Broken homes: 1,135 couples bow out on flat bookings

Blame it on relationship break-ups.

In a written response by National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan to Png Eng Huat, Member of Parliament for Hougang, Mr Khaw pointed out that 14,682 couples applied for a new HDB flat under the Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme in 2009. The corresponding figures for subsequent periods were 12,202 in 2010, 13,640 in 2011 and 7,936 in 1H12.

He added that of these 48,460 couples who applied, 37,537 were invited to select, and 26,174 booked a HDB flat. Subsequently, 1,135 couples, or 4.3% of those who had booked a flat, cancelled their bookings and had to forfeit their deposit. Amongst these, 367 cited relationship break-up, including annulment and divorce, as the reason for the cancellation.

Buyers of standard BTO projects, comprising five building blocks of 20 storeys high, will typically wait for 2.5 to 3 years to collect the keys to their flats.