Forum: Non-selection count ensures fairness for applicants with urgent housing needs

We refer to the letter by Mr Yong Sow Shiung, “Relook one-year penalty for invited applicants who choose not to select a flat” (Sept 29).

HDB encourages all flat applicants to book a flat when they have the chance to do so. In past years, about 40 per cent of flat applicants who were invited to book a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat did not do so, citing reasons such as their preferred units not being available or wanting to apply for flats in other sales exercises.

Such behaviour crowded out other home buyers with more urgent housing needs, who were not shortlisted to select a flat.

To ensure fairness to all applicants, those who are invited to book a flat but choose not to do so will be issued a non-selection count. From the October 2023 sales exercise, first-timer families with a non-selection count are considered second-timers for a year when balloting for a flat, while second-timer families have to wait one year before they can apply for a flat again.

Since this was implemented, the proportion of BTO applicants who did not book a flat when invited has halved from 40 per cent to about 19 per cent. The non-selection count policy has been effective in ensuring more efficient flat allocation, so that those with urgent housing needs can secure their flats more quickly. 

HDB exercises flexibility in waiving the non-selection count in some cases. For instance, HDB recognises that applicants invited to book at the tail end of the flat booking exercise may have limited choices. Hence, HDB waives the non-selection count for those with 10 or fewer flats to choose from in a BTO sales exercise, and five or fewer flats to choose from in a Sale of Balance Flats exercise.

HDB will also assess appeals for waiver of the non-selection count on a case-by-case basis, particularly where applicants face extenuating circumstances that affect their ability to proceed with the flat purchase. This strikes a balance between offering enough flat options for successful flat applicants, and ensuring fairness for other applicants.

Norlilah Bte Abdul Latiff
Director (Sales)
Housing and Development Board