According to property websites 99.co and SRX, flat rents in Singapore soared 34.4 per cent year-on-year last year, while HDB rents jumped 28.5 per cent.

Some expatriates interviewed by Today revealed that they had moved from flats to HDB flats at lower rents because they could not afford the high rents. Other expatriates also said they were considering doing so.

Real estate agents and market analysts interviewed noted that while there is an increasing trend of expatriates moving from flats to HDB flats or intending to do so, the number is small and is not expected to have a significant impact on the HDB rental market.