After watching the `Single Singaporeans Housing Challenge` episode on @zaobaosg YouTube, I would like to share some of the 2 cents opinion and open to discussion, and especially how Prof Ben thinks about the strategy of public housing policy for singles in Singapore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hsdwTfisJQ 1. First, there is an age restriction. A couple can apply for BTO at the age of 21, while single individuals have to wait until the age of 35. This creates a significant gap of 14 years. By the time a single buyer can own his/her first home, they will be 40 years old. And this age restriction does not just apply to BTO but also HDB in the resale market. The only way single individuals want to have their own place to stay will be to get a private property. Singles who has the ability to get a private property might still prefer to buy HDB (BTO or resale) given the lower cost of these flats, why do singles get discriminated against these days”benefits” for Singaporean when we are all equal tax payers. 2. Second, there is an income cap of $14,000 for both couples and $7000 for single buyer wanting to buy BTO. While it might look the same ($7000 per person) for both groups, the age restriction of 35 years old for single buyer has made it almost impossible for single buy to get a BTO. Reality is that it is always easier for young couples to be within the income cap in the earlier stage of their career as oppose to the single buyer who has already worked for >10years. 3. Third, government emphasises on the “needs” of married couples to have their own home for family planning. But many young couples today choose not to have children, or at least not to have children in their younger days, and yet they still have the citizenship right to purchase four or five-room BTO HDB flats, some times for investment purpose, and we know how young couples try to flip their first HDB BTO flat so that they can upgrade to a private property or rent our their BTO after MOP to gain passive income from it. This allows them to enhance their personal financial management, retirement planning, and overall quality of life earlier, while single individuals are denied this citizenship right. 4. Fourth, the married couple concerns in this video here is not even valid as there is generally no direct competition in purchasing different types of flats. Single individuals are only allowed to apply for two-room flats, while married couples can apply for flats ranging from two to five rooms. Married couples who have the need for family planning will not even target the 2-room flats in the first place. The reason why this couple has to bid for 6 times before getting their home is due to poor planning and how they insist on getting a place in the mature estate. The existing policies have already taken care of the housing needs of married couples or those planning to get married. On the contrary, single individuals are now considered an underprivileged group in the housing sector, with their needs not only being overlooked but also discriminated against citizenship rights. I think it would be reasonable to allow single individuals to purchase at least two or three-room flats across towns, granting them equal citizenship rights. I understand the need from the government to take care of those who need their own flat for family planning, it will make sense that if both groups (married and single) are first time buyers, the quota given to those with higher needs (married with kids) can be higher than that of single individuals or families without kids. Having lower chances of getting the flat is at least more acceptable than having no chances of getting your own flat. Society at all levels should have a more inclusive understanding of each other's needs and encourage coexistence. Singleness, single parenthood, and aging are societal trends that must be faced and addressed.
#11793: After watching the `Single Singaporeans Housing Challenge` episode...
#11793ask-prof-ben· 778d ago
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