From 1 July 2024, HDB will be launching the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) (Open Market) Voucher scheme to provide temporary support for young couples and families who are renting from the open market while awaiting the completion of their new flats. As announced by Minister for National Development Mr Desmond Lee at MND’s Committee of Supply debate in Parliament on 5 March 2024, eligible families renting an HDB flat or bedroom from the open market can apply for a rental voucher of $300 per month to defray the cost of their rental.

Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS)

2 The PPHS provides a highly subsidised temporary housing option for new HDB flat applicants whose household incomes are $7,000 and below, while they are waiting to collect the keys to their new flats. Married couples with at least one child aged 18 and below, including expectant parents, receive priority in the allocation of flats. 

3 To meet the current demand, HDB has doubled the supply of PPHS flats since 2021 to 2,000 units, and will further double it to 4,000 units by the second half of 2025. 

PPHS (Open Market) Voucher Scheme

4 Before the majority of the new PPHS flat supply comes on stream, HDB will introduce the PPHS (Open Market) Voucher Scheme as a temporary bridging measure to support eligible families who rent HDB flats or bedrooms in the open market, while awaiting the completion of their new flats. The scheme will run for a one-year period from July 2024. Eligible families will receive $300 per month on a reimbursement basis, for complete months of tenancy that start between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. Based on the voucher quantum of $300 per month, eligible families will receive up to $3,600 if they qualify for the full year of support.

5 To qualify, families must meet the PPHS eligibility criteria, including having booked an uncompleted flat from HDB’s sales exercises and having a household income of $7,000 and below. This ensures that the scheme is targeted at families who require more support to defray the cost of renting from the open market. Families will have the flexibility to select a rental option – whether a whole flat or an HDB bedroom – that suits their budget and needs. 

Application Procedure

6 Applications for the PPHS Voucher will open on 1 July 2024 via the HDB InfoWEB. Before applying, applicants must ensure that their landlord has registered their tenancy with HDB, and that their NRIC address has been updated to their rented address¹. As with current PPHS tenants who must register their marriage within 3 months of key collection, Fiancé-fiancée applicants must submit their marriage certificate within the first 3 months of their tenancy period qualifying for the PPHS Voucher. Applicants renting from immediate family members or close relatives² will not be eligible for the PPHS Voucher. HDB will reject applications and/or withhold voucher payments, if any of the above conditions are not met. 

7 Eligible households will receive the PPHS Voucher for each complete month of tenancy (e.g. 20 July 2024 to 19 August 2024). The PPHS Voucher will not be pro-rated for periods of tenancy that do not make up a complete month. To qualify for support from any given month (e.g. for a tenancy active from July 2024), applicants must submit their application by the end of the next month (e.g. August 2024) (more details in Annex A). 

8 To qualify for the full year of support, applicants must have a registered and active tenancy by 31 July 2024 (i.e. their tenancies must start on or before 31 July 2024) and submit their voucher application to HDB by 31 August 2024. This gives eligible households who are planning to apply for the PPHS Voucher sufficient time to secure a suitable tenancy (at least 1.5 months) and apply for the PPHS Voucher (at least 2.5 months). Their tenancies must also run for at least 12 months from July 2024 to receive the full 12 months of PPHS Voucher support. 

9 Families currently renting a PPHS flat from HDB can choose to rent from the open market and apply for the PPHS Voucher, if they so wish. However, such applicants will only qualify for the PPHS Voucher after they have ended their PPHS flat tenancy with HDB. 

10 Eligible applicants will receive the PPHS Voucher on a reimbursement basis via PayNow-NRIC. Each reimbursement tranche will include up to 6 months of support. The first reimbursement tranche will typically be about seven months from date of application. 

11 More information on the PPHS Voucher scheme is available on the HDB InfoWEB. For enquiries, members of the public can write in using our e-Feedback form or contact our Branch Service Line at 1800-2255432.

Reducing the Waiting Time of BTO Flats

12 Besides providing more support for households who are waiting for their new flats to be completed, HDB has been actively working towards reducing the waiting times of BTO flats. In 2023, close to 70% of flats launched had waiting times of 4 years or less. In 2024, 75% of new flats slated for launch will have waiting times of 4 years or less.

¹ HDB may carry out physical checks and/or video calls to verify that applicants are physically occupying their rented address, at any time during their stated tenancy period.
² Immediate family members and close relatives refer to parents, step-parents, children, step-children, siblings and their spouses, grandparents, and uncles / aunts and their spouses.