Young families now have priority in balloting for new HDB flats, as 30 per cent of all new flats will be reserved for them.

50 per cent of flats in HDB's sale of balance flats exercises will also be reserved for them.

Couples with at least one child below the age of 16 years old will be boosted to the front of the Build-to-Order flat queue from now onwards (Jan 2013).

This is part of the $2 billion enhanced Marriage and Parenthood package unveiled this morning by the Government.

In addition, couples with young children who are tiding out the two to four year wait for their new flats can now rent a subsidised flat from HDB in the interim to meet their housing needs.

HDB will launch 1,150 units of three to five-room flats in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Jurong West and Queenstown at the end of this month.

These are mostly flats vacated by previous owners in the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers).

Monthly rentals will range from $800 to $1,900 depending on flat type and location - substantially below market rates.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said this morning at a press conference announcing the slew of measures that the 30 per cent of new flats reserved will more than meet the demand from young families.