Making temporary feel like home.
Most people renovate and furnish their homes with a certain sense of permanence, whether it’s a space they’ve bought or plan to settle in for the foreseeable future. But what happens when your place isn’t the destination, but just a pitstop?
That’s the reality for those living in Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) flats — temporary homes meant to tide homeowners over while they wait for their BTO flats to be ready.
But just because a home is temporary doesn’t mean it has to feel like one.
We got our writer, Lester — who’s been living in a PPHS flat for the past 8 months while waiting for his BTO — to share what it’s really like. From furnishing a space he knew he’d eventually leave, to figuring out what was worth spending on, here’s his take on making the most of a home that wasn’t meant to last forever.
Background
Lester (L): My partner and I got together in 2019, and decided to start applying for a BTO about a year into the relationship.
As luck would have it, we ended up submitting 11 applications — across BTO/SBF launches, and open booking — before landing a queue number within range in February 2023. And although we finally managed to book a flat in October 2023, our BTO would only be completed in 2028.
By that time, I was already planning to propose, and we had discussed tying the knot the following year. So before I even popped the question, we knew we had to figure out where to stay once we got married — and that’s when we came across the PPHS.
The application process
L: PPHS flats, like all new flats, are allocated via ballot — with priority given to certain groups, such as married couples with children. The units available for rental under PPHS range from 2- to 4-room flats, and each includes a site expiry date (most likely because HDB has redevelopment plans for the sites), which is important to note. Ideally, you’ll want a unit that lasts until your BTO is completed.
Unlike the BTO process, you don’t get to choose the flat type or location during the application. That only happens at the selection stage, and by then, it depends entirely on your queue number — the lower your number, the earlier you get to pick. Which also means you might not end up with your preferred estate or flat type.
In our case, it took eight tries — a full year — before we finally got a queue number, and chose a flat in the Woodlands area.
Once you get your queue number and appointment date, you’ll be able to view the exact details of available units — either through HDB’s website or via the information kit mailed to your address.
One of the sites that we went down to recce before we selected our HDB PPHS flat.
At this stage, it’s a good idea to shortlist a few units and, if possible, visit the sites in person. Many PPHS flats are located in older estates, and while the interiors are refurbished to meet basic liveable standards, things like the block’s location, surrounding amenities, or even the corridor layout could be deal-breakers depending on your needs.
After selecting your unit, things move fairly quickly. We collected the keys at HDB Hub on the same day as the selection (though this process might have changed), then headed to SP Services upstairs to schedule the activation of utilities.
Visiting the flat for the first time after collecting our keys.
We visited the flat that afternoon to check out its condition and give it a quick clean. Thankfully, ours had been recently refurbished — apart from some dust, it was in great shape.
Moving in
L: Before moving into our PPHS flat, we had been renting from relatives — so we already had some key pieces of furniture like our bed, sofa, TV and console, dining table set, and a washing machine. Our plan was simple: move everything we already owned into the new space first, then figure out what was missing and furnish accordingly.
A kitchen countertop with storage cabinets that we sourced from Shopee for meal preps.
Most PPHS flats come completely unfurnished, aside from basic sanitary fittings like sinks, showers, toilet bowls, and water heaters. The kitchen, for instance, was a bare shell without even a countertop or stove — so the most immediate priorities were getting a fridge and some form of kitchen cabinetry. We lucked out on Carousell with a seller who was urgently offloading a fridge, and managed to get it delivered via Lalamove for just $120 in total. As for the cabinet, we considered how much space we needed for food prep and storage, then settled on a unit from Shopee that did the job well enough.
A functional speaker-lamp from IKEA that we display together with other decorative pieces.
Over time, we gradually added more functional pieces that suited our day-to-day lifestyle — like a cabinet to store our dog’s supplies, ceiling fans (because standing ones just weren’t cutting it), and some warm lighting to make the space feel more cosy.
Of course, there are limits to what you can do in a PPHS flat. Any fixtures you install — even ceiling fans or air conditioners — must be removed and the unit reinstated before you return the keys. While it’s technically possible to install an air conditioner, you may need approval from the HDB branch office, depending on the estate. Ultimately, it’s still a rental flat, so major renovations or splurges don’t really make financial sense.
What we’ve grown to appreciate
L: At first, the idea of living all the way up north felt a little daunting — especially when we realised that getting to town or the east could take longer than crossing the border to Johor during off-peak hours.
But since PPHS flats are generally in older estates, most would already have amenities nearby. So over time, we’ve really grown to enjoy our estate. There’s no shortage of food options nearby, and having a 24-hour Sheng Siong within walking distance has been incredibly convenient. Plus, as someone who works out and runs regularly, I’ve come to appreciate the fact that the neighbourhood has a few Anytime Fitness outlets and even a stadium with a proper running track.
Beyond its location, living in a PPHS flat has also given us the space — quite literally — to figure out what we want in our future home. As it’s not a permanent setup, there’s less pressure to get everything just right on the first try. Instead, it’s been a useful testbed for us to experiment and learn what works for our lifestyle.
It’s one thing to look at Pinterest boards and floorplans, but another to actually live in a space and understand how you move through it day-to-day. And in that sense, this flat has been an unexpected blessing — a low-stakes way to plan ahead, test out ideas, and identify must-haves before we eventually commit to designing our BTO.
What's not so great
L: Of course, living in a PPHS flat isn’t without its drawbacks — the biggest one being the cost. While it is much more affordable than renting in the open market, there’s still a lot of sunken costs compared to other couples who may choose to stay with parents until their BTO is ready — especially since we’ll be renting for a few years.
Even though we tried to keep costs low and reused what we could from our previous setup, the little expenses and monthly rental still adds up — which makes saving for our eventual BTO downpayment and renovation more challenging.
Our portable aircon setup that we will most likely not be bringing over to the BTO.
And while we’ve made a conscious effort to purchase items we can eventually bring over to our BTO, not everything makes the cut. Some things are simply meant to serve their purpose in the interim — whether it’s a makeshift wardrobe, budget ceiling fans, or portable aircons that we won’t reuse in our new place. It’s a tricky balance between making the place liveable now, and not overspending on things we’ll eventually leave behind.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, I know how lucky we are to even have this option. With rental prices climbing and demand outpacing supply, having a subsidised flat to call home — even temporarily — is something we don’t take for granted.
While it may not be our forever home, it’s given us the breathing room to learn, to plan, and to make memories that’ll stay with us long after we’ve moved on.
And maybe that’s the point. Temporary doesn’t mean insignificant. If anything, this space has shaped the way we think about home. It’s taught us how to live intentionally, prioritise what matters, and find comfort in the in-between.
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