The difference between renting a HDB flat and a private condominium unit used to be $1,000. Today, the difference stands at only $500. The gap between HDB flat and private property rental prices have narrowed considerably, due not to the rise in HDB flat rents but in the drop in private apartment rents.
In the past, renting a suburban condo would cost you $3,100 to $3,300 a month. Now, it is possible to rent a suburban unit at $2,700. HDB executive flat and 5-room flat rental prices have remained around the $2,200 to $2,400 range for the past 5 years now.
Much of the rental drop comes from the sudden increase in supply of new private condominium units, with more landlords now jostling for the same or shrinking tenant pool. Many HDB upgraders will also join the HDB rental pool as they seek to rent out their HDB flats.
Property analysts are putting it up to the shrinking apartment sizes. The psf rents have remained the same, but tenants are now getting less floor area than they used to for the same amount of money. They are however picky about location and may be willing to accept a smaller-sized accommodation in a central located as opposed to a larger one further away from their workplace or town.
As the gap narrows, will the HDB flat rental market take an indirect hit as tenants opt for private properties over public housing?
