Singaporeans hold a common belief that HDB flats of today are generally much smaller than those built decades ago.
However, this has been debunked by former Minister Khaw Boon Wan during a dialogue in 2012, stating that HDB’s design criteria have remained unchanged since 1997.
Feeling the squeeze
More Singaporeans are starting to feel boxed in, especially those residing in smaller two-room and three-room units.
The circuit breaker measures could have also exacerbated this issue in 2020 when a large segment of the population was made to work from home.
A problem that arose from this pivot to WFH was how underlying tensions could escalate to violence at home, as family members and other occupants are forced to be confined to small spaces for extended periods.
The Straits Times reported an increase in the number of domestic violence cases due to the Covid-19 pandemic, pointing to the rise in stress stemming from income losses and work from home arrangements.
A total of 5,134 police reports relating to family violence were made in 2020, while another 3,700 calls were made to the National Anti-Violence Helpline in the first six months of 2021.
This has prompted some individuals to raise their concerns via the Straits Times forum, calling for HDB to consider building larger flats. The rationale was that bigger apartments would help reduce the likelihood of triggering underlying challenges within families.
Encouraging growing families
Aside from this, one of the forum submissions also points out that more space at home would not only forge healthy relationships among family members but could also encourage families to have more children.
This would be a boon for Singapore, considering its declining birth rate over the past two decades. The total fertility rate (TFR) bottomed out at a historic low of 1.1 in 2020 as many were forced to delay their parenthood plans due to the pandemic. 
PHOTO: Singapore Department of Statistics
Having access to a larger living space may incentivise young Singaporeans to have more kids, especially when they have the convenience of live-in family members to help out.
It also kills two birds with one-stone; being able to take care of ageing parents while having more in-home support from family.
Rapidly ageing population
Another argument calling for HDB to build larger flats was that it would be better for senior citizens to stay with their children, considering the rapid rate of ageing in the population.
Increased life expectancy coupled with declining birth rates makes Singapore one of the fastest ageing societies in Asia, alongside Japan.
It is estimated that around a third of Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above by 2035. 
PHOTO: Statista
Families residing in smaller flat types will definitely feel claustrophobic as the average household would usually comprise of a couple, two children, an elderly couple and a live-in helper.
With the pandemic changing how we live and work, having five to seven people reside comfortably in a HDB flat with only three bedrooms poses quite the conundrum.
Especially so if both parents and children are forced to adapt to WFH and home-based learning arrangements.
More buying bigger flats
Why Bigger Houses Are the New Trend, Even as Prices Soar
Since the pandemic hit, I’ve noticed a funny twist in the real‑estate market: more folks are hunting for four‑room and five‑room homes, even though resale prices are climbing faster than a caffeine‑addicted squirrel on a treadmill.
What’s Driving This Shift?
- Work‑from‑home life – The office has become a couch, and people want space for the entire crew.
- Family expansion – Kids are born, pets are adopted, and everyone needs a corner of their own.
- Investment vibes – Bigger homes often mean bigger return on resale, despite the high sticker price.
The Price Puzzle
It’s like buying a luxury car that keeps climbing in mileage: you’re still tempted, because the bigger room count = more value. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love a house that’s big enough to fit a banquet?
Bottom Line
Even as the market heats up, the allure of a 4‑ or 5‑room sanctuary keeps pulling homebuyers in. New normal, new normal buzz—just remember to bring the snacks!
Big Flats Are Poppin’ in 2021
Sound the alarm! The resale market for bigger four‑room and five‑room HDB units exploded in 2021, hitting jaw‑dropping growth rates of 28.6 % and 30.9 % respectively. These are the biggest jumps since the mid‑2010s.
What the Numbers Say
- Four‑room: 12,459 sold in 2021, a +28.6 % rise from 2020. The last time we saw double‑digit growth was back in 2016.
- Five‑room: 5,489 sold in 2021, a +30.9 % jump, smashing the 2016 record.
Historical Snapshot (2012‑2022)
| HDB type | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four‑room | 8,774 | 6,302 (-28%) | 6,387 (+1.3%) | 7,256 (+13.6%) | 8,146 (+12.2%) | 8,606 (+5.6%) | 8,880 (3.2%) | 9,368 (+5.5%) | 9,685 (+3.4%) | 12,459 (+28.6%) | 3,340 |
| Five‑room | 5,499 | 3,686 (-32.9%) | 3,464 (-6%) | 4,203 (+21.3%) | 4,625 (+10%) | 5,023 (+8.6%) | 5,531 (+10.1%) | 5,489 | — | — | — |
Sources: URA, Realis & 99.co – the champions of Singapore’s resale market data.
So buckle up, future homeowners! The big‑flat boom is here, and it’s looking brighter than a solar‑powered Singapore morning.
Return to normalcy
Why Heading Back to the Office Might Keep Your Home Life From Turning Into a Drama
Sure, folks, extra room and fewer home-flings are big reasons to love the idea of going back to the office. But sometimes the devil itself is just a few days away because the government is telling every single employee that the office doors are open again.
Less Home Turf Wars (and more peaceful kitchen moments)
- Working outside the house cuts down on those “Who’s next to eat the leftovers?” arguments fueled by cramped quarters.
- The longer you stay glued to the same sofa, the more likely tension builds—think of it as a pressure cooker waiting to blow.
- Field trips back to the office mean fresh air, new conversations, and a chance to decompress before you can’t stand your own living room.
Space? Singapore’s Land is a Limited-Edition Gift
With Singapore’s map looking a bit like a crisp sheet of paper, HDB faces a tough decision: build bigger or keep it compact. Digging through the government file, it becomes clear that tiling the whole island with larger flats isn’t a realistic plan.
Think Bigger, Think Older
Still craving a loft‑style sanctuary? Time to scroll back to the past:
- Executive Apartments – the vintage vibes that helped you master the art of efficient packing.
- Stars of the Jumbo Flat lineup – pockets of up to 2,000 sq ft that make “thick” feel like a stretch of sky in a concrete jungle.
Shh… your new home can be the explosion of space you’ve been dreaming about, but you’ll want to keep it on the down‑low.
First painted to 99.co, this perspective mixes the feel of a diary entry with a dash of humor to keep the feelings fresh and human.
