In recent years, many people have noticed that show flats have been getting smaller. This is not surprising, as our perception of size is often relative to what we are used to. The sizes of the homes we grew up in, whether they were HDBs or condos, were bigger in the 1990s and 2000s. For example, the average size of a new condo in 1995 was 1,272 sq ft, compared to 858 sq ft in 2015. By 2024, the average size had slightly increased to 929 sq ft.
However, it’s important to note that demographics have changed significantly over the years. In 1995, the average household size was four, decreasing to 3.1 in 2024. This means that the average space per household member has also shrunk, from 318 sq ft in 1995 to 300 sq ft in 2024.
Over the past 29 years, the average size of condos per capita has decreased by 5.7%. This is a commendable achievement, considering Singapore’s limited space. This would not have been possible without the government’s intervention. In 2008, several condo projects in the Rest of Central Region (RCR) introduced smaller “Mickey Mouse” units, with the smallest being only 24 sq m. These units were sold at a lower price, making it more accessible for people to invest in property.
As these projects became increasingly popular, more and more developers started building smaller units, which raised concerns about the living environment’s quality. In response to this, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) issued guidelines on the maximum allowable number of dwelling units (DUs) in 2011. These guidelines required developers to use an average size of 70 sq m for projects outside the Central Area. In addition, certain areas like Telok Kurau, Kovan, Joo Chiat, and Jalan Eunos had a more stringent requirement of 100 sq m. However, despite these guidelines, the average size of DUs continued to decrease in the following years.
In 2019, the URA further tightened the guidelines, and the average DU size for projects outside the Central Area increased by 21.4% to 85 sq m. This effectively stopped the decline in average DU size. However, in the Central Area, the average DU size dropped to its lowest of 725 sq ft in 2020. To address this issue, the URA extended the guidelines to the Central Area in 2023, requiring 20% of DUs to have a net internal area of at least 70 sq m.
In June 2023, the URA also harmonized the definitions of strata area and gross floor area (GFA). This includes areas like air-conditioning ledges as part of the strata area, which led to a decrease in the size of DUs. Despite this, the average DU size in the Rest of Central Region (RCR) increased by 19.5% to 944 sq ft since 2015. Conversely, the average DU size in the Core Central Region (CCR) decreased by 11.7% to 1,092 sq ft in 2024.
Looking ahead, the harmonization of GFA definitions may lead to a downward trend in the average DU size. However, with advancements in smart home features and better provisions in terms of fittings, buyers are getting better value for their purchases compared to 10 years ago. All in all, the URA’s intervention has managed to keep the average size of DUs in check, making them more affordable and accessible for buyers.