‘PPHS’, or ‘Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme’ are probably terms you’ve come across if you’ve been searching for a cheap HDB flat for rent while waiting for your BTO flat to be completed. Like many other couples and families affected by the COVID-19 construction delays and longer BTO flat waiting times, you probably want your own space. To meet increased demand, HDB has steadily worked to increase the number of flats available under the scheme.
In February 2024, HDB announced it would double the number of available PPHS HDB flats from 2,000 to 4,000 by 2025. This supply comes from the vacated HDB flats at Tanglin Halt; these flats will be spruced up before being used to meet demand. Furthermore, during the Budget 2024 announcements, it was declared that a $300 monthly voucher would be disbursed to eligible families waiting for their BTO flat’s completion. This PPHS (Open Market) Voucher will run for one year and can be used to rent an HDB flat or bedroom from the open market.
In this article, we’ll explain more about the scheme, the PPHS application rate, and how to apply for interim housing. Additionally, we have provided a list of affordable HDB estates you may want to rent in. For those with urgent housing needs, browse all available HDB rental flat listings on the open market now.
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Rent an HDB Flat in 2024
Just in case you are new to renting from the open market, we’ve put together a short video to guide you.
What Is PPHS HDB?
Under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme, couples and certain family units can rent a flat from HDB at a subsidised rate while waiting for their uncompleted HDB flats (e.g. a BTO or SBF flat bought under HDB’s sales exercises) to be built.
This means eligible families can pay subsidised rents rather than renting from the open market. According to the latest PPHS HDB rental rates, you can expect to pay $400 to $550 for 2-room units, $600 to $900 for 3-room, and $1,146 to $1,328 for a 5-room equivalent flat. Currently, there are no 4-room flats available for rent under the scheme.
In addition to the monthly rental payments, those who successfully get an interim rental flat will need to pay stamp duty fees and a one-month rent deposit when the tenancy agreement is signed.
Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) Eligibility Conditions
- You must be a Singapore Citizen who has formed a family unit with another Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident (PR)
- You must have booked an uncompleted flat under the Fiancé/Fiancée scheme, as a married couple, or as a divorced/widowed parent with children
- Your combined monthly household income must be $7,000 or less
- All members of your Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) household must not currently own an existing HDB flat
For those intending to apply, read up on the full HDB eligibility conditions.
Applying for PPHS HDB Flats in Singapore
To apply for a PPHS HDB rental flat, you either submit your application via the My HDBPage (first timer) or in person (if one of the applicants is a second-timer, you’re a divorced/widowed parent with a child/children, or if you want to share a unit).
If you’re successful in your application, you’ll be invited for flat selection in the following month. This is, just like BTO and SBF flats, determined by a computer ballot. Then, you will be able to select the units during the selection exercise.
When signing the tenancy agreement, you’ll need to pay the first month’s rental, one-month rental deposit and stamp duty. Also, like BTO and SBF flats, all applicants must be present during the selection and signing.
Those sharing a flat with an existing PPHS HDB flat tenant will need to visit the HDB branch managing their flat, along with the existing flat tenants. The total number of people sharing the flat should not exceed six. You can also submit a joint application with another family unit looking to rent a subsidised flat.
PPHS HDB Application Rates
To qualify for the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme is easy. But to secure a flat may be tougher. While competition has eased since the peak seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s still not a guarantee you will get a unit. For the February to March 2024 exercise, 458 applicants vied for 200 Flats. That’s a PPHS application rate of 2.29.
The subsidised rental rates you pay to HDB (if your application is successful) explain why the PPHS HDB units are in such high demand.
In today’s rental market, $400 per month could get you a bed space in a shared room with other tenants in areas such as Bukit Panjang and Jurong West. For those looking at the city-fringe neighbourhoods of Boon Keng, Kallang/Whampoa, Geylang and Bishan, $1,500 per month would only get you a common room.
Following Budget 2024 announcements, the $300 PPHS (Open Market) Voucher will make it much more affordable to rent a home from July 2024 onwards. In the meantime, you can begin considering which HDB estates you would like to rent a home in.
Where to Rent an HDB Flat in Singapore?
| HDB estate | Cheapest rent available for 3-room flats |
| Yishun | From $750 for a whole room, from $2,500 for a whole unit |
| Sengkang | From $1,000 for a whole room, from $2,800 for a whole unit |
| Tampines | From $800 for a whole room, from $2,200 for a whole unit |
| Woodlands | From $700 for a whole room, from $2,300 for a whole unit |
| Toa Payoh | From $700 for a whole room, from $2,500 for a whole unit |
We’ve chosen these estates because they are among the most affordable HDB estates to rent a 3-room HDB flat in, according to the latest available Q4 2023 HDB rental data. While there may be 2-room rental flats available on the open market, they tend to be rarer. Hence, we’ve focused on 3-room flats.
The above prices were taken from PropertyGuru rental listings (accurate as of 9 March 2024).
1. Yishun
Yishun is a relatively quiet neighbourhood with a good mix of amenities. Hawker fare is easy to find in the neighbourhood, with the famed Chong Chong Pang Market & Food Centre being a popular weekend spot.
From Yishun MRT station, it is four stops to Bishan MRT station (CCL and NSL) and eight stops to Newton MRT station (NSL and DTL).
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2. Sengkang
Those who like greenery will enjoy living in Sengkang. There is plenty of green throughout the neighbourhood and the Sengkang Riverside Park connects to the north-eastern riverine Park Connector Network loop. Notable amenities include Compass One mall and Sengkang General Hospital. Alternatively, residents can take one MRT stop to Punggol MRT station for access to Waterway Point.
From Sengkang MRT station, you are four MRT stops from Serangoon MRT station (CCL and NEL), nine stops from Little India MRT station (NEL and DTL), and ten stops away from Dhoby Ghaut MRT station (CCL, NSL, and NEL). There is also an LRT system to help you get around Sengkang.
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3. Tampines
Tampines is a regional hub in the East. With Tampines MRT station connecting residents to the EWL and DTL, getting around the island is a breeze.
At Tampines One, Century Square, and Tampines Mall, as well as the nearby Our Tampines Hub, you can fulfil your entertainment, shopping, and dining needs.
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4. Woodlands
Those who have grown up in the North of Singapore know Woodlands to be an attractive neighbourhood to live in. Woodlands MRT station serves as the interchange station for the TEL and NSL.
Causeway Point, 888 Plaza, Stellar@TE2 provide many shopping and F&B options. Johor Bahru is also a short drive away, accessible by the nearby Woodlands Checkpoint.
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5. Toa Payoh
Toa Payoh is an HDB estate with lots of charm. Plenty of trendy cafes and Michelin-backed hawker stalls dot the neighbourhood, making Toa Payoh a foodie’s paradise. The iconic dragon playground is just a 15-minute walk from Toa Payoh MRT station.
From Toa Payoh MRT station, you are two MRT stops from Newton MRT station (DTL and NSL), two stops from Bishan MRT station (CCL and NSL) and three stops away from Orchard MRT station (TEL and NSL).
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