision of a roof to that of a quality living environment.

Renewal of Old Estates
Old estates will be renewed and given a new lease of life through Redevelopment and Upgrading.

Redevelopment
Today's flat applicants aspire for bigger flats, better finishes and surroundings. Under the redevelopment programme, old apartment blocks with one-room or two-room rental flats have to make way for new blocks with 4-room, 5-room and executive flats. These new flats are very popular with residents in the same area who have a sense of attachment with the community that they have been so comfortable with.

In Aug 1995, the government announced the "Selective Enbloc Redevelopment Scheme". Under this scheme, old HDB estates with low density, or selected blocks that can be redeveloped with adjacent vacant land will be replaced by more intensive housing development. The new flats will be offered to lessees of the existing flats, thus enabling them to move into new flats without leaving the community where they have been living for years.

Upgrading of old estates
In March 1992, HDB launched the 15-year Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) to bring the finishes and facilities of old estates up to the standard of those in the new towns. The Upgrading Programme is a conscious effort by the government to provide a better living environment, strengthen existing community ties and enhance the value of our flats. By mid 1995, 40 precincts are in various stages of the upgrading works.

In August 1993, the Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP) was started in order to bring the benefits of upgrading to more estates. While the MUP is meant for precincts 18 years or older and covers improvements to the flat, apartment block and the precinct, the IUP is for precincts between 10 to 17 years old and improvements are concentrated only on the apartment blocks and precinct. The IUP is fully funded by the government and carried out by town councils. By end 1994, IUP has covered 52 precincts.

Private Sector Participation
In 1991, public housing took a bold and innovative step. To inject more variety and choice in housing design, HDB started the "Design & Build" scheme. Companies in the private sector were invited to tender for the design and construction of public housing flats. With such design innovations being introduced, HDB flats have achieved a higher degree of architectural sophistication and also offered residents more choice in the variety of housing.

The government also invites open tenders from private developers through the sale of sites in HDB housing estates. Private housing within an HDB estate inject more variety and style to the entire housing landscape of the town.

Schemes that Help the Low-income Families
To ensure that the low-income group also benefits from the Home Ownership Programme, the government has established several policies to help them own HDB flats.

Sale of rental flat to existing tenant
To help a rental tenant own the flat he lives in, HDB offers the flat to him at a discount of 30% off the selling price or $10,000, whichever is lower. In addition, he is given a mortgage loan of up to 100% of the discounted price to help him finance the purchase.

Sale of 3-room flats purchased by HDB
To make sold flats more affordable to families earning less than $1000 a month, HDB buys back 3-room flats from the open market, and sells them to low-income families at subsidised prices.

Sale of 4-room budget flats
To help low-income families own a 4-room flat, HDB offers them the 4-room budget flat which is slightly smaller at 90 sq m, and comes with a price tag that is 15% to 18% lower.

Priority Allocation of 4-room and smaller flats to tenants
A rental flat tenant applying to buy an HDB flat for the first time enjoys a six-month headstart on the waiting list.