SINGAPORE - The Housing Board (HDB) has responded to a Facebook post by an applicant who claimed that her family's request to buy a flat has been repeatedly turned down in the last five years with no explanation given.

The flat applicant, who goes by the moniker "Rose Devilrose", said in a Facebook post on Oct 15 that the HDB assumed her family did not have enough savings.

She also said her family was homeless and would not leave "the HDB hub today till we get a answer (letter) in hand for the flat from the higher authority". The blog post included a picture taken at the HDB Hub.

HDB, in a reply posted on the "HDB Speaks" portal on Oct 28, clarified that the family did not submit any formal application to buy a flat. The application in question was for a housing loan.

"HDB has not at any point rejected the family's housing loan application without providing an explanation. In the various correspondences and interactions with 'Rose' and her family, HDB officers had asked for documentary proof of their financial position, a routine request made for every loan application," it said.

But the family did not submit the required documents or information, even though they promised to do so, said HDB.

On the family's threat to stay put at the HDB Hub, HDB said "security officers had sought police assistance when a member of the family displayed violent behaviour, and not because the family refused to leave the HDB Hub premises".

It added that its officers met the family again on Oct 16 to discuss their problems.