The Housing Development Board (HDB) is giving extra priority to first- and second-timer applicants of HDB flats, with 90 per cent of the flat supply being safeguarded for this group, up from 80 per cent previously.

The HDB said this in a statement issued today, given the "pressing need" of newly-weds to settle down and start a family.

This priority also extends to first-time buyers and applicants who come under the Married Child Policy Scheme (MCPS) when they apply for new HDB flats.

First-time buyers will be given double the chances when balloting for flats, and those who have been repeatedly unsuccessful in being shortlisted for four or more Build-To-Order (BTO) and Balloting Exercises will also be given additional chances under the ballot to improve chances of them getting shortlisted.

Applicants who qualify as first-timers and are eligible under the MCPS will be given 4 chances under the ballot compared to regular Public Applicants. The assignment of additional chances to first-timers and MCPS applicants operates on a similar basis as the existing system.

For example, a typical first-timer applicant will be given 2 chances under the ballot. The same first-timer will be given a total of 3 chances under the ballot, if this is his 5th attempt at a BTO/Balloting Exercise and he has been repeatedly unsuccessful 4 times in the past. He will be given 4 chances under the ballot if he has been repeatedly unsuccessful 5 times previously. However, all previous unsuccessful attempts will be nullified, if an applicant was shortlisted within 100 per cent of the flat supply but did not proceed to select a flat.

For fairness, applicants will continue to be subject to a ballot to determine the order that applicants will be shortlisted to select a flat.

The changes take effect from today and will start with the BTO exercise for Punggol Vista launched today.