I REFER to the letter, "Include non-citizens in fiance scheme" by Mr Ang Kin Leong (March 12).

Singapore's public housing is intended to meet the housing needs of citizen households. Under the Fiance-Fiancee Scheme, citizen couples can apply to purchase a new HDB flat prior to their marriage. They will only have to produce their marriage certificate within three months after taking possession of their flat.

We recognise that some citizens may wish to marry and form a family unit with non-citizens.

For such households, they are treated as citizen households if the fiancée is a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR), and they can purchase a subsidised new flat under the Fiance-Fiancee Scheme as well.

However, HDB is unable to extend the Fiance-Fiancee Scheme to citizens if their fiance or fiancée do not have at least SPR status. This is to ensure that our limited housing subsidies are judiciously disbursed to households that have demonstrated their commitment to settle down in Singapore.

We wish to highlight that citizens who marry foreigners can purchase a resale HDB flat under the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme. If the citizen spouse is a first-timer, he can apply to enjoy the Singles Grant. Such households can apply for a top-up grant to receive the full CPF Housing Grant when the foreigner spouse obtains SPR status.

We thank Mr Ang for his feedback.

Leong Chok Keh
Deputy Director (Policy & Property)
for Director (Estate Administration & Property)
Housing & Development Board

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Mar 26, 2008.