SINGAPORE: A man recently expressed his frustration on Reddit about the limited housing options available to singles under the age of 35, questioning whether current policies are inadvertently pressuring individuals into relationships to qualify for public housing.
Posting on the r/askSingapore forum, he described the situation as “pathetic and sad,” noting that unless someone has the financial means to rent or purchase private property, continuing to live with family is often the only option. This, he argued, can be particularly distressing for those in toxic or unstable home environments.
“I feel like housing options other than living with family are quite nonexistent. It’s really ridiculous. How many of us are having mental health issues, living with very toxic family members? And yet, we’re not financially stable enough to rent or buy a condo?” he wrote.
He went on to question why more hasn’t been done to support singles facing such situations. “These are very real issues, yet I don’t know why nothing much is done to help singles with housing. Just imagine singles who aren’t lucky enough to have a good family and have to endure 35 damn years just to be eligible for public housing.”
To address this gap, he proposed revising housing policies to accommodate singles better. One idea he suggested was to introduce schemes that allow unrelated individuals with compatible lifestyles to co-purchase and share a flat before the age of 35. He argued that such an arrangement would not be fundamentally different from how married couples are permitted to apply for a BTO (build-to-order) flat at a much younger age.
Beyond personal grievances, the man also raised concerns about the broader societal implications of the current system.
“If singles are looking to buy (an) HDB before 35, are we indirectly forced to get into relationships just to buy one? As a first-world country, what kind of message are we sending? What kind of society would this be?” he said.
He concluded his post by opening up the floor to others in similar situations, asking, “To the singles below 35, honest question, how are y’all doing in terms of housing? Especially if you are not financially stable enough to rent or buy private housing and also do not want to get into a relationship for the sake of a damn house.”
“You are not trapped. You just need to move…”
In the thread, many agreed with the man’s sentiments, with one commenting, “I just want to say that I feel you: I’m someone who does indeed have a troubled relationship with my family and did indeed bite the bullet to move out and rent in my mid-twenties, and yes, every time I think about how much I’ve spent on rental over the years, I wince.”
Another shared, “This. It’s so sad—even if we can afford an HDB, it’s not applicable for us. That made me leave the country either to solo travel or live abroad—it’s better to rent elsewhere and experience independence without offending the parents.”
However, not everyone agreed. Some felt that while the system is tough, there are still ways to take charge of your situation.
One said, “Waiting passively or complaining about how unfair it is probably won’t improve your situation. If you are stuck in a toxic home, your options are to get a job, get roommates, or rent a room. The system is not going to change overnight. It’s engineered to encourage traditional family and population growth and not individual autonomy.
So if you are not lucky with family, don’t wait for the system to give you freedom. Buy your freedom with action. Get the job, get the room, and protect your sanity. You are not trapped. You just need to move.”
In other news, a young Singaporean has taken to Reddit to share that her family is currently in the midst of a financial crisis, with house rent alone costing them approximately S$4,000 a month, and her mother is struggling to return to the workforce after spending the last 15 years as a full-time housewife.
Posting on the r/SGexams subreddit, the woman explained that her household consists of four people: herself, her mother, her older brother, and her youngest brother, who is still in primary school.
Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)