Business · Economy · 4 hrs ago
Singapore reviews scheme for rare jumbo HDB flats
Singapore’s Housing and Development Board is reviewing the scheme that lets eligible owners combine adjoining flats into jumbo homes.
The review followed a Telok Blangah flat being listed for S$2.18 million; its asking price was later reduced to S$1,999,999.
Jumbo flats offer unusually large living spaces, but only about 2,900 exist among more than 1.1 million HDB flats.
The scheme began in 1993 to help households needing more room stay in their neighbourhoods.
Owners can combine units only when conditions are met, including minimum occupation periods, and HDB no longer creates new jumbo flats.
Experts say their rarity can attract high prices, while older units, shorter remaining leases and a limited pool of buyers can make resale harder.
HDB’s review of the conversion scheme is underway, but no outcome is stated.
Singapore’s Housing and Development Board is reviewing a scheme that lets eligible owners combine adjoining public housing flats.
The review followed a jumbo flat in Telok Blangah being listed for S$2.18 million in September.
Jumbo flats are rare, with an estimated 2,900 created by merging two complete units.
Their large size can attract buyers, but older leases and a limited buyer pool may make resale difficult.
The scheme began in 1993 to give households needing more space the option to stay in their neighbourhood.
- Who
- Singapore’s Housing and Development Board is reviewing the scheme. Owners, buyers and property agents are also involved in the jumbo-flat market.
- What
- HDB is reviewing a scheme that allows eligible owners to combine adjoining HDB units.
- When
- HDB announced the review after a Telok Blangah flat was listed in September. The article was published on October 31, 2026.
- Where
- Singapore, including a jumbo flat listed in Telok Blangah.
- Why
- The review followed a jumbo flat being listed for S$2.18 million. The article says jumbo flats can command high prices but may be difficult to resell.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
HDB began combining adjoining flats because of an oversupply of unsold flats in several new towns.
The flat conversion scheme was introduced to let households combine flats for more living space.
Aileen Tan’s father downsized from a semi-detached house and chose a jumbo flat in Clementi.
A 1,465 sq ft jumbo flat in Telok Blangah was listed for S$2.18 million, after which HDB announced a review of the scheme.
The asking price was lowered to S$1,999,999.
- Estimated jumbo flats
- 2,900, or about 0.25 per cent of Singapore’s more than 1.1 million flats
- Telok Blangah listing
- 1,465 sq ft; listed for S$2.18 million in September
- Revised asking price
- S$1,999,999
- Clementi flat
- 1,615 sq ft, with four rooms and three bathrooms
- Remaining lease on Telok Blangah flat
- 91 years
What people are saying
It's very, extremely comfortable. I cannot think of anything more that I would want from a home.
This jumbo flat market is niche and could be illiquid, meaning subsequent resales could be harder.
A combination of all these things makes jumbo (flats) rare, hard to find, and they don't come by easily.