Elderly buyers aged 55 and above booked 56% or 14,153 units, while singles, who were allowed to acquire such units in non-mature estates, booked about 38% or 14,153 units.
More than half of new two-room Flexi flats have been booked by seniors since the introduction of such flats in 2015, reported Channel News Asia (CNA) citing the Housing and Development Board (HDB).
Measuring between 36 sq m and 46 sq m, these flats come with senior-friendly features, while providing elderly buyers with flexible lease lengths of between 15 and 45 years.
HDB revealed that it has launched around 34,700 two-room Flexi flats for sale as of 31 December 2020.
Based on completed selection exercises, 84% of 29,924 units offered have been booked.
Elderly buyers aged 55 and above booked 56% or 14,153 units, while singles, who were allowed to acquire such units in non-mature estates, booked about 38% or 14,153 units.
Families, on the other hand, accounted for around 6% or 1,607 of such units.
About 92% of elderly buyers opted for short-lease flats while the rest chose 99-year leases.
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The 40-year lease option emerged as the most popular with 4,046 units booked, followed by 35-year option at 3,526 units and 30-year at 2,291 units.
HDB revealed that 215 elderly buyers opted for the shortest lease of 15 years, with the oldest buyer aged 99 during flat application.
The Housing Board has progressively rolled-out two-room Flexi flats with a flexible space since February 2020.
“The 46 sq m flat layout allows for flexible use of space, such as a dining area, a study, or to place an extra bed,” it said as quoted by CNA.
Elderly buyers of such flats can choose the Optional Component package, which includes senior-friendly fittings such as a folding door.
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As of 31 December 2020, around 2,100 two-room Flexi flats with flexible space were offered by HDB.
Selections remain under way for last year’s August and November Build-to-Order (BTO) sales exercise. For last year’s February sales exercise, elderly applicants booked 70% of the 666 such units offered.
Of these, 278 availed of the Optional Component package.
Seniors purchasing two-room Flexi flats can also avail of the Silver Housing Bonus, which provides them up to $30,000 cash bonus when they sell their existing HDB flat and move into a three-room or smaller flat, while using the proceeds to top-up their CPF Retirement Account.
HDB said such bonus has benefitted 970 households as of 31 December 2020.
To provide seniors more options for housing, HDB launched a new type of public housing that comes with elderly friendly features as well as subscription to care services this February.
The 169 Community Care Apartments were oversubscribed with 706 applications received.
In the meantime, HDB said it will continue to launch more two-room Flexi flats islandwide.
“For the upcoming May and August 2021 sales exercises, flat buyers can look forward to two-room Flexi flats on offer in Geylang, Hougang, Jurong East, Tampines, Tengah and Woodlands,” said HDB.
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