The Housing Board’s Community Care Apartments have seen a decline in demand due to escalating service prices, leading to changes in how these homes are sold to seniors.
Five projects have been launched, incorporating senior-friendly design features, with the first project in Bukit Batok being oversubscribed with 706 applicants vying for 169 units.
Community Care Apartments
Property firm Realion’s information showed that subsequent projects were undersubscribed, with the latest Sengkang project having the lowest rate of 0.7.
Community care apartments give seniors another housing option, integrating senior-friendly housing with care and social services that can be scaled according to their needs.
Residents have to subscribe to a basic service package which provides them with a range of care and support services, including round-the-clock emergency response and assistance with simple home fixes.
Basic Service Package
The total payment for such apartments comprises the flat price and the cost of the basic service package.
The basic service package prices have increased significantly in less than five years, with the fee for Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok project increasing to $159 from $50.
A resident who had chosen a 15-year lease was expected to pay either a full upfront payment of $22,000 for the basic service package services or a partial upfront payment of $13,000, followed by a monthly fee.
Related: Green spaces boost mental and physical health
Following a recent review, the authorities announced that the monthly basic service package fee will be lowered, with a streamlining of the service model, to improve affordability for residents.
Streamlining Services
The scope of basic service package services for projects operational from 2026 will be streamlined, making the emergency alert device feature optional.
MOH will provide a subsidy for eligible residents for specific basic service package components, such as support provided by the apartment staff and the round-the-clock emergency response.
Residents at Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok welcomed the reduction in basic service package fees, saying it made the services more affordable for them.
Vanguard said basic service package fees will continue to be reviewed and adjusted periodically to ensure they remain affordable for residents.
The changes to the basic service package fees and services will have a positive impact on the demand for community care apartments, making them a more viable option for seniors who require care and support services.
As the population ages, the need for such services will continue to grow, and it is essential that they are affordable and accessible to those who need them, such as those looking for Singapore property options.
The reduction in basic service package fees is a step in the right direction, and the authorities are taking steps to make these services more affordable and accessible to seniors.
