The Ministry of National Development also indicated in its written response to the legislator's query that between 65% and 83% of the HDB resale buyers are local citizens, and this percentage is increasing year by year, while the rest of the applicants have at least one family member who is a permanent resident.

The data also shows that the number of permanent residents buying resale HDB flats dropped from 27% in 2011 to 7% last year. This may be due to the government's policy implemented in 2013, which stipulates that buyers can only buy resale HDB flats after three years of obtaining permanent resident status.

The authorities also pointed out that about 6,500 elderly people aged 55 or above applied to HDB for two-room flexible flats this year, of which about 30% could not successfully apply for HDB flats.

These elderly people applied through the pre-purchase of HDB flats and the sale of remaining HDB flats, and about 80% of them had received at least one home purchase allowance.

In addition, the majority of those who were unable to apply for two-bedroom flexible flats applied for surplus HDB flats. Since the demand for such flats is high but the supply is limited, the authorities encourage the elderly to consider applying for pre-purchase HDB projects, which have a lower application rate, to increase their chances of success.

For rental HDB flats, about 6% of rental HDB households faced a rent increase when renewing their tenancies last year, compared to 15% from 2016 to 2020.

Between 2017 and 2021, 85 percent of households facing rent increases will see their rent increase by $200 or less.

In total, 7,500 rental HDB households will end up owning their own home between 2012 and 2021.