HDB is allowing the public to apply for new flats in the May pre-buy HDB sales event from Tuesday (30). However, on the first day of opening, the authorities received feedback about the long waiting time in the platform's Virtual Waiting Room.
HDB said in a Facebook post the day before yesterday (31) afternoon that the system has been upgraded and improved since Tuesday, and now the waiting time has improved, ranging from 3 minutes to 20 minutes the morning before.
The authorities also explained that the longer waiting time in the virtual waiting room this time may be due to the fact that this round of sales campaign launched both pre-purchase HDB flats and remaining HDB flats, resulting in an increase in the number of applications, and that some of the more popular and established municipal projects were also launched this time, thus attracting applicants to log on to the website to browse HDB flats or check the relevant information.
In the post, the CDA also mentioned that buyers can submit their applications before June 5, as the sale will be open for one week and will be selected through a computerized lottery, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
The authorities also said that the long waiting time on the website may also be due to the fact that some applicants also applied for HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) during the sale. The authorities added that the HFE was actually opened on the 9th of this month to allow buyers enough time to develop their financial plans, most of which have been initially verified in the past three weeks.
"However, we are also aware that there are some people who have completed the initial verification but are still unable to apply for HDB flats, and for this group of applicants, we call on them to fill in the electronic feedback form to inform us and we will come to contact." HDB's electronic feedback form is hdb.gov.sg/efeedback.
HDB said they are doing their best to enable buyers to apply for HDB flats as the Notice of Eligibility to Purchase (NOEP) is being implemented for the first time and hope that buyers will understand and remain patient.