Singapore Housing Barrier Becomes Even Higher for LGBTQ Buyers
- Change to Constitution to keep affordable homes out of reach
- State-subsidized housing serves as key asset in Singapore
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Singapore’s move to bolster rules preventing same-sex marriages could be a serious blow to the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community in one of the city-state’s most important wealth and lifestyle areas: housing.
Around 80% of Singaporeans live in state-subsidized public housing that serves as their primary asset. Access to new flats is largely set aside for young, married couples, with grants of as much as S$80,000 ($57,000). LGBTQ applicants -- categorized as single buyers -- can only enter the market when they turn 35, with a limited pool of smaller apartments to choose from and lower government subsidies.