New studio apartments for old folks homes

Sorry, but young Singaporeans will have to stand aside for their elders under new housing plans.

The Ageing-in-Place Priority Scheme or APPS will give them more chances during balloting.

The scheme, which was announced by Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan, was devised to help elderly Singaporeans who wish to do so transfer to a studio apartment near their previous home.

It takes effect this month after the BTO exercise.

"The APPS supports elderly who wish to right-size to a Studio Apartment (SA) while remaining in their current town, so that they can age-in-place in a familiar environment," said the House & Development Board (HDB) in a release.

"Under the APPS, SA applicants will be given more chances during balloting, if they are existing flat or private property owners living in the same town/estate or within 2 km from the SAs offered. The APPS will apply alongside the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS), which supports parents who wish to live near their married children," HDB said.