Expand HDB choices for seniors: Offer new dual-key homes and short-lease 3-room flats

[SINGAPORE] In Singapore, a sure sign that a dating couple is serious about tying the knot is when the partners discuss whether to apply for a new Housing & Development Board (HDB) flat together. 

Many young local couples start their homeownership journey by purchasing a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat from HDB. BTO flats, which typically come with 99-year leases, are sold at subsidised prices. Grants are available to eligible buyers who meet certain conditions. 

Over time, HDB has become synonymous with providing young families high-quality and affordable housing. In the recent BTO exercise, applicants could apply for flats in various locations islandwide, including prime areas such as Mount Pleasant and Berlayar estate in the Greater Southern Waterfront.

As Singapore’s population ages, expect HDB to be increasingly associated not just with serving young first-time homebuyers but also meeting the needs of seniors.

Currently, subject to meeting various conditions, a couple aged 55 years and above can buy an HDB short-lease two-room flexi flat. Such flats, which have one bedroom each, come with leases from 15 to 45 years. Couples must choose a lease term that lasts them until at least age 95.

In the October BTO exercise, two-room flexi flats were offered across Standard, Plus and Prime projects. These units had floor areas ranging from about 409 to 527 square feet (sq ft).

Eligible couples comprising partners who are at least 65 years old can buy community care apartments (CCAs) with leases from 15 to 35 years. Couples must choose a lease term that lasts them until at least age 95.

CCAs integrate senior-friendly housing with care services that can be scaled according to care needs and social activities to support seniors in ageing independently within the community. These flats have one bedroom each, an open layout and senior-friendly design features.

In the October BTO exercise, 207 CCAs, with floor areas of 420 sq ft each, were offered at Fernvale Plains in Sengkang. The indicative price range, excluding grants, was S$88,000 to S$113,000 based on a 30-year lease.

Between end-June 2015 and end-June 2025, the number of Singaporeans aged 65 years and over grew 71.5 per cent, outpacing the growth in the citizen population of 8.5 per cent. 

As at end-June 2025, 757,160 Singapore citizens were aged 65 years and over, accounting for about 20.7 per cent of the citizen population. 

By 2030, around one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 or above, compared with one in 10 in 2010. 

Given a rapidly ageing population, meeting the housing needs of seniors is critical. I offer three suggestions to achieve that.

Short-lease three-room flats

One, give eligible couples aged 55 and above the option to buy a new short-lease three-room flat from HDB. A typical new HDB three-room flat is sized at over 700 sq ft and has two bedrooms as well as two bathrooms.

With a short-lease three-room flat, seniors can enjoy cost savings from buying a new home on a relatively short lease while getting more space versus a two-room flexi flat. 

The extra bedroom could house grandchildren who visit occasionally or an adult child who stays over temporarily to help care for a parent recuperating from a major illness. 

Also, seniors may need a three-room unit’s extra space to pursue a hobby or entertain family and friends. 

HDB dual-key flats

Two, build new dual-key HDB homes that eligible locals who are aged 55 and above can purchase. 

Sure, an interior designer can possibly help transform some HDB flats into dual-key units. Still, might demand from some buyers for dual-key HDB flats be better met by building such homes from the outset?

Generally, a dual-key flat is designed with two self-contained living spaces, each with its own entrance, kitchen and living area, but sharing a common main entrance. 

An elderly couple owning a dual-key HDB flat can easily and safely rent out part of their home to earn recurring income to help finance their retirement needs. 

Furthermore, an elderly couple living with a grown-up child in a dual-key unit can enjoy the benefits of living together while maintaining adequate privacy.

Private owners buying HDB homes

Three, let local seniors aged 65 years and over who own one private home here buy HDB resale flats without any grant while retaining ownership of the private property, provided the said seniors stay in the HDB units. 

Currently, post the minimum occupation period for the HDB flat, an HDB homeowner can buy a private home without needing to sell the HDB unit, whereas a private homeowner wanting to buy an HDB home must sell the private home.

An elderly couple living in a private home may desire to stay in an HDB flat to enjoy the convenience of living in an HDB town with many amenities and good transport connectivity as well as lower recurring costs, while retaining ownership of their private unit to generate passive income and bequeath to loved ones. 

In perspective, allowing seniors to buy an HDB resale home for owner-occupation and keep a private home to rent out trumps having seniors living abroad while retaining a private home here for leasing out. After all, seniors residing here contribute to domestic consumption.

The population of seniors is growing rapidly and they have diverse housing needs. Some will prefer to stay in their existing private or HDB home for the rest of their lives. Others may seek to monetise their existing home and move to a more affordably priced one to free up funds for retirement needs.

Housing policies play a vital role in supporting a rapidly ageing population here. 

Let’s adopt policies that help seniors achieve financial adequacy in their retirement years and enjoy a high quality of life. Ultimately, Singapore should aspire to lead in meeting the needs of an ageing population.

Give Singapore’s growing cohort of seniors more good housing options in their golden years.