Action has been taken against 53 owners, 21 of whom have had their HDB flats forcibly recovered.

Responding to a parliamentary query, National Development Minister Lee Chee Seng said 258 pre-purchased HDB flats and 168 resale HDB flats were returned to the HDB between 2017 and 2022 for failing to meet the minimum residence period, mostly because the owners' life circumstances had changed and they were no longer eligible to own a HDB flat.

In terms of regular inspections, the HDB conducts 500 random inspections every month to detect breaches of HDB regulations, such as unauthorised rentals and owners not living in their HDB flats, said Lee Chi Sing.

Since 2017, HDB has inspected about 35,000 homes.

Mr Lee also pointed out that estate agents have a responsibility to ensure that homeowners comply with HDB's regulations.

Since 2017, the Estate Agents Council has investigated 51 cases in which 69 brokers were suspected of helping their clients market HDB flats with less than the minimum residence period.

Investigations were completed in 32 cases and 18 offending agents were disciplined.