The Government is exploring ways to better support first-time buyers who want to buy resale HDB flats.

During the parliamentary debate on the motion entitled "Affordable and Accessible Public Housing", National Development Minister Lee Chee Sing also said that the authorities are also looking at ways to reduce the rate of returned applications for pre-purchase HDB flats, to ensure that those in urgent need of housing are given priority and to better allocate HDB flats to first-time buyers, especially those getting married and families with children. The Government will also improve the allocation of HDB flats to first-time buyers, especially those who are getting married and families with children.

To enhance the affordability and accessibility of government HDB flats, the government plans to release 2,000 to 3,000 shorter waiting time HDB flats each year from 2024 onwards, and will adjust the production programme to release a greater proportion of shorter waiting time HDB flats afterwards, said Minister for National Development Lee Chee Sing.

The Minister also revealed that the Government is considering ways to better support first-time buyers who want to buy resale HDB flats.

Minister for National Development Lee Chee Siong tabled a ministerial motion in Parliament, asking that Parliament recognise the importance of ensuring that public housing is affordable and accessible to all, while protecting the interests of this and the next generation of citizens.

Lee said that in order to reduce the waiting time for HDB flats, the government would be adjusting its housing programme to include a greater proportion of HDB flats with a waiting time of less than three years.

In the next two years, more than 8,000 HDB flats with a shorter waiting time will be completed.

The Minister said the Government was also exploring ways to better allocate HDB flats to first-time buyers, especially families getting married and those with children, and to reduce the rate of returned applications for pre-purchase HDB flats to ensure that those in urgent need of housing are given priority," he said.

At the same time, we are also considering how we can better support first-time buyers who want to buy a resale HDB flat," he said. We will announce these new measures in due course."

The Minister noted that the Government is also considering ways to reduce the location differential to ensure that more buyers can afford HDB flats while avoiding over-profiting by successful applicants for HDB flats in established HDB areas.

He said, "In listening to and discussing different views and policies, we must be honest about all the challenges, face up to the trade-offs and try to strike a balance between meeting the needs of current and future generations."