HDB extends May sales launch by 3 days after complaints of technical glitches

Jun 01, 2023 07:55 pm

The Housing Board will extend its May sales launch by three days following complaints of technical glitches and long waiting times to enter its flat portal.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, HDB said it had been “progressively resolving glitches” for the sales application system, and are working on system enhancements to improve the overall system performance. Applications will now close on June 8, instead of June 5, on the HDB Flat Portal.

“We seek our buyers’ continued understanding and patience,” it said.

“However, we know that many applicants have been inconvenienced by the system glitches over the past two days, and understand their concerns over not being able to apply for a flat in this sales launch.

“We are sorry for the negative service experience, and would like to assure them that we are reaching out to assist those who are facing issues.”

HDB on Wednesday acknowledged that some applicants were unable to apply for a flat, even though they have completed their preliminary assessment for the HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter.

Residents living in Block 485 Segar Road were among those affected by the disruption on April 13.

Singapore

Bukit Panjang residents affected by 3-hour water disruption

Apr 14, 2024

Some applicants had also complained about the two-hour wait to enter the HDB Flat Portal at the launch on Tuesday. Applicants enter the virtual waiting room before they can access the portal, which shows details of the flats on offer in May.

HDB said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that the long waiting time could have been a result of three things – higher application volume due to 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 applicants who enter the flat portal to browse the flats on offer.

The May sales exercise is the first time applicants are required to complete a preliminary assessment for the HFE letter before applying for a flat, contributing to the long waiting time, HDB said.

The waiting time to enter the flat portal has improved, and the virtual waiting room had not been triggered for the whole of Thursday, HDB said on Thursday evening.

HDB introduced the virtual waiting room feature in the November 2022 sales exercise to better manage online traffic in instances where there are many applicants accessing the system at once.