SINGAPORE — The Housing Development Board (HDB) has announced an extension to its May sales launch by three days, following complaints of technical issues and lengthy waiting times on its flat portal. The new deadline for applications is now set for 11:59 pm on 8 June.
The announcement, made on Thursday via a Facebook post, acknowledges the persistent technical glitches within the sales application system.
HDB conveyed its efforts towards “progressively resolving glitches” and improving the overall system performance.
Addressing the inconvenience suffered by applicants due to the glitches over the past two days, HDB expressed regret for the negative service experience and assured applicants of its commitment to assist those facing issues. By extending the deadline, HDB aims to provide buyers with more assurance and time to complete their applications.
On Wednesday, HDB confirmed that some applicants, despite having completed the preliminary assessment for the HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter, were unable to apply for a flat. This issue was further aggravated by a two-hour waiting period to enter the HDB Flat Portal during Tuesday’s launch.
The delay was reportedly due to several factors: increased application volume resulting from the combined Build-To-Order (BTO) flats and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) launch, popular mature estate projects such as those in Bedok and Serangoon, and numerous applicants browsing the flats on offer.
This May sales exercise also marks the first time applicants are required to complete a preliminary assessment for the HFE letter before applying for a flat, which might have contributed to the extended wait times.
HDB noted that the waiting time to access the flat portal has improved since then, with the virtual waiting room not being triggered on Thursday.
Despite improvements in the virtual queue, applicants continue to share their experiences and challenges in the HDB’s Facebook post comment section.
While some have acknowledged the improvement in the virtual queue and successful submission of the HFE letter, others report still facing difficulties in the application process.
Applicants have reported various issues, including errors on loading pages due to high traffic volume, trouble reaching the hotline, and difficulties submitting feedback on the issues they’ve encountered.
