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Those aged 55 or older will be able to apply for assisted living flats, also known as community care apartments, from the Build-To-Order (BTO) sales exercise in October 2026. Previously, seniors must be at least 65 years old to buy such flats, which come with senior-friendly fittings and a package of care services costing about $159 a month.
Monthly service fees
Fees for these services, which residents must subscribe to, will be reduced by between 18 per cent and 75 per cent to $130 - $140 per month for example, for Bukit Batok’s Harmony Village.
The changes are part of efforts to expand housing and care options for seniors, alongside the roll-out of Age Well Neighbourhoods, said the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of National Development and Housing Board in a joint statement on July 13, 2026.
Eligible from 55 years old
The lower age requirement means that from age 55, people can apply for either a 2-room flexi HDB flat on a short lease or a community care apartment – giving those who wish to right-size their homes more options to choose from.
In HDB Sale of Balance (SBF) sales
The lower eligibility age, which will also apply to community care apartments in Sale of Balance Flats exercises, will also give seniors more time to plan ahead, the statement said.
5 Existing Community Care Locations
To date, HDB has launched five projects with such assisted living flats in Bukit Batok, Queenstown, Bedok, Geylang and Sengkang. In October 2026, about 260 such flats will be on offer in Toa Payoh next to Caldecott MRT station.
Cheaper monthly service fees
To make the basic service package more affordable, the scope of services in community care apartments will be streamlined from 2026.
For apartments already launched for sale, this means monthly fees that are between 18 per cent and 75 per cent lower, the statement said. Apartments launched in 2026 or later will have lower fees with the “most streamlined” scope of services.
Social activity fees removed
For example, social activities will be held in active ageing centres at the blocks or nearby, rather than at stand-alone communal spaces within the building. Such activities are typically subsidised and most are free. The cost of running these activities and maintaining communal spaces will be removed from the basic package.
“This would reduce the need for stand-alone communal spaces in future community care apartments,” the statement added.
Emergency alert device (optional)
To further lower fees, an emergency alert device will be made optional. Residents who decide not to have the device will continue to have 24-hour emergency support.
Basic services: Home fixes, letter & bill reading
Other services that continue to be offered under the basic package include assistance with simple home fixes, letter-reading and interpreting bills.
Staff support subsidised
MOH will also subsidise parts of the package, similar to what is currently subsidised under national long-term care schemes. This includes support by community care apartment staff.
Those who cannot perform at least one activity of daily living, such as bathing, going to the toilet and eating, will be eligible for this subsidy. It will be means-tested based on monthly per capita household income.
“The basic service package fees will be reviewed periodically to account for seniors’ care needs, inflation and changes to operational costs,” the statement added.
Reduced fees in effect from April - June 2027
The revised fees and subsidies will kick in from the second quarter of 2027.
According to operator Vanguard Healthcare’s website, the monthly basic fees for Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok – the only completed project with community care apartments at present – will be reduced from $159 to between $130 and $140.
Over a 45-year lease, residents would need to have an estimated $167,000 in cash for these service fees, down from $215,000.
Seniors taking part in an activity at Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok.
Fernvale Plains Community Care Apartments Undersubscribed
The last BTO project with community care apartments, Fernvale Plains in Sengkang in the October 2025 BTO launch, was undersubscribed, with 152 applicants for 207 units.
Lee Sze Teck, senior director of data analytics at real estate agency Huttons Asia, said the widened eligibility could increase demand for community care apartments. He noted that the application rate for Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok was 4.2. The rate for Fernvale Plains is 0.7.
Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at property firm Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Group, said there has been a declining number of applicants – from 706 in 2021 to 152 in 2025.
In the upcoming BTO sales exercise in October 2026, singles could have a higher chance of balloting for a 2-room flexi HDB flat if demand from seniors is diverted to community care apartments, she added.
Rosemary Retnam Nicholas Gerard, who has been living in Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok since 2025, said the reduced fees would make it more affordable for her son to support her. Her son has been paying about $180 a month for the basic package.
“I was a bit apprehensive (about living in a community care apartment) at first, but now I’m very happy and have made many friends,” said the 76-year-old.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.