I speak again on the issue of lift upgrading for the five blocks of HDB flats in Hougang SMC, namely Blk 363, 830, 831, 832 and 835 where there are still some flats which do not have same floor lift access. I have been raising this issue in Parliament every year since 2021.
While I am glad that lift upgrading was offered to 10 more HDB flats at Blk 833 last year, I hope the minister can explain what were the change in circumstances for Blk 833 which do not apply to the other 5 blocks.
In the past year, I continue to receive feedback from affected residents on their unhappiness over the lack of same floor lift access for the remaining five blocks. The lack of lift access is still a very real issue for some of my affected residents, especially those with mobility needs requiring assistance to access the stairs outside their units when they have to go out, not to mention risks during emergencies. I have said previously that I would feel the pain when residents told me that their parents or grandparents had to be carried when accessing the stairs next to their unit. Residents also have to pay additional charges for delivery items.
As for the lift access housing grant, this is still not an option for many residents with whom I have spoken to.
I was previously told by the Minister for National Development that as of January 2023, there were about 140 HDB blocks with units without same floor lift access. May I clarify with the minister between January 2023 and February 2025, what is the total number of such blocks where LUP has since been offered or made available?
I would also like to ask the Government, in the past 5 years how many HDB flats without same floor lift access has been provided with viable mechanical options on the adjoining staircase.
I have also heard the minister’s explanations to other MPs on 18 February. I would again like to call on the Government to not just look at the issue of lift access from the angle of cost alone, something which they could have been mitigated or avoided, if HDB had tendered out lift upgrading projects consisting of the blocks with problematic designs, together with other HDB blocks with no design issues for LUP.
Of the remaining affected HDB units without same floor lift access in Hougang, I hope HDB can provide an update as to which units still face technical constraints beyond the application of costly solutions, and which units have not been offered LUP due to high cost alone. I hope HDB will also inform residents in writing. This may also allow more in depth study and better understanding on a stack by stack basis. Please also inform residents of the alternative mechanical options available and the cost involved. Please inform my town council so that it can convey HDB’s explanation when asked by residents and it can also play a supportive role in the quest for solutions.
In closing I would like to call on the Government to consider giving same floor lift access to all HDB flats where it is technically not impossible for access to be provided with LUP save for reasons of costs. A greater subsidy should be given. After all, the design oversight is no fault of the flat owners and it is a matter of equity for all HDB flat owners.
