SINGAPORE: Approximately 29,000 flats built in 1997 or earlier have been selected for the Housing Board’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP), which includes structural enhancements and upgrades to bathrooms and entrances, among other improvements. Announcing the latest phase of the programme on February 16, Housing & Development Board (HDB) stated that homeowners of these flats will have the option to install senior-friendly features such as grab bars and foldable shower seats. The selected 371 blocks are located in estates including Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris, Tampines, and Jurong West. The Government has allocated over US$407 million for these upgrades. Introduced in 2007, the HIP aims to refurbish older housing estates, with approximately $4 billion spent on the initiative as of March 31, 2024.

Speaking at a Chinese New Year event in Pioneer, Jurong West, on February 16, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee highlighted that since the HIP’s inception, 494,000 flats—equivalent to nine in 10 eligible units—have been selected for the programme, including the latest batch. Of these, nearly 381,000 flats have already undergone upgrades, according to HDB. The programme comprises two key components: essential improvements and optional upgrades. Essential improvements, such as repairing spalling concrete or structural cracks, are fully funded by the Government for Singaporean households to ensure the safety of older flats.

Source: Housing & Development Board (HDB)