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THE HDB has addressed some recent media reports and readers' letters concerning first-time home buyers complaining that they could not get a flat despite repeated attempts.
CASE 1: Married, but no place of their own
The Sunday Times reported on Sept 20 that Mr Jayce Ng and Madam Jacelyn Yong had applied at least eight times, five for build-to-order (BTO) projects and half-yearly sales.
They claimed they were successful in only one application - for a five-room flat in Clementi two years ago and regretted not buying then.
HDB's response:
The couple submitted 15 applications, out of which only four were for BTO projects, where couples have to wait typically three to four years.
Their other applications were for limited flats in mature estates. Records show they were offered a chance to select a flat seven times but did not do so.
The couple's response:
Mr Ng said he does not remember being offered as many as seven times.
In some cases, he said he chose not to select a flat because the ones left over were on the second floor.
CASE 2: 18 failed attempts to get an HDB flat
Home buyer Soh Say Kiat wrote to The Sunday Times Forum Page on Sept27 saying that he and his wife married in 2001, but had yet to hold their customary wedding.
They said 'we have been unsuccessful in our numerous attempts - around 18 times since 2001 - to get an HDB flat' which they put down to 'rotten luck'.
HDB's response:
Records from 2002 showed the couple made 12 applications.
Out of these, only two were for BTO projects, the rest were for popular flats in mature estates.
The HDB says the couple was offered a chance to select flats three times but they did not take it up.
It pointed out that Mr Soh was offered a BTO flat in Sengkang in 2003. If he had accepted, he would have got his flat in 2006.
The couple's response:
Mr Soh said he could not remember all three offers, but recalled that he gave up one offer because the flats were on the second floor.
He admitted they were picky about location when they started applying for homes, but say they will try for BTO flats on offer now.
CASE 3
A home buyer sent an e-mail to the Prime Minister's Office on Sept 21 saying: 'I have been married since 2007, and to date, unable to secure a HDB flat after numerous balloting exercise at least 10 times over the years.
'This has greatly affected first-timer applicants especially like myself where I could not live a normal life.'
HDB's response:
The couple applied eight times, not 10, and only one application was for a BTO flat, where there is a much higher chance of success.
They had four chances to select a flat but did not do so, including an option to take up a BTO flat in 2005, which would have been completed last year.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
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