Housing & Development Board (HDB)

The Housing & Development Board (HDB) is Singapore’s public housing authority. It plans and develops Singapore’s housing estates; building homes and transforming towns to create a quality living environment for all. It provides various commercial, recreational and social amenities in its towns for its residents’ convenience.

Established on 1 February 1960 during the nation’s housing crisis, it was tasked with providing sanitary living conditions to replace the prevalent unhygienic slums and crowded squatter settlements. It delivered, and built 21,000 flats in less than three years. By 1965, within a decade of its formation, it had built 54,000 flats.

Singapore’s public housing has housed an entire nation – today, more than one million flats have been completed in 23 towns and three estates across the island. HDB flats spell home for 80 percent of Singapore’s resident population, of which about 90 percent own their home.

For over 50 years, it has provided quality and affordable public housing for generations of Singaporeans, and it is proud to continue doing so.