THE Housing Board (HDB) has moved to address mounting concern about inadequate flat supply by upping the first-timer's success rate for getting a flat and by launching more than 1,000 homes for sale in Punggol.

With immediate effect, the Board has increased the number of flats reserved for first-timers at its sales launches from the current level of 90 per cent to 95 per cent.

This applies to both its build-to-order (BTO) scheme - which provides the bulk of HDB flats and where units are built when a certain demand is reached - and the sale of balance flat (SBF) exercise, which typically offers ready flats across the island.

Flats offered in the latter exercise are highly popular given that buyers do not have to wait for homes to be built and are given access to a wide variety of locations.

HDB said on Monday its move was designed to 'give greater priority to first-timers, who generally have more urgent housing needs than second-timers'.

'HDB will monitor the demand situation closely and make adjustments where necessary,' it added.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.