Singapore’s public housing authority has responded to online claims by a woman who said she unsuccessfully applied for a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat 13 times, explaining how the selection process works and why some unsold units are later released through separate sales exercises.
The response came after the woman shared her experience on social media, questioning why flats that remained unselected during BTO launches were later offered under the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) scheme instead of being allocated to applicants who had previously obtained queue numbers.
Her story sparked public discussion about housing demand in Singapore, especially in mature estates where competition for public housing projects tends to be significantly higher.
HDB Explains How Unsold BTO Flats Are Reallocated
In its clarification, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) explained that flats appearing in SBF exercises typically come from earlier BTO launches where units were either not selected, returned by applicants, or cancelled after booking.
These flats only become available after all eligible applicants from the original BTO launch have completed their selection process, subject to ethnic quota requirements.
Once the initial selection phase is completed, any remaining units are pooled into a future SBF exercise. This allows all Singaporeans, rather than just the applicants from the original project, to apply for the available flats through a transparent and fair ballot system.
According to HDB, this process ensures equal opportunity for prospective homeowners who may be seeking public housing through different housing programmes.
Applicant Had Previously Been Invited To Select A Flat
The authority also clarified the details surrounding the woman’s housing applications.
Based on HDB’s records, she had submitted 11 applications for 4-room flats across both BTO and SBF exercises between November 2020 and May 2023. Most of these applications were for projects located in highly sought-after mature estates such as Kallang Whampoa and Bukit Merah.
Demand for flats in these areas significantly exceeded supply, resulting in lower chances of receiving a queue number during the earlier applications.
However, during the May 2023 SBF exercise, she was eventually invited to select a flat. HDB said she chose not to proceed with the booking at that time.
She later purchased a resale flat with the help of CPF Housing Grants, which are financial assistance schemes designed to support eligible Singaporeans buying resale HDB flats.
Application Rates For BTO Flats Have Declined
In an update addressing public feedback, HDB also shared broader housing data showing that demand pressures for BTO flats have eased compared to earlier years.
The median application rate for first-time families applying for three-room or larger BTO flats previously peaked at nearly seven times in 2020. By 2025, that figure had dropped significantly to between 1.1 and 1.9 times.
During the February 2026 BTO launch, the median application rate for first-time families fell to 0.9 times, meaning there were fewer applicants than available units in some projects.
For instance, application rates for four-room flats in Sembawang Deck and Sembawang Voyage were about 0.6 times, while Kim Keat Crest in Toa Payoh recorded around 0.9 times.
In these cases, nearly all eligible first-time applicants would receive invitations to select a flat, although final selection remains subject to ethnic quota limits.
HDB also highlighted that first-time applicants receive priority in the ballot system. Families who fail multiple times in standard BTO projects are granted additional ballot chances in subsequent applications, increasing their probability of securing a flat in future launches.
Officials added that applicants with urgent housing needs may wish to consider projects with lower application rates to improve their chances of obtaining a new public housing unit sooner.