Singapore’s recent policy to grant first-time homebuyers an additional Build-To-Order (BTO) or Sale of Balance Flat (SBF) ballot chance for each child marks a notable step in supporting growing families. However, the measure has drawn attention for its limited scope, particularly concerning larger families beyond the first-time buyer category.

Sean Xu Shunjie, a father of three, highlighted the challenges faced by families whose children arrive over several years. He noted that many couples initially purchase flats around marriage or the birth of their first child, and it can take close to a decade to expand their family to three or more children. By that point, these families often no longer qualify as first-time applicants and thus cannot benefit from the additional ballot chances.

While the government’s Third Child Priority Scheme offers support to both first- and second-time families, Xu contends that ballot priority alone does not address the deeper issue of limited availability of appropriately sized flats. In particular, four-room flats—the largest units typically offered in Plus and Prime locations—may not meet the needs of families with three or more children. As a result, such families might be compelled to consider flats in Standard locations, more costly resale flats, or even stretch to executive condominiums or private housing.

Xu urged the Ministry of National Development and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to extend the policy beyond first-time buyers, advocating that eligible second-timer families with three or more children should also receive additional per-child ballot chances. He also called for the inclusion of more five-room or flexible-layout flats in select Plus and Prime location projects, with priority given to larger families, to better accommodate their space requirements.

The issue raised reflects ongoing concerns about affordable housing adequacy for families experiencing growth over time, particularly in urban areas where housing supply and unit sizes can be constrained. Singapore’s housing policies have continuously evolved to balance the demands of a diverse, growing population while managing land scarcity, with smaller family units historically prioritized due to demographic trends. Nonetheless, the experiences of larger families underscore the need for ongoing review and potential adaptation of eligibility and housing provision frameworks to meet changing household compositions.