SINGAPORE, June 5 — Key findings of an ongoing online survey conducted by the Ministry of National Development (MND) have shown that Singaporeans are generally in favour of policies to help families live closer together, such as giving greater priority and higher grants to flat buyers who apply to live close to or with their parents.

While most unmarried respondents indicate that they want to live apart from their parents after marriage, for reasons such as wanting independence and privacy, they still wish to live close by, the survey found.

The survey, together with the MND’s coming Housing Conversations on Closer Families, Strong Ties, is aimed at gathering public feedback on what Singaporeans think can be done to help extended families live closer together.

Three dialogue sessions will be held, with a specific target group participating in each session to better understand the perspectives and considerations of the different groups.

The first session with dating couples will be held this Saturday from 3pm to 6pm.

So far, 1,927 Singaporeans have participated in the online survey. More than three-quarters of respondents believe higher grants should be given to those who live close to or with their parents.

Sixty-five per cent of respondents also prefer more “three-generation” flats, which the Housing and Development Board has designed for multigenerational families, to be built in mature estates.

The MND has also commissioned a door-to-door survey for 2,000 correspondents, which started on May 10 and will run over the next few months, to gain more in-depth understanding of Singaporeans’ preferred living arrangements.

In a recent blog post, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said more must be done to help couples who want to live near their parents but are unable to do so.

While three-quarters of young couples surveyed plan to set up their own home after marriage, 72 per cent of these couples want to live at least within the same town as their parents.

However, only one-third of married couples who have set up their own homes currently live in the same town or nearer, while 40 per cent live in a different region.

Singaporeans who are unable to attend the dialogue sessions are encouraged to share their views through the survey, which will be available on the MND website during the course of the Housing Conversations series. More information on the feedback sessions will be available on the website for those who sign up. — Today