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HDB flat size analysis

HDB flats size 1960-2010 analysis: are the flats shrinking?

Ministry of National Development, Khaw Boon Wan, said in 2012 that HDB flats have been the same size for last 15 years and are not shrinking. This article has been copied on numerous blogs.

As you can see in the following chat, the 4-room flats leased in 2000 were 90 sqm and 4-room flats launched in 2012 (TOP 2016) are the same 90 sqm, so he is not lying, instead he is masking the shrinking that occurred 15-20 years ago, also he does not take in consideration that the 4-room flat was the smallest flat type in 2000, while today it is the average flat type.

City View @ Boon Keng

List of DBSS projects

Design, Build and Sell Scheme was introduced in 2005, giving private developers freedom to build and sell public housing in the way they sell condos. Since private developers are hungry for profit, DBSS flats have smaller rooms and abnormal high prices compared with BTO flats despite of same income ceiling ($8.000 per month, $10.000 per month after 2011). DBSS land sales were suspended in 2011.

List of SBF launches

Sale of Balance Flats, comprising unsold leftover flats from past BTO launches, surplus flats from SERS projects, old repurchased flats (including flats from some divorced or fiance couples), are done “when HDB accumulate sufficient flats“, usually twice per year, but this is NOT A RULE. Since 2010 the SBF exercise is done same day with a BTO launch.

Kim Keat Avenue

List of SERS sites

Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme was introduced in 1995. 71 sites were selected by 2007 and another 11 sites in 2008-2012. This page shows list of SERS sites and (personal prediction) future SERS sites. On 19 August 2018 HDB announced that only 5% of total sold flats are eligible for SERS, of which 4% have been selected already. For all other flats there will be VERS (Voluntary En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme) that will start in ~20 years (probably in 2036 when first leases reach 70 years old).

Braddell View

List of HUDC estates

Officially there are 18 HUDC estates, but actually Housing and Urban Development Company built 22 estates for middle-income people, including 3 not managed as public housing and one demolished in 1990s. HDB took over JTC and HUDC in 1982. Phase III and IV are HUDC flats built by HDB, last HUDC was completed in 1987. HUDC was replaced by Executive HBD flats built since 1984.

executive condominium

List of Executive Condos

Executive Condominium (EC) is a form of subsidized housing built by private developers, having same eligibility restrictions like HDB (family nucleus, citizens and permanent residents), you should dispose any other property 30 months before applying, minimum occupation period of 5 years before you can sell to citizens and PR, even single PR. After 10 years since TOP date, all restrictions are lifted and even single foreigners can buy. I made an interactive map with TOP dates.

Singapore MRT and LRT map

List of MRT and LRT stations

If you are looking for a database of Singapore MRT and LRT stations in Excel format, I created an Excel database for you in November 2019, copy-pasted from Wikipedia and visually enhanced in Excel to match the style of my other spreadsheets “Made by Teoalida”. In January 2020 I expanded database adding postal codes and GPS coordinates (sourced from OneMap.sg) for all stations that are opened or under construction.

Balas Table

What is Lease Commence Date & property depreciation

Properties in Singapore are by two types: freehold and leasehold. Leasehold in case of private residential buildings is 999 years, 99 years (or 103 years with 4 years construction time), or in rare cases, 60 years. Other types of buildings can have shorter leases. All HDB flats except Studio Apartments are leased on 99 years.

HDB Annual Report

HDB Annual Reports 1927-present

I transcribed the tables in Annual Reports 1990-2017 into Excel (New Towns under development and Dwelling units under management by town and flat type). I can go further and do the same for 1960-1989 tables, also transcribe in Word all the Annual Reports if there is sufficient demand.

HDB new vertical numbering system

HDB interesting facts and records

Biggest HDB town, biggest HDB block, smallest HDB block, longest HDB block, most segmented HDB, private HDB blocks, most expensive HDB flats, new vertical numbering system (1983), etc.

Changelog & list of updates

Several people asked me when the page was last updated.
If today I correct a spelling error, can be considered updated today?
Last update matter less… instead, please report if I forgot to add something, or suggest what else to add, and I may update it today!

HDB history and floor plan evolution 1930s – 2020s

This page shows floor plans of ~100 most common HDB flat types and most representative layouts, from 1930s SIT flats to present BTO flats.

Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bishan, Bukit Batok, Bukit Merah, Bukit Panjang, Bukit Timah, Central Area, Choa Chu Kang, Clementi, Geylang, Hougang, Jurong East, Jurong West, Kallang/Whampoa, Marine Parade, Pasir Ris, Punggol, Queenstown, Sembawang, Sengkang, Serangoon, Tampines, Tengah, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, Yishun.