When Mr Titus Su and his wife Jess moved into their two-room rental flat in Jalan Bukit Merah two years ago, their elderly neighbours were surprised.

Understandably so, since the couple, who were aged 27 and 25 then, are among the youngest people in the estate, which has mostly elderly and needy residents.

'They asked us why we moved here and we explained to them that this was a temporary measure,' said Mr Su.

The couple got married in 2003 and were initially living with his parents in a four-room Clementi flat.

But after a misunderstanding with his parents, they decided to move out.

At that time, they wanted to buy a three-room flat but could not find a suitable unit.

As their household income was under the $1,500 ceiling - Mr Su is a sales executive and Mrs Su was a housewife then - the couple applied for a rental flat. They were allocated a unit three months later.

The couple, who pay $75 in monthly rent, are happy where they are. Friends who drop in said the location is good and the flat is 'just nice for two people'.

Mr Su knows of a few young couples living in their estate too. One couple moved out after having children.

Now that the Sus have a son, Xavier, who will be turning two soon, they are planning to move out too.

A few months ago, they bought a three-room flat in Telok Blangah which will be ready in five years.

Mrs Su, meanwhile, recently took up a job as an administrative assistant.

She said: 'It's better to have a proper flat. After all, we don't own a rental flat.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on August 31, 2008.