Analysts predicted that the prices will start dropping in 2012 (example), as they predicted in 2011, 2010 too. In my forecast, resale flat prices will NOT fall even in 2012, the growth will be slowed down as COV felt a little, but will continue to grow for as many years as HDB refuse to build ahead of demand, forcing us to wait 4 years via BTO!
The cooling measures from in 2011 such as Minimum Occupation Period of 5 years, just make people angry as they can sell their flats only after 9 years after applying for BTO. Stupid MOP cause less flats to enter resale market in the coming years, the number of people not eligible for buying directly from HDB (for example PR) is growing.

Note: The above text was written by my research at end of 2011. Recently I found a similar research on h88.com.sg dating from Feb 2012, that confirm my hypothesis  They say that prices will drop no sooner than 2017! Oh dear…

As you can see in the above chart, flat prices doubled from 2007 to 2012 due of insufficient supply. How many people will be happy if all prices will drop to half (to early 2000s value) in the next 5 years? Think about owners who worked hardly to pay current flats which will lose half of value.

Expect a slower growth or even drop of max 1% over Q4 2012 or Q1 2013, that does not mean that the price peak is over. Look at resale price index, it always grew faster in Q2 and Q3 and slower around christmas.
Oh fuck, another 2.5% increase for Q4 2012… now I can estimate 1-2% for Q1, 3-5% for Q2 and Q3, something for Q4, total 10-15% rise entire 2013, avoid predictions for more than 1 year ahead.

Chart explanation
Demand was high but felt sharply at 1997 Asian Crisis, many under construction blocks resulted in about 40000 unsold flats in the year 2000. 2003 SARS affected economy too, so 5 years were necessary to clear the stocks. As flats were available immediately, prices were kept constant.
Classic selling system (Registration for Flat) was replaced with Build-To-Order, and Walk-In-Selection was introduced every month to clear the stock of unsold flats.
Buyers who do not want to wait 3-4 years for BTO completion are forced to go in resale market (or Walk-In-Selection), as the stock of unsold completed flats vanished, Walk-In Selection ended in 2007 and was replaced by Sale of Balance Flats that is only twice per year and the applicant ratio is always over 1:10. Resale prices started rising.
HDB failed to anticipate economy recovering, and ramped up the BTO supply too late and too slow, 5500 BTO flats in 2007, 7800 in 2008, 9000 in 2009 (global recession), 12000? 16000 in 2010, 22000 25000 in 2011, 25000 27000 in 2012, plus some DBSS and EC since 2010, but still not enough to not cope the demand. (striketrough numbers are initial numbers announced at beginning of year).
Rising supply of BTOs became visible in 2012, slightly diminute the resale prices growing rate, but they will continue to grow for next years.
HDB lowered minimum application rate to 50% in 2011 (was 70% or 80%, not sure), but since mid-2000s, no BTO had application rate under 100%.

For more exact predictions, we need to know how much % of the resale flat buyers are PR or singles (uneligible for new flats), and how many are eligible for buying directly from HDB but choose to buy resale flats for whatever reason (waiting time for BTO, unsuccesfull applications, small size of new flats, etc).
Many people blame the PR, but in my opinion they are just a small insignificant percentage. From my personal experience in chatting with website visitors, for one year, many people apply only for popular BTO projects that always get oversubscribed, fail to get a good queue number, then decide to go on resale market.
SOLUTION to stop prices from rising: launch at least 30000 units of BTO per year, until the applicant ratio drops under 1:1, and set bigger price difference between mature and non-mature estates to harmonize the applicant ratio and avoid oversubscription of certain projects! The remaining flats could be sold later through SOBF.
Also, HDB should NOT increase MOP because this lengthen price rising.

What you should know:
Upgrading programmes and upcoming MRT lines also drive up the nationwide resale price index.
The size of today flats may encourage people to go in resale market for flats built before 1998 (NOT SURE if this push up the resale prices, record of psf is now hold by resale flats built in 2000s).
Prices are most likely to grow in Punggol faster, due of many upcoming developments (remember that several years ago it was cheapest town?).
Prices are most likely to fall in the old 10-storey blocks of Queenstown and Toa Payoh that are getting shadowed by the new 40-storey blocks.
Prices may fall in Bishan because this area was overvaluated during construction of Circle Line.

Affordability of HDB flats
Yes they are still affordable!
Proof: every launch, the higher priced BTOs (better locations) gets most applicants.
HDB Website shows application rate. See how 3-room remained unsold and how big is the battle for 5-room despite of higher prices. See the TRUTH about shrinking HDB flat sizes!

This page contains sample floor plans of 100 most common HDB flat types and most representative layouts. Many other layouts exists, unique layouts with slanted rooms, as well as variations of the standard layouts, these usually have larger sizes. List of updates.

Looking for certain town or flat type? Use Ctrl+F to search within this page.
Most-asked floor plans: 3STD 3I 4I – 3NG 4NG 5I – 3S 3A 4S 4A 5A - 1990s 4A 5I – 1990s Executive – 2000s 4A 5I EA – Maisonette – Jumbo – Pinnacle – Largest HDB flat
Not interested in Singapore, but looking for house plans?

1930s, 1940s, 1950s – SIT era

Singapore Improvement Trust set up in 1927, it ventured in public housing in 1932.
What it built: Lorong Limau (first houses by SIT, built 1932, no more info, source),Tiong Bahru pre-war (20 blocks, about 700 units, built around 1936, now conserved), Tiong Bahru post-war (54 blocks, about 1200 units, built in 1948-1953, half demolished in early 2000), Alexandria North Estate (mostly terrace, demolished 1990s), Guillemard Estate (mostly terrace, demolished in 1980s or 1990s), Old Airport Estate (built from/around 1958, most of blocks demolished in early 2000s so no idea how many blocks had, at least 2000+ SIT units plus 438 HDB units), Princess Elizabeth Flats Estate (built early 1950s, demolished 1978 or 1980s), Princess Elizabeth Park Estate (22-24 blocks, 6 3-storey and 2 7-storey, 162 units, rest shops, built 1951-1952, demolished 1996 (source), Queenstown New Town (details below), Redhill Estate (21 7-storey blocks, 882 units, built in 1955, demolition in 2016), Silat Estate (15 3/4-storey blocks, 262 units built in 1949/1952, demolished in 2011), Whampoa Estate (mostly terrace, demolished in 1990s except a small part), unknown-name estate around Race Course Road / Owen Road / Norfolk Road, unknown-name estate around Petain Road, many small estates or isolated blocks in or around Central Area, demolished long time ago and forgotten.
The four 9-storey blocks built in 1952 at Upper Pickering Street were first high-rise public housing in Singapore (with lifts). Last two demolished in 2003.
In 32 years, SIT built only 23,000 apartments, housing 8.8% of Singapore population of 1959.
Queenstown – the first Satellite Town of Singapore
In 1952 construction is started for Queenstown, being built far away from main city, is considered the first “New Town”. Its first neighborhood – Princess Margaret Estate (today known as Dawson) was finished in 1959, Forfar House (block 39), was completed in 1956 and was the tallest residential building in Singapore, with 14 storeys, demolition of estate began in late 1990s and completed in 2001. Using the aerial photo (shown below), I count about 1700 units east of Commonwealth Avenue (blocks 31-128), no idea how many units were in west side (blocks 1-30).
In late 1950s the work just begun for Neighborhood II – Dutches Estate and Neighborhood V – Queen’s Close Estate, both were almost completely demolished in late 1990s. SIT was dissolved in 1960 and HDB continued existing neighborhoods and started building Neighborhood III – Commonwealth and Neighborhood IV – Tanglin Halt. Beside the original plan, HDB added Neighborhood VI – Mei Ling and Neighborhood VII – Buona Vista (comprising Dover, Ghim Moh and Holland Village), making a total of 7 neighborhoods.

Tiong Bahru Estate, old map and old aerial view (1936-1953)
Notice in the aerial view, 3 blocks under “Trust” word? they are on Outram Hill and I appreciate if anyone can tell me more info! (do not confuse with Outram Park built by HDB in 1963)

more Tiong Bahru photos HERE<
The SIT blocks on Upper Pickering Street, Singapore’s first high-rise public housing.

SIT block in Prinsep street (~1950) and Redhill Estate (unknown year)

British proposal of Queenstown composed mostly by terraced units, different than the actual town.

Queenstown Princess Margaret Estate map and photo of Forfar House.
Note that south-west part of map is a different proposal than what was actually built.

SIT floorplans

Collection of Tiong Bahru Pre-War SIT blocks floorplans (3-room to 5-room):
http://tiongbahruestate.wordpress.com/2007/06/29/tiong-bahru-pre-war-floor-plans/
http://tiongbahruestate.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/
After-War late 1940s / 1950s SIT blocks with 2-Room / 3-Room Standard flat, from Tiong Bahru and Redhill

SIT built 4-Room flats too, at least in Silat Estate. There is no evidence that SIT built 1-room flats.

Landed HDB flat ?

During 1950s (or even earlier), SIT also built terraced houses. Only 3 clusters of this type survived: Jalan Bahagia (in Whampoa, 28 blocks, 200 units), Stirling Road (in Queenstown, 13 blocks, 84 units), Upper Boon Keng Road / Lorong 3 Geylang (in Kallang, 16 blocks, ? units), dubious estate, some maps display as private housing. The 3-Room ones were originally 78 sqm, some of Stirling ones are 4-Room. Many owners built extra rooms in front, back, or even side in case of corner terrace, enlarging them to over 200 sqm, according resale transactions.

1960s – HDB beginnings

HDB took over SIT in february 1960, when construction areas were only in and around Central Area. In 1960s construction started for Bukit Ho Swee, Brickworks, Henderson estates (in Bukit Merah); Bendemeer, Boon Keng, Kallang Bahru and Tanjong Rhu estates (in Kallang), Chai Chee (part of Bedok), MacPherson (in Geylang), Upper Aljunied (in Toa Payoh), Taman Gardens (in Jurong West) and Toa Payoh New Town; construction continued for Queenstown, Old Airport and Whampoa.
Construction of Toa Payoh, HDB’s first truly New Town which incorporates a town centre and several neighborhoods, started in 1965.
1960s estates composed only by linear slab blocks (corridor style) in most common height of 10 storeys and usually with 12 units per floor, but several blocks were very long. Minimal distance between facades was not regulated, usually 15-30 metres.
HDB aimed to build 50000 flats in first 5 years. Kampong clearance has been started.

Old photos with Outram Park and Kallang Estate

Old photos with Queenstown New Town, Princess Margaret (1952-1958) and Tanglin Halt (1962-1964)
site down for ever and I didn’t saved photos in my computer

Old photos with Bukit Ho Swee estate (1962-1964).
Originally mistaken as Queenstown, because I didn’t know that Bukit Ho Swee also had blocks less than 10 storey. The 7-storey blocks in left side contains 1-Room Emergency flats.

Old photos with Toa Payoh New Town, first phase built 1965-1973

1960s typical HDB floor plans

During 1960 and 1970, HDB flat types were Standard (with WC) and Improved (with WC and shower), the areas varied much, like 1-Room (23-33 sqm), 2-Room (35-45 sqm), 3-Room (50-70 sqm), and unlike SIT, HDB built just very few 4-Room (70-85 sqm) in Outram Park, Henderson and Toa Payoh.
The 1-Room and 2-Room Emergency flats feature double-loaded corridors, I am not sure if they were introduced due of Bukit Ho Swee fire or before it, none of these survived 2 blocks survived at King George’s Avenue / Maude Road. Floor plans without dimensions on HDB page, the idea of double-loaded corridors has been used for 1-Room improved in late 1960s and 1970s.
I estimate average size during 1960s around 40-50 sqm.

1960-1970 slab blocks with 2-Room Standard (44-45 sqm), 3-Room Standard (50-55 sqm), 4-Room Standard (70-75 sqm)
Most blocks of this type were upgraded with utility rooms, some with bedroom extension including en-suite toilet.

1965-1980 slab block with 1-Room Improved (33 sqm)
There’s a single 1-room block sold (Telok Blangah block 7), all others are rental blocks have no floorplans available. Some 1-Room blocks are 3 meters wider, units 50 cm longer, larger facade slits and an extra window behind toilet. Can somebody tell me the floorplan or size?

1965-1988 slab block with 3-Room Improved (60 sqm), 3½-Room Improved (69 sqm)
Most blocks of this type were upgraded with 5-6 sqm utility rooms, but these vary in shape and size so that is why I posted here original floorplan without utility room.

1965-1980 slab block with 4-Room Improved (82-84 sqm or -88 sqm with kitchen extension), stairs for each two units.

1965-1975 point zig-zag block with 3-Room Improved (72 sqm or 76 sqm with utility extension)

JTC floor plans

Jurong Town Corporation established in 1968, what they built: Taman Gardens (built 1969-1974?, most demolished in 1990s and 2000s), Boon Lay Gardens (built 1974-1978, mixed with HDB, most demolished in 1990s and 2000s), Teban Gardens (built 1977-1978, mixed with HDB, some demolished in 2000s), Pandan Gardens (built 1978-1979, all survived), Sembawang (7 blocks demolished in 2004). The 5-Room point blocks built a by JTC have a unique feature: 2 entrance doors!

Anyone have a floor plan of the JTC 4-Room point blocks (zig-zag ones)? Last ones will be demolished in 2013.

1970s – New towns era

In 1973 construction started for Bedok, Marine Parade, Marsiling, Telok Blangah New Towns; also for smaller estates like Geylang Bahru (in Kallang), Aljunied, Haig, Eunos and Sims (in Geylang), Dover, Ghim Moh, Holland Village (in Queenstown); Pandan Gardens and Teban Gardens (in Jurong East); Boon Lay Gardens (in Jurong West); Farrer Road Estate (in Bukit Timah), Lor Lew Lian Estate (in Serangoon), Sin Ming Estate (in Bishan), Hillview Estate (in Bukit Batok, demolished in 2005).
Construction continued in Toa Payoh (blocks 210-235) and Queenstown (Holland, Ghim Moh, Dover).
Several years later construction started also for Ang Mo Kio, Clementi / West Coast, Hougang (only several blocks), Nee Son / Yishun New Towns; also for Teck Whye Estate (part of Choa Chu Kang).
Some small estates named Rural Centres were built but I am not sure in which period: Changi Village (considered in Pasir Ris), Kranji / Lim Chu Kang (abandoned from 2002), Punggol Road End (in Sengkang area, demolished in 2004), Seletar Road (in Serangoon area), Seletar West Farmway (in Sengkang area), Sembawang Road End (demolished in 2004).
1970s generation estates were dominated by big slab block in most common heights of 12, 13 or 16 stories and usually with 14 or 18 units per floor, most were over 100 metres long, plus point blocks of 20 and 25 storeys. Unlike the past 1960s, in most 1970s blocks, the first (ground) floor is void deck. Minimal distance between facades was 30 metres.

Marine Parade was, and is still the most prestigious HDB estate, also the oldest HDB estate remained intact (no demolished or new blocks). Built between 1973 and 1976, it contains about 7900 units in 56 blocks, slab blocks with 2/3/4-Room flats and also 17 tower blocks with 96 units of 120 sqm 5-Room flats. Average flat size: 76 sqm, a record for their age (today average is a little bigger due of upgrading programes and many adjoined flats in 3-room blocks.

Ang Mo Kio / Marine Parade

Clementi (~1978) / Telok Blangah (~1978)

1970s typical HDB floor plans

In early 1970 were introduced point blocks with only 4 units per floor. The earliest ones had 4-Room Improved flats (88 sqm), but later became standardized to 5-Room Standard/Improved flats (117-125 sqm), all have 2 toilets, both with WC and shower, one attached to master bedroom. 30 blocks with 4-Room and 223 blocks with 5-room were build until around 1985.
In 1975 were introduced New Generation flat types: 3-Room (67 / 82 sqm) and 4-Room (92 sqm), these have 2 toilets, both with WC and shower, one attached to master bedroom. 3/4-Room Standard disappeared in early 1970s while Improved in late 1970s. In 1975 were introduced 5-Room flat types also on slab blocks, as distinct from tower blocks. The average size rose from 60 sqm in early 1970 to 75 sqm in late 1970s estates.

1975-1988 slab block with 3-Room New Generation (67 sqm), 3½-Room New Generation (82 sqm), and 4-Room New Generation (92 sqm), big kitchen

1975-1988 slab block with 4-Room New Generation (91 sqm), stairs for each two units

1975-1978 slab block with 5-Room Standard (117 sqm), stairs for each two units. Also contains some 4-Room New Generation (89 sqm) at lift level.

1978-1988 slab block with 5-Room Improved (121 sqm), stairs for each two units.
4-Room New Generation (98 sqm) at the lift level

1972?-1974 point block with 4-Room Improved (77-84 sqm)

1974-198? point block with 5-Room Standard (114-123 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (117-123 sqm), I don’t know the difference, the type with longer master bedroom exists both as Standard and Improved.

Jumbo Flats: flats joined by HDB and resold with fresh leases, as 4-Room Model A, 5-Room Improved / Model A, Executive Apartment, they CAN be 3-Room + 4-Room. Adjoined Flat: flats joined by owners, called 4-Room / 5-Room / Executive Adjoined Flat, they cannot be 3-Room + 4-Room.
Do not confuse with Multi-Generation blocks built in 1980s!

Here is a 5-Room Improved created from two 3-Room Improved and two Executive Apartment created from one 3-Room with one 4-Room

1980s – More new towns

In the early 1980s construction is started for Bukit Batok, Hougang, Jurong, Serangoon, Tampines, Woodlands (which integrates Marsiling), Yishun (which integrates Nee Son) New Towns, Bukit Purmei Estate (in Bukit Merah), Ubi Estate (in Geylang), Kaki Bukit Estate (in Bedok), Joo Seng and Potong Pasir Estates (in Toa Payoh).
In the late 1980 construction is started for Bishan, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang and Pasir Ris New Towns, Simei New Town / Estate, Kembangan Estate (in Bedok), Toh Yi Estate (in Bukit Timah), Jurong New Town is expanded with Nanyang area. Also little additions for Clementi and Toa Payoh.
1980s generation estates are composed by slab blocks in most common heights of 4, 10, 12, 16 storeys, usually with 10 or 12 units per floor, plus the well known 25-storey point blocks. By unknown reasons, after 1985 only few blocks were built with more than 12 storeys. Compared with previous decade, 1980s blocks were arranged in more rigid patterns and block corners were bend to give the precinct a sense of enclosure. Most blocks were perafectly aligned to west-east direction to avoid sun, the blocks oriented north-south were low-rise. Minimal distance between facades were 24 metres.

Prefab HDB blocks
In 1980s they started using prefabrication in HDB flats, allowing a record production of HDB flats, according Wikipedia “Using prefabricated parts, a block of high-rise flats could be built in a month” but I do not believe. Also I never understand something: today blocks use prefabricated panels too and have nothing similar with these, and are built in 3-4 years. Probably they were referring that in 1980s they made blocks entirely prefab, load-bearing prefab walls.
These 1980s prefab blocks with load-bearing walls can be identified by being uglier, having simple floorplan, plain external walls (unlike normal blocks which have columns visible on facade and windows pushed back), and having ceiling leaks. They achieve lower prices than normal blocks, you are not allowed to hack most of walls (sometimes HDB approve to hack a door-sized hole, store room sometimes can be hacked).

Bishan neighborhood 1xx (1985-1988) / Bukit Batok (1984-1985)

Hougang Central (~1989) / Woodlands neighborhood 1xx (~1985)

1980s typical HDB floor plans

In 1982 along New Generation, were introduced Model A types: 3-Room, (75 sqm), 4-Room (105 sqm), 5-Room (135 sqm). In 1984 were introduced Simplified types, 3-Room (64 sqm), 4-Room (84 sqm).
Also in 1984 were introduced Executive type (140-155 sqm), having 3 large bedrooms and utility/maid room, it replaced the 5-Room Model A. Most of Executive units were Maisonettes (double storey) the rest were Apartments (single storey). Maisonettes built in 1983-1984, before introduction of Executive name, were called 5-Room Improved-Maisonette or 5-Room Model A-Maisonette, many people asked me what is a 5-Room Maisonette and what is the difference compared with Executive Maisonette, the only difference is the building year.
In 1987-1988 were introduced new series of 4-Room Model A, 5-Room Improved, and Executive, with 4 bedrooms or 3 bedrooms plus study room with sliding doors, rather than 3 bedrooms plus utility room for former EAs.
Multi-Generation flat are a rare type, only 7 blocks of this type were built in 1987 (Bishan 137, Tampines 454, 460, Yishun 605, 632, 633, 666), viewed from street they look like 3/4-Room Simplified blocks, but units are paired, having 2 kitchens and 3 toilets.
New Generation flat types disappeared around 1985, but surprisely, several blocks of 3-Room Improved were built in late 1980s.
1- and 2-Room flat types phased out, last blocks being Tampines 441, 442, 466, 471. Average HDB flat size for 1980s estates is 90-95 sqm.
From 1989 no more 3-Room were built, also 4-Room Simplified phased out, this boosted average size for new HDB flats to over 100 square meters.

1984-1989 slab block with 4-Room Simplified (84 sqm) and 4-Room Model A (104 sqm)

1984-1989 slab block with 3-Room Simplified (64 sqm), 4-Room Simplified (84 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (120 sqm)
Oct 2010 – finally found a 3S floorplan with dimensions. A 4-room Model A lift-level version under 5-Room Improved should also exists.

1982-1989 slab block with 3-Room Model A (73-75 sqm) and 4-Room Model A (105-108 sqm)
3½-Room Model A (88-90 sqm) exists but is so rare that I never found floorplan.
Website visitors reported that early 4-Room Model A have different floorplan, similar in shape with 4-Room New Generation with toilets near each other, but big as 105 sqm instead of 92 sqm.

1982-1985 slab block with 5-Room Model A (133-135 sqm), 2 units per floor
Rare block type but still from standard lineup, posted after requests from 3 people.

1983-1984 slab block with 5-Room Model A Maisonette (137-140 sqm, some -155 sqm) and 5-Room Model A (? sqm) on corners
1984-1988 slab block with Executive Maisonette (144-147 sqm, some -160 sqm) and Executive Apartment (146 sqm) on corners

1987-1990 slab block with 4-Room Model A (104 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (121 sqm), some blocks have L-shaped corners, with 4-Room Model A (108 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (122 sqm)

1992 slab block with 4-Room Model A (around 100-110 sqm), very WEIRD block type
4A-only rather than 4A/5I mix like in 1987-1991 and 1993-1996 blocks, the units at non-lift level have a tiny balcony facing to staircase void, while the unit just above lift-level have a huge balcony sized like the bedroom of the lift-level units (no floorplan found)
Posted in Aug-2012 after someone living in this kind of block asked me for a floorplan, I decided to post them since there are many blocks of this type.
Update Aug-2012: website visitors told me that 5-Room Corner also exists.

Update Oct-2012: additional corner floor plans for 4-Room Model A / 5-Room Improved, initially posted as 1988-1990 block model but today I tend to think that are from 1992 block. Who live in this type of blocks, please clarify!

1988-1992 slab block with Executive Apartment (142 sqm) and Executive Maisonette (146 sqm)

1987-1988 slab block with Multi Generation flats (151-171 sqm)

1990s – Golden era

In the early 1990s no New Town was started. Construction continued in Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Pasir Ris, Tampines, Woodlands, and many small areas in other towns.
In the late 1990s construction is started for Sembawang, Sengkang Punggol New Towns, and continued for Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Jurong East, Jurong West (Pioneer area), Woodlands.
1990s was the most prosperous decade. Construction rate was 25000-35000 units per year. HDB stopped deciding the prices of new apartments based on construction costs, now are decided based on market prices. Resale market prices and new apartment prices entered in a vicious circle, rose with 50% in just 6 months of 1993 and tripled to 1996, then felt down and stagnated after 1998 (source).

The profit seems that was used for increase in quality. Many things were changed for blocks completed from 1993 onward: new lifts stops on every floor, refuse chutes were centralized. Every new housing estate have multi storey car parks, so no more cars are parked on the street. This allowed higher density, taller blocks, and a lot of green space between blocks.
Blocks height vary between 9 and 18 storeys, most are with 15 storeys. No more walk-up blocks were built. Structural elements became thicker, 30 cm or more, rather than 20 cm, and more pillars per block (I do not know if HDB blocks are designed to withstand earthquakes). Unfortunately minimal distance between blocks was reduced to 18.3 metres (60 feet). All blocks are linked with car parks, bus stations and other facilities, with covered walkways, so no more problems if the sun is too hot or is raining.

In middle 1990s HDB introduced Premium Apartments, precincts which are individually designed and built with better quality finishes, you get them in ready-to-move condition, with flooring, kitchen cabinets, built-in wardrobes. In Standard Apartments you get empty rooms waiting your renovation.
Also from 1991, various upgrading programmes were launched for older estates, that are improved with multi storey car parks, lifts that stops on every floor, former ground parking spaces between blocks transformed in parks.
The former HUDC estates started to be privatised in 1995.

Most of 1- and 2-room rental blocks were demolished during 1990s, or even earlier, the cleared land was reused for building blocks with 5-room and Executive units. Other rental blocks were converted in owner-occupied flats, sometimes HDB adjoined the units two by two, creating what is called Jumbo flat (most are in Woodlands, Yishun some in Tampines and Jurong East). Jumbo flats size vary from 90 sqm (adjoining two 2-Room flats) to around 190 sqm (adjoining 3-Room and 4-Room Model A flats). Individual owners are allowed to buy an adjacent flat and adjoin them, but only for 3-Room or smaller flats.
With SERS, owner-occupied blocks were demolished and residents moved to new blocks built in nearby location. First site was announced in 1995 and demolition occurred in 1999. Usually old blocks with large space between them are selected for SERS, while dense and tall blocks are selected for upgrading. But exceptions happens: three 25-storey tower blocks from Hillview were announced for SERS in 1999 and demolished in 2005 after only 25-30 years I estimate.

Bukit Panjang (~1990) / Bishan neighborhood 2xx (1992)

Pasir Ris blocks 6xx (1995) / Jurong East – Toh Guan Road precinct (1998)

1990s standard HDB floor plans

From 1992 the HDB flat types were slightly enlarged but much more diversificated: 4-Room Model A (100-108 sqm), 5-Room Improved (120-128 sqm), 5-Room Model A (133-137 sqm), Executive Apartments / Maisonettes (142-150 sqm). Some Executive Apartments have 3 toilets (2 master bedrooms) 2 years passed and I still did not saw any such flooplan, probably it is referring only to Jumbo, converted flats. More and more 5-Room and Executive were built, this increased average size of new flats to about 120-125 square meters.
A small number of 2-Room flats has been built in 1994 (Pasir Ris block 142), does anyone have more info about these mysterious dwellings?

1993-1995 block with 4-Room Model A (107 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (125 sqm)

(no floorplan found for 5-Room Improved pair of this block type)

1996-1998 block with 4-Room Model A (100 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (120-123 sqm), some blocks have some smaller units named 4-Room Model A2 (90 sqm), some have different corners with 4-Room and 5-Room units, others have a wing with 2 units of 5-Room

1993-1998 blocks with Executive Apartment (144-147 sqm), some are L-shaped with 4 units per floor or U-shaped with 5 units per floor, some are longer like slab blocks and include corridor units, some also contains Executive Maisonette

1993-1998 blocks with Executive Apartment (142-146 sqm), some are square blocks with 4 units per floor (of which 2 use right plan), some have one side with 4 units and other one with 2 units per floor

1990s non-standard and crazy HDB floor plans

UNIQUE, 1997 Premium contract Tampines blocks 498 composed by 4-Room Model A (106 sqm), 5-Room Improved (126 sqm) and Executive Apartment (144-148 sqm).

UNIQUE, 1998 Bedok block 140 with 5-Room Improved (121 sqm), 3 balconies!

UNIQUE, 1997-1998 Premium contract Bukit Batok blocks 288/289 composed by Executive Apartment (144 sqm) and Executive Maisonette (165 sqm), EA have 3 balconies!

UNIQUE Executive Apartments

UNIQUE, HDB Penthouse Maisonettes
They are located in topmost floor of some 1990s precincts in Bishan (52 units), Choa Chu Kang (12 units), Queenstown-Strathmore (4 units), (source), also unknown number of units in Hougang and Pasir Ris. They are up to 190 sqm, plus a roof terrace
Posted in March 2012 for KZ (the boy who keep annoying me “post this, post that, post more!”)

First downsize of flats

Another change for the flats topped in 1998, the flat areas were standardized to a slightly smaller size: 4-Room (100 sqm), 5-Room (120 sqm), Executive (140 sqm), they replaced the store room with a household shelter with strengthened 30 cm walls and sealing door, which eats about 5 sqm of space, and hacking it is not allowed. A bad idea and useless thing in my opinion, but the worst part is sometimes placed in middle of flat, making the layout less flexible. Average flat size 110 sqm.
5-Room no longer have study area. Executives are 3 bedrooms plus open study area that can be walled into a 4th bedroom.

1998-2000 block with 4-Room Model A (100 sqm), 5-Room Improved (120 sqm) and Executive Apartment (140 sqm), some blocks have 4-Room Model A2 (85 sqm)

1998-2000 block with Executive Apartment (140 sqm) and Executive Maisonette (142 sqm).
Executive Maisonette with bomb shelter RARE, only 10 blocks!! (no floorplan found for EA pair)

Second downsize of flats

The flat sizes topped in 2000 were shrinked: 4-Room (90 sqm), 5-Room (110 sqm), Executive (130 sqm), Maisonettes were dropped. But because of building large amount of 5-Room flats (which are simply 3-bedroom flats with larger rooms), the average size remained high as 105 sqm.

2000-2002 block with 4-Room Model A (90 sqm), 5-Room Improved (110 sqm) and Executive Apartment (130 sqm)

2000s – Little decline

After 2000, no other New Town or Estate were started. Construction continues only in existing estates.
The demand for new flats felt sharply in 1998 due of 1997 Asian Crisis, the year in which HDB planned to finish a record number of units. HDB accumulated about 40000 unsold units in the year 2000, most of them being 5-Room and Executive.
Classic selling system (Registration for Flat) was suspended.
Walk In Selection has been introduced in 2002 to help clearing the stock of unsold flats.
Build-To-Order was introduced in 2001 and became main supply of flats. Tender for construction is called only if at least 70% of units have been booked, otherwise the project is canceled and may be re-launched when will be more demand, with a different name and sometimes different design.
The first BTO projects were launched in April 2001 and were completed in early 2005. For the first projects were low interest, 5 of them being cancelled. But later, the demand increased and most projects became oversubscribed, so from 2008 HDB launch 2 BTO projects every month. Each project have usually 400-1000 units, since 2010 some have 1500+ units. The construction ratio may reach 30000+ units per year in 2013.
Design, Build and Sell Scheme are public housing built and sold by private developers, it feature condo-style facades, but without guards, pool, or other condo facilities, it is still public housing! First DBSS project was launched in 2006 and completed in 2009. See the List of DBSS sites on HDB website and my List of DBSS that include statistics.
In 2007, due of bad economic conditions and increased number of poor people, HDB resumed building rental blocks, corridor-style with 1- and 2-room apartments.

Walk-in Selection ended in 2007 and was replaced by Sale of Balance Flats twice per year.
BTO system prevent HDB to built surplus of units, but due of the 4-year waiting time from application to receive keys, this stupid BTO system created a massive deficit which caused flat prices rising in late 2000s.

Taller and taller blocks were built, in areas where are no height restrictions. 30-storey complexes appeared since late 1990s, and the first 40-storey complex (Toa Payoh Towers) was completed in Q1 2005.

Bukit Batok West Avenue 5 (2005) / The River Vista @ Kallang (2010)

Sembawang – Blue Riverview (2001) / Toa Payoh HDB Hub and Central Horizon

Sengkang – Compassvale South Gate (2001) and Coral Vale (2004)

Punggol – Edgedale Green and Periwinkle

2000s random HDB floor plans

Along 4-Room (90 sqm) and 5-Room (110 sqm), in 2004 they announced reintroduction of 3-Room (60 sqm, later ones 65 sqm) via BTO system, first being topped in 2008. But personally I see some 3-Room built early as 2002 (Cantonament Road block 8, 9, 11, 18 probably built for SERS).
Due of large amount of unsold flats of larger sizes, HDB stopped building Executive Apartments, last one being topped in 2004, also very few 5-Room were topped in 2007-2009 (Executive Maisonettes no longer built since 2000). The average size of new flats dropped from 105 sqm in 2002-2004 to 90 sqm in 2007 and around 80 sqm later (further calculation is necessary for precise numbers).
The privacy was improved, as HDB no longer build corridor-facing flats since early 2000s (except rental blocks built in late 2000s). Overall, all rooms became smaller, as Executive are no longer build, most 5-room got back the study area.

Studio Apartment were launched in 1998, sold with 30-year leases for people aged over 55, these are classified as 1-Room 35 sqm and 2-Room 45 sqm, but all have separate bedroom). Originally were built in all-studio blocks, but from 2006 were mixed in BTOs with normal 3-, 4-, 5-room units.

A common misconception is that Executive Apartments were replaced by Executive Condominiums. This is WRONG! Executive Condominium scheme was launched in 1995, it is private housing under eligibility rules similar with HDBs, they offer flat sizes varying as much as 50-200 sqm, no idea why the word Executive takes part of it.

Too many different layouts were build in the 2000s, most flats are similar in circular pattern: living – small bedrooms – master bedroom – bathrooms – kitchen, but a lot of variations in room sizes, there are floor plan variations even from one floor to another floor of same block, so is not possible to post on my website all possible floor plans.

If you want floorplan of a certain block, try googling its precint name (rather than block number). Look on www.renotalk.com or other forums, where people post their floor plans asking for renovation ideas. Note that floor plans with dimensions are provided only when the block is nearly completed, so do not ask me floor plans of under construction BTO. For those, I have PDF brochures, without dimensions.

Pre-BTO era Punggol floor plans: 4-Room (90 sqm), 5-Room (110 sqm) and Executive (130 sqm), oversized living room

BTO/SERS era mix: 2-Room Studio (45 sqm) from Commonwealth View SERS, 3-Room (66 sqm) from Straits Vista BTO / 4-Room (90 sqm) from Membina Court SERS, 4-Room (90 sqm) from Kallang Heights SERS with bad-shaped living room, 4-room with central living room from unknown area. Point mouse cursor on photos for details!

Sembawang Blue Riverview: pie-slice Premium Executive Apartment (137 sqm)

THIS is how does look a block full with unsold Executive Apartment (140 sqm?) split into 2-Room (52 sqm?) and 3-Room (83 sqm), 5 sqm lobby, resulting in a fucking crazy layout! Notice window position for living room and master toilet! I am curious if they built another bomb shelter for the 2-Room! This is from Sengkang, there are also in Jurong West.

Pinnacle @ Duxton

The construction of the first 50-storey public housing complex commenced in 2005 and was completed in december 2009, because in february 2010, HDB anniversary 50 years of history. It is the biggest BTO, having 1848 apartments (7 blocks × 44 residential floors × 6 units per floor). 35 unit variations are created by different bay windows, balconies and planters.

But in my opinion, is the worst HDB in history, because:
Seven identical rectangular blocks placed in a row makes the complex to look like a ugly wall which reminds me of Hong Kong, blocking views and sun to nearby buildings.
The unaligned windows and randomly placed balconies and planters makes the complex to look even more ugly.
If it is a so special project, why the flats still have standard sizes, 90 sq m for 4-Room and 103 sq m for 5-Room? All flats have similar layout with three bedrooms, the single difference is the livingroom slightly bigger.
Thicker columns reduce the usage space, the hallway eats space too. Common rooms are only 3.4 by 2.8 meters, another negative record in HDB history. Even in the 1960s and 1970s, even in 2-Room flats, every bedroom was 4 by 3 meters (or larger).
The kitchens are facing inside of block, some people criticized that but personally I do not see this a bad thing compared with other contemporary projects.
A security flaw may allow burglars to break in via toilet window, raised concern along some residents, see the story.

2010s – Today trends

The demand for HDB flats is very strong nowadays. Buyers who do not want to wait 3-4 years for BTO completion are forced to go in resale market, THIS caused the resale prices to double from 2007 to end of 2012 and the prices of new flats grew according to resale prices.
HDB launched 9000 BTO flats in 2009, 16000 in 2010, 25000 in 2011 (3000 more flats than planned at beginning of year), and this still did not cope the demand. Another 25000 BTO flats are planned for 2012, I am sure that they will build even more flats, to fill the DBSS gap.
DBSS land sales were suspended in July 2011 after the Sim Lian Group, developer of Centrale 8 (8th DBSS) set outrageous prices around $880.000 for 5-Room, also the project was badly designed and apartment sizes were smaller than the HDB standard of 90/110 sqm. So far 13 land parcels were sold for DBSS.

SkyVille & SkyTerrace @ Dawson, two iconic BTOs were launched in december 2009. The apartment sizes were even smaller than in Pinnacle@Duxton, to 83 sqm for 4-Room and 101 sqm for 5-Room, probably for reducing prices, but they are still the most expensive HDB apartments ever offered for sale, due of prime location near Queenstown MRT. SkyTerrace feature loft and paired units (similar with dual-key units in condos), this design caused some waste of floor space of the already too small and too expensive apartments, but both were still oversubscribed (9865 applications for all 1718 units, up to 12 applicants for each 5-Room unit, but in case of 3-Room units were slightly less applicants than units).

Other BTO projects of 2010s decade remained at the standard sizes 45 / 65 / 90 / 110 sqm. Due of high demand for 5-room, the average flat size rose from 78 sqm for BTO launched in 2010 to 83 sqm for BTO launched in 2012.
But the DBSS sizes sucks, Trivelis 5-room is only 105 sqm of which 17 sqm is wasted. Comparing with balcony size which is specified: 12 sqm, living room is 3×5 meters and common bedrooms 3×2.5 meters… click to BE SHOCKED.

Future HDB towns
According Wikipedia, after the current New Towns will be saturated, HDB will start Tengah, Simpang, Bukit Brown, Bidadari and Seletar New Towns… this info seems to be extracted from Concept Plan 2011.
Bidadari New Town will be started in 2012 and may get first residents in 2015… BUT in my opinion is not possible to start a new town using the current BTO system, that is sold before being built. Who the fuck will apply for a BTO placed in a middle of nowhere, without knowing how many other blocks or amenities will be launched nearby? The single solution is to start building NOW and sell them through SOBF when some amenities are at least planned!

But the Concept Plan WHERE IS???? We are in 2012 and www.ura.gov.sg don’t show any Concept Plan 2011.

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Trouble finding floor plan of a certain block? Have a floor plan and want to know where it is located? I may help you!
Do not make stupid request like “Gimme the 4-room floorplan AMK model” each HDB town may have dozens of floorplans, each floorplan can be found in multiple towns, I have no reason to sort floorplans by town.
This service will be FREE as long as it help me increasing my knowledge about HDB.
Looking for the age of a block or for the flat sizes in certain block? No need to ask me, just use HDB Resale flat prices.

More USEFUL info

How I got floor plans?
The floor plans posted on this page with yellow-cream background are copied from SOBF Oct 2009, scale: 30 pixels = 1 metre, the rest of floor plans with different background are token from random forums and websites.

How many New Towns built HDB in Singapore?
Usually is said that 27. But in reality this is the number of Planning Areas.
URA defined 55 Planning Areas in 1991, of which 27 contains or contained HDB blocks. There is no relation between Planning Areas and historical development HDB New Towns / Estates.
Examples and exceptions:
Geylang planning area contains several HDB estates built inside of the main city, which cannot be considered “New Towns”.
Tampines planning area includes 2 HDB New Towns: Tampines and Simei (I’m doubt to call Simei a New Town, it is only 7036 units, less than Marine Parade Estate).
Jurong was built in 1980s as a single New Town, but now is splitted between two planning areas due its massive size.
Kallang-Whampoa is one HDB town stretching on 2 planning areas, Pasir Ris town also include Changi Village.
Lim Chu Kang planning area contained a very small estate (93 units) which was abandoned in 2001, today still appears on HDB resale transactions list.
The biggest town/planning area by number of units was Bedok in early 1990s, Tampines from 1996 and Jurong West from 2000. In the mid-2010s decade, Sengkang may become the biggest HDB town.

Based on construction stages:
Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) and Housing and Development Board (HDB) built 22 New Towns (10000-70000 units) and over 40 small estates (under 10000 units).
Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) built between 1968 and 1980s(?) a small number of blocks for low-income people, in Jurong and Sembawang industrial areas.
Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDC) built between 1974 and 1985 19 estates of 7750 units (source) or 18 estates of 7731 units (source) for high-income people who did not qualify for HDB flats but could not afford a private property. Never found any list of them… so I made myself a list of 21 HUDC estates. HUDC floorplans are similar with HDB Executive Apartments / Maisonettes, just being a little bigger, usually in range 150-165 sq m.
HDB took over JTC and HUDC in 1982, becoming sole provider of public housing in Singapore.
All these New Towns and Estates were reorganized in 1991 into 27 Towns.

What is Lease Commence Date?
Is when the 99-year lease starts… and the years used by me in naming the floor plans are Lease Commence Date, NOT launch date or construction finishing date. That is why 2000-2002 are placed in 1990s decade. Household shelter appeared in HDB Annual Report 1996 and first blocks have leases from 1998.
Before BTO era, construction took 2-3 years (maybe even less in case of old low-rise blocks). Lease starts usually after up to 1 year from when construction is finished, this rule does not apply for pre-1973 blocks, in which Lease Commence Date is the year in which HDB decided to sell/allowed tenants to buy their flats.
Tiong Bahru 1940s blocks have leases from 1973, Redhill 1950s blocks have leases from 1983, some 1970s 2-Room blocks were reserved for rental until 1986, the blocks converted during 1990s into Jumbo flats have leases from the year of conversion.

Home Ownership Scheme was introduced in 1964, I always wondered what they did until 1967 (oldest HDB leases). HOS was piloted in Tiong Bahru pre-war blocks in 1965-1967, also they are the single privatized HDB flats (source). So, in 1967 they realized how to implement HOS without privatization of HDB?!

Some people are unhappy that all HDBs are 99-year leased, saying that nobody wants to buy flats with less than 30 years lease. But oldest leases are from 1967, and most of 1960s HDBs had been demolished, most condos are en-bloc after only 30 years. No blocks can reach end of lease soon. But I cannot imagine Singapore of the year 2050, too many blocks has been built since 1980s onward to SERS them.

Suggestions for website

Note that this page was intended as a student-like research of HDB evolution along history, showing TYPICAL floor plans, but seems that most people use it as resale buying guide or expect a complete floor plan collection, no matter how many floorplans I post, they want more floor plans.
Some people even emailed me floor plans of their own flat, to post it on website (most being too similar with the ones already posted, or too rare to worth posting), while others complain that the website is cluttered and suggested to STOP posting more unessential info.
See here how I track image clicks. Least clicked floor plans may be deleted!

If you are student or love architecture, I invite you to check the apartments designed by me, some being inspired from HDB and improved or alternatives of HDB layouts.

I want HDB floor plans categorized by flat type instead of decade?

Interesting idea! BUT have more disadvantages than advantages.
- People may misbelieve that the all 4-room floor plans posted on category are the all 4-room layouts possible. Nobody could ever have all possible layouts, small differences leads to thousand distinct layouts!
- Also if I sort floor plans by flat type, will lose the connection between different flat types with similar floor plan within same block.
- People visit my website to see the flat layout before buying a resale flat, most of them know the block year, if the floor plans will be sorted by flat type, how people would know which layout is the one of their desired block?
- Some visitors use the chat in lower-right to ask me to identify or to give them floor plan of block number X. I am skilled enough to identify block generation and layouts in it just by looking into satellite photos, then indicate to visitor the block year model where to look.

I will review this idea after moving to new website, and I will have more freedom on webdesign. Meantime, try giving me BETTER suggestions!

Split this page into separate pages for each decade?
Bad idea! On which page should visitors enter? 75% of website visitors do not browse other pages than their landing page. A google search for “4-Room Model A” may land you in 2000s page when you are you looking for 1982 Model A.
Also searching entire HDB history with Ctrl+F will not work anymore.

Someone complained that floor plans are not sorted by address?
Why I WOULD sort them by town or address? Each HDB town may have dozens of floor plans, each floor plan can be found in multiple towns.

My website is HARD TO USE?
See this weird visitor behavior… browsing through a lot of pages without clicking a single floor plan in this page. May be a sign that my website is hard to use and need improvements.
Suggestions pleaseeee!!!!

Buy brochures and floor plans!

I use my time to chat with website visitors and help numerous people finding HDB floor plans and give tips about buying. Researching HDB, searching for floor plans and maintaining this website takes time. The chat itself cost me $134 per year, proof.
March 2012 Sale of Balance flats contains about 1500 PDF files with floor plans, they will be deleted some day, saving each of them takes about 20 hours of unpaid time.
Webs is free hosting, with limited storage and bandwidth, I moved the website on paid hosting.
If you want me to continue, please support me!

HDB sell floorplans of desired flats, for $5 per floorplan.
So, I decided to sell my collection of BTO brochures since Dec 2009 onwards, for $1 per month, as well as collection of SOBF brochures of Oct 2008, Apr 2009, Oct 2009, Aug 2010, Sep 2011, that would mean several hundred floorplans with dimensions, for $10 per launch. Why you pay $5 for one floorplan when you can pay $50 for hundreds of floorplans of 5 launches? Don’t miss such great offer!

Buy them in www.teoalida.com/store/ !

Exact BTO launch date? Near end of month, see past launch dates: 29 Jan, 21 Nov, 27 Sep, 31 Jul, 30 May, 28 Mar.
A SOBF (unsold flats of past BTO and SERS projects, plus completed and repurchased flats) was announced for May instead of each march and september as we expected.
Review of May BTO: 1000+ flats in Woodlands and 2000+ flats in an undeveloped corner of Sembawang, both far away from MRT. Who will apply here? Will be the first cancelled BTO after 9 years? HDB may set a new record of cheapest BTO to prevent this!

I noticed many visitors coming here by searching things like “2013 BTO list” or “2013 BTO launch locations“, as well as asking me such things.
There is NOT possible to predict future, just 2 months ahead as shown on HDB Upcoming Sales Launches as well as past 6 months. Expect new BTO launches in every town having empty land (no empty land in Marine Parade). I am surprised in 2012 to see more and more BTO launched in mature towns.
Important note about completion date.

Do you know that HDB website provide application ratio for last 3 years of BTO? I am thinking to add such info in my BTO table, feedback needed please give me ideas what numbers I should add (first timers, total, per flat type, or…?)

For those people who report me “next month will be BTO launch in towns X and Y” – “Yes I know” – “And your list do not show that“, cannot know in advance the project name, completion date and number of units, so… I add them in my table in the day of launch.

I have the brochures of all BTOs launched since december 2009, for sale for collectors. Flat buyers who are interested in one or two brochures, contact me I will e-mail you for FREE! Does anyone happen to have older brochures? or to have friends working at HDB that can give us brochures of earlier BTOs?

Statistics: as end of 2012, 102921 flats were launched under BTO (excluding 2709 cancelled flats).
By considering standard size 1-Room 35 sqm, 2-Room 45 sqm, 3-Room 65 sqm, 4-Room 90 sqm, 5-Room 110 sqm, the average BTO flat size is of 82.97 sqm and growing (average of 2009 79.72 sqm, 2010 78.79 sqm, 2011 BTO 81.77 sqm, 2012 83.17 sqm) but still small compared with 1990s projects which were 120 sqm in average. The floor areas vary a little, as the units with balcony have extra 3 sqm while Duxton and Dawson units are smaller. Do I should include balconies and A/C ledge when calculating average floor area?

Note about completion date:
Got an e-mail in early 2011 regarding updates of BTO completion date (the completion date for latest BTO projects were blank). Originally I took completion dates from Wikipedia which specify same month 4 years ahead, and I kept adding 4 years of the projects not listed in Wikipedia, this was WRONG. In 2011 I wrote completion date based by estimating waiting time, then realized that THIS IS WRONG again, because the waiting time is measured from launching date but from selection date which is 2-8 months ahead. Now I take as completion date the “Estimated TOP” from PDF brochures provided at each BTO launch.
Several visitors informed me about 2009 BTOs being completed earlier than the standard 4-year building time. HDB decided in 2010 to speed up BTO production, and seems that affects the already-launched projects.
Another visitor informed me that at SOBF launch they show updated completion date, earlier than original completion date shown at BTO launch, but since not all BTOs have leftover units to go in SOBF, and to prevent being blamed for providing wrong completion date by people having BTO brochures, I choose to show the original estimation of completion dates.
Some visitors ask me what is the ACTUAL completion date or key collection date, for certain BTO. Can’t answer, best to ask someone residing in that BTO, or check HDB Events, look for the Welcome Parties.
Uusually under construction BTO have communities on Facebook or various forums, residents posting construction updates and predict completion date.
Also note that Pinnacle@Duxton collected keys and moved in December 2009, but skybridges were still under construction until May 2010 “completion date”.

ERRATA: One visitor reported that Spring Lodge was not cancelled. I checked the map and he is RIGHT, the original list on Wikipedia that I used for making my table, was WRONG, showing Spring Lodge as block 465 cancelled, with completion date 2007, Spring Lodge has been built, BUT as block 466 (lease commence date 2006, completion probably 2005). WTF!!??
Anyway, where is the River Edge supposedly completed in 2005? In case Wikipedia shows Spring Lodge under name River Edge, does anyone know which BTO has been cancelled in 2003?

Fernvale Lodge: Wikipedia listed it as BTO, launched date 2009, completion date unknown, so I included it in my table too. Many visitors came to my website by google search Fernvale Lodge. So I investigated, it is not a BTO neither SERS, it was put on sale first time in the Sale of Balance Flats of September 2011, and completed in 2012. I deleted it from my table.

Suggestions

One of website visitors suggested to make pages for each BTO, floor plans, prices, best unit review, similar with what does h88.com.sg. I CAN do his, but why I should do something that is done already? I already dedicate a lot of time for website and Singapore section do not produce any earnings.
On my website concentrate for things that do not exists elsewhere.

Buy brochures and floorplans!

I use my time to chat with website visitors and help numerous people finding HDB floorplans and give tips about buying. Researching HDB, searching for floorplans and maintaining this website takes time. The chat itself cost me $134 per year, proof.
March 2012 Sale of Balance flats contains about 1500 PDF files with floorplans, they will be deleted some day, saving each of them takes about 20 hours of unpaid time.
Webs is free hosting, with limited storage and bandwidth, to expand the website I need to get a paid hosting.
If you want me to continue, please support me!

HDB sell floor plans of desired flats, for $5 per floor plan.
So, I decided to sell my collection of BTO brochures since Dec 2009 onwards, for $1 per month, as well as collection of SOBF brochures of Oct 2008, Apr 2009, Oct 2009, Aug 2010, Sep 2011, that would mean several hundred floor plans with dimensions, for $10 per launch. Why you pay $5 for one floor plan when you can pay $50 for hundreds of floor plans of 5 launches? Don’t miss such great offer!

Buy them in www.teoalida.com/store/ !

Ministry of National Development, Khaw Boon Wan said that HDB flats are not shrinking over least 15 years. This has being copied on various blogs.
As you can see in the below chart made by me, it is partially true, because the 4-room flats topped in 2000 were 90 sqm, 4-room flats launched in 2012 (TOP 2016) are 90 sqm too, BUT in 2000 the 4-room flat was the smallest flat available, while today it is just average.
Do not forget the shrunk that occurred 15-20 years ago.

Dr Cheong Koon Hean, HDB CEO, said that Smaller flats do not mean lower quality of living, referring that family size decreased and square meter per person increased for 5-room flats, but exactly the table provided by him, shows that nationwide sqm per person is DECREASING, because in 1990s 3.9 people had to share 100-140 sqm flats, while today 3.4 people have to share 65-110 sqm only.

Also how the fuck the quality of living has not been lowered… if they make master bedroom small as 4 by 3 meters and you cannot put anymore a double bed, wardrobe and desk!?

THE TRUTH: average size of all types of NEW flats, has been shrunk from 125 sqm for flats sold in mid-1990s to 78 sqm for BTOs launched in 2010 and rose to 83 sqm for BTOs launched in 2012, thanks for high applicant ratio for 5-room and reducing distribution of 2/3-room. Average size of all housing stock is around 95 sqm.

Let’s look on HDB website at applicant ratio, see how 3-room remain unsold, despite of cheaper price and higher grants, and how big battle is for 5-room. I heard of many couples without children buying 4/5-room just for space and not for having 3 bedrooms, some even convert them into huge 2-room. Looks like that people can still afford big HDB flats!
Executive Apartmentse are no longer built since 2004 due of large amount of unsold flats after 1997 Asian Crisis. But the economy recovered, there are rumors that HDB refuse to resume Executive becausee there are no more large families and they will be picked by rich people able to afford more space than they normally need.
Personally I think that 4-bedroom HDBs are necessary, otherwise will discourage families to make more than 2 children, no wonder why birth rate is falling!

Citizens, what do you prefer? To resume building Executive Apartments of 130 sqm, or to enlarge current 3/4/5-Room to 75/100/125 sqm?

Sick of HDB flat sizes?

Take a look how is the Housing around the World, especially in United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil, etc… and realize that Singapore apartments are already one of the biggest in the world. The single country which exceed Singapore housing size and quality (and I love it!) is Korea, having 3, 4, even 5 bedrooms, averaging 110 sqm, they did not reduced apartment sizes, they succeeded to keep prices stagnating and even decreasing last 20 years by building more than demand. Can’t understand why they need so many rooms.

Currently I am studying Korea and I want to make a page dedicated for Korea housing as soon as I have enough info!

I noticed a worldwide home sizes shrink around year 2000. Can be the technology responsible for this? For example: laptops replaced desktop computers, plasma TVs hanged on wall so you no more need TV stand, and the kids no longer need toys because are playing in cyberspace?

But why I see so many Singaporeans complaying about flat sizes? Probably they never heard of versatile furniture, probably they have the Malay tradition with oversized houses, also HDB built too big and cheap flats in 1980s and 1990s, encouraging people to buy more than necessary and how to waste space. Chinese, indian, others.

In my opinion, the standard sizes of 65/90/110 sqm is slightly acceptable, 75/100/125 sqm is the ideal, and most important, the average flat size should be 100 sqm. But is totally unnacceptable that HDB and private developers arleady went UNDER the standard sizes, URA should urgently regulate minimum apartment size!

Note for above poll: I have noticed that every time when second choice get votes, someone vote for third choice too. I am afraid that people vote for sqm and don’t realize that third choice means only 10% of 5-room, or the today families do not need 4 bedrooms?

HDB built in total slightly over 1 million apartments since 1960 (the 1 millionth flat was completed in december 2010), additionally a small number of public housing flats were built  by SIT, JTC and HUDC. Of them, 916842 apartments are in use at 31 March 2012, the rest being demolished or converted into bigger units.

The average flat size of total housing stock growth continuously to about 95 sqm in 2004, then is slightly falling down.
The average size of NEW flats under BTO system started in the 2000s is 83 sqm, much smaller compared with the flats built in mid-1990s which were about 120 sqm in average, a world record for public housing.
Home ownership of HDB flats reached 94% in 2002, then slowly felt down to 90% in 2011.

According Annual Report 2010, out of 3.818 million resident population (Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents), 3.157 millions live in HDB apartments, this means 82% (non-residents are not allowed to own HDB apartments but they can live in apartments owned by a resident spouse, also they are allowed to own apartments in private condominiums taller than 6 storeys but not landed houses or apartments in low-rise condominiums). This means average family size of 3.44 residents per apartment and 27 sqm per person. For comparison, in 1968 were in average 6.2 people per apartment (average flat size I estimate around 40 sqm).
Many HDB owners are renting rooms or entire flat to foreigners, there are NO official statistics about how many non-residents live in HDB apartments.

According Yearbook of Statistics 2010, Singapore population including non-residents is 5076700 living in 1180500 dwelling units (HDBs, condos, private flats, landed houses, others), of which 76.3% are HDBs, this means a nationwide average of 4.30 people per dwelling unit, if the average would be same for HDB, it would mean 22 sqm per person (cannot find anymore statistics including non-residents for 2012).

Sources: Statistics Singapore for the population, HDB Annual Reports for the number of flats (units) and for the average flat sizes. Statistics Singapore also show population living in condos and landed houses, in case you are interested.

Declining of the 3-Room flats is due demolition and joining two flats to form a larger one, declining of HUDC flats is due privatization. Also flat sizes were decreasing after 2000. From the middle of 1980s, 4-Room flats became dominant in newly finished blocks, and for a short time, in 2002-2003, the 5-Room apartments became dominant in newly finished blocks.

Statistics based on Resale Transactions
I copied HDB Resale Transactions for one year in Microsoft Excel to make calculations. Results:
As country level: the average flats size is 97.25 sqm (average of ~27500 units).
As town level: Central Area (most built in 1970s) have the smallest flats, 72 sqm (average of ~180 units) while Pasir Ris New Town (built between 1988 and 1996) have the biggest flats, 124 sqm (average of ~850 units).
As neighborhood level: Pasir Ris 2XX neighborhood have the biggest flats, 134 sqm (average of ~120 units), Pasir Ris 5XX have 130 sqm (average of ~180 units), Pasir Ris 6XX have 127 sqm (average of ~100 units), Choa Chu Kang 5XX have 126 sqm (average of ~130 units), Tampines 3XX have 123 sqm (average of ~225 units).
As five-year period: 1993-1997 have the biggest flats, 119 sqm (average of ~3500 units).
Note that the average size of resold flats is slightly bigger than the real average flat size, because the big and <10 year old flats tends to change their owners more frequently than the small old flats owned mainly by elderly, also some of the small flats are rented from HDB rather than owned, so they never appear in resale transactions.

HDB Statistics.xls - updated on 20 Nov 2012 with Annual Report 2012 and also improved, you can compare it with the 2011 version the 2010 version. It contains:
Number of dwelling units by town and flat type, table and chart
Number of dwelling units by town and year, table and chart
Number of dwelling units by flat type and year, table and chart
Statistics for calculation of the average flat size along history
HDB achievements since 1960
Resale market statistics
Compiled by me using HDB Annual Reports 1994-1996 and 2000-2012, I don’t have 1997-1999.

Any opinion about my work?

I noticed many visitors coming here by searching things like “total number of HDB blocks in Singapore“. I estimate around 10.000 blocks.
HDB never provided statistics of number of blocks, just of number of units, so I think about starting to count the blocks myself, but TELL ME… I should also count the 2-storey shophouse that contains no residential units, only commercial units (flats accessible from shop entrance)? I should also count under-construction blocks and blocks awaiting demolition? I should count multi-storey carparks and precint pavilions too?

I saw a list of HDB flat types & models on SingaporeWatch.org as well as many other blogs, I have no idea who copied it and who was the original author or it, but since it was wrong and incomplete, I decided to make OWN list of flat types rather than copying it in my website too.
I am the original author of this list. Please do not copy my list elsewhere or if you do, credit me with a link to my website.

Also see www.teoalida.com/singapore/hdbfloorplans/ page!

Block types
Slab block – corridor-style block with 4 to 40+ units per floor
Point block – 4 apartments per floor, no corridors
Atrium block – a term introduced in 1990s denoting blocks with more than 4 units per floor but without long corridors
All 3 terms are no longer in use since late 1990s.

1960s-1980s flat types (refuse chute in kitchen)
1-Room Emergency (1960-?) – all demolished
2-Room Emergency (1960-?) – all demolished
1-Room Standard (1960-?) – no evidence if it existed, in my opinion should exists
2-Room Standard (1960-1970) – around 41 sqm, one WC
3-Room Standard (1960-1970) – around 50-55 sqm, one WC
4-Room Standard (1960-1970) – around 70-75 sqm, one WC
5-Room Standard (1974-1980) – 117-123 sqm, two toilets
1-Room Improved (1965-1980) – supposedly 33 sqm but multiple layouts exists
2-Room Improved (1965-1980) – usually 44 sqm, one WC and one shower
3-Room Improved (1965-1980) – usually 60 sqm and 69 sqm (3½-Room Modified),  one WC and one shower
4-Room Improved (1965-1980) – usually 82-84 sqm, one WC and one shower
5-Room Improved (1975-1990s) – usually 121-123 sqm, two toilets
3-Room New Generation (1975-1985) – usually 67 sqm and 82 sqm (3½-Room Modified), two toilets
4-Room New Generation (1975-1985) – usually 92 sqm, two toilets
3-Room Simplified (1984-1989) – usually 64 sqm
4-Room Simplified (1984-1989) – usually 84 sqm
3-Room Model A (1982-1989) – usually 73-75 sqm (3½-Room Modified 90 sqm supposedly to exists, but never saw any)
4-Room Model A (1982-1990s) – usually 105 sqm
5-Room Model A (1982-1985) – usually 135 sqm (short period, before introduction of Executive)
5-Room Model A Maisonette (1983-1984) – 140 sqm, TWO floors (short period, before introduction of Executive)
Executive Apartment (1984-1990s) – usually 142-146 sqm, ONE floor
Executive Maisonette (1984-1990s) – most 147 sqm, TWO floors
Multi-Generation (1987) – 132 sqm / 151-171 sqm, most 166 sqm, ONE floor
Jumbo, 4-Room / 5-Room / Executive (1992-1996) – 90-190 sqm, two flats adjoined by HDB, fresh leases
Adjoined Flat, 4-Room / 5-Room / Executive (any year) – 90-175 sqm, same with Jumbo, but done by owners, original leases

Early 1990s flat types (no household shelter)
4-Room Model A (1993-1998) – usually 100-108 sqm
5-Room Improved (1993-1998) – usually 120-128 sqm
5-Room Model A (1993-1998) – usually 133-137 sqm
Executive Apartment (1993-1998) – usually 142-150+ sqm
Executive Maisonette (1993-1998) – usually 144-146 sqm, penthouses up to 190 sqm, TWO floors

Late 1990s – today flat types (with household shelter)
1/2-Room Studio (2001-TODAY) – 35/45 sq m
3-Room Model A (2004-TODAY) – 60/65 sq m
4-Room Model A (1998-2000) – 100 sq m, Model A2 – 90 sq m
4-Room Model A (2000-TODAY) – 90 sq m, Model A2 – 85 sq m, some 80 sq m
5-Room Improved (1998-2000) – 120 sq m
5-Room Improved (2000-TODAY) – 110 sq m
Executive Apartment (1998-2000) – 140 sq m
Executive Apartment (2000-2005) – 125/130 sq m
Executive Maisonette (1998-2000) – 140 sq m, TWO floors

What is the difference between Studio and 2-Room
2-Room are for anyone, with 99-year leases. Studio are for age 55+ with 30-year leases, cannot be sold in open market. Floor plan is similar.

What is the difference between 4-Room and 5-Room
Many people asked me this, because all BTO-era flats have 3 bedrooms.
The difference is 20 sqm, where these 20 sqm are added vary much, larger living room including study corner, larger bedrooms, or in few cases, an extra bedroom!

What is the difference between Standard and Premium HDB flats
Premium: tiles, wall paint, doors, kitchen cabinets, probably wardrobes (not sure), plus better outdoor landscape, and in best cases, basement carpark.
Standard: raw concrete waiting for your renovation, doors optional.

What is the difference between BTO and DBSS flats
Can’t believe that some people do not know this and asked me
BTO are sold by HDB at normal prices while DBSS are sold by private developers at super fucking crazy outrageous high prices.
Beside this, DBSS rooms are smaller, A/C ledge and balcony are huge, there is NO advantage over BTO flats.

Beware of HDB naming system!
The naming system (4-Room, 5-Room, etc) is confusing, it do not denotes actual number of rooms, it define the flat size in square meters.
The total flat floor area is (too) standardized after 1997. Probably the reason of standardization is related to prices and taxes.
Individual room sizes may vary very much, for example: in 1985-2000 period, some 4-Room Model A had 3 small bedrooms and a livingroom big enough to build a 5th room (example), while some 5-Room Improved from same period had only 3 (but big) bedrooms and a livingroom (example).

All 5-Room built during 1970s-1988 and all Executives built during 1984-1988 have 3 bedrooms and a large room with separate living and dining areas, Executive have an additional utility/maid room, while most 5-Room built during 1988-2000 have 4 bedrooms and a small livingroom, many owners demolished one bedroom to enlarge livingroom, and Executive from same period have 4 bedrooms and a big livingroom, few of them have separate living and dining areas (in most cases 4th room is called study and have two sliding doors, or no door at all).
After 2000, no 5-Room have anymore 3 bedrooms, some have a open study area in the enlarged livingroom, some Executive Apartments have 4 bedrooms but most have 3 bedrooms plus an open study area.

My opinion
Too much standardization in flat sizes, the naming system (Improved, Model A) should be dropped, because since 1998, ALL 4-Room are Model A and all 5-Room are Improved. This creates confusion with older flats, because the today 5-Room are nothing else than a flat with 4 larger rooms, they are the smallest flats named 5-Room in HDB history.

How to identify future SERS sites:
Look in Google Maps / Earth for old blocks with big spaces between them, sitting in areas with high permissible plot ratio, and which never had upgrading programmes (although in 2011 they announced for SERS some blocks in Boon Lay and Redhill which had MUP in early 1990s but were not technically feasible for LUP). Block age does not matter, just that no 1980s block has been demolished so far.

For example, the area near Toa Payoh Lorong 8 built in early 1970s will be a SERS site for sure, probably the replacement site will be at Lorong 5, and it will be announced when the current blocks at Lorong 5 will be demolished. If you are hunting SERS flats, beware! There is a chance that not all 15 blocks will be demolished.
Meantime, the MacPherson estate built in early 1960s is unlikely to have SERS as the blocks are close as 20 meters apart and the proximity of Paya Lebar airbase do not allow more than 18 floors. The only blocks demolished in MacPherson where rental blocks.

Replacement blocks info:
All Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme sites (except several early ones) had new blocks built in nearby location dedicated to house the affected residents. There’s NO official list containing replacement blocks so I have to manually check completion year of surrounding blocks, to get the info. This takes long long time!
Update: is possible to see older press releases on archive.org and get the info about replacement blocks, but I constantly get messages that the server is down or page not found. I will try again later.
At least Lim Chu Kang and Punggol Rural Centre did not had dedicated replacement blocks and residents were forced to move anywhere.

Page created in January 2012.
Update June 2012: added info about replacement blocks for 2005-2007 SERS sites, as well as the number of units for all SERS sites.
Update October 2012: added info for 1995/1997 sites. I can add built year too. I should expand the table (number of columns)? Suggestions are welcome!

Although I am not interested in condos, I added this page on my website, after several request from visitors. I had the list of completed Executive Condominiums since 1-2 years ago, in my computer. Update Nov 2012: I added also the under construction EC, I compiled using www.h88.com.sg.
No EC was topped between 2009 and 2012, next ones will be topped in 2013 or 2014. HDB phased out EC scheme in favor of DBSS scheme, but resumed EC in 2010 in parallel with DBSS, then suspended DBSS in 2011.

What is the difference between Executive Condo and normal Condo: both have same facilities, EC are cheaper but have eligibility restrictions to citizens and permanent residents, plus minimum occupation period, like HDB. After 10 years since TOP date, restrictions are lifted.

You can see the land sales and under construction EC here:
http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10330p.nsf/w/LandDevMangSitesSold?OpenDocument > Residential Developlent > Executive Condominium (I deleted the direct link to PDF file because every time when HDB sell a new EC site, the link gets broken.

* Project received phased TOP:

* Florida (TFD)
- Phase 1 consists of Blocks 70 & 78, TOP 18 Feb 2000.
- Phase 2 consists of Blocks 72 & 76, TOP 30 May 2000.

* Whitewater (WEC)
- Phase 1 consists of Blocks 27, 29, 31, 33, TOP on 31 Jan 2005.
- Phase 2 consists of Blocks 21, 23 & 25, TOP on 1 Mar 2005.

* La Casa
- Phase 1 consists of Blocks 50, 52, 54, 56 & 58 on 22 Feb 2008.
- Phase 2 consists of Blocks 60, 62, 64, 66 & 68 on 25 Apr 2008.

# Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC).