The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to 1,844 fire calls in 2021, similar to 1,877 calls in 2020. On average, over 1,000 fire calls are made a year, and some report fire injuries and even death can happen for more serious cases.
The origins of fire are usually caused by electrical faults, followed by fires caused by cooking. Housing & Development Board (HDB) mandates compulsory HDB Fire Insurance when buying homes. With the weather heating up due to global warming, there is also a higher possibility of more fire cases happening.
What Is The HDB Fire Insurance Scheme And How Much Does It Cost
If you have an HDB Mortgage Loan, it is compulsory for you to take up an HDB Fire Insurance.
The HDB Fire Insurance Scheme was introduced to help relieve flat owners of the financial burden of repair work in the unfortunate event of a fire.
Flat owners with HDB loans commencing on or after 1 September 1994 must buy and renew the HDB Fire Insurance for their homes, for as long as they have an outstanding HDB loan.
From August 16, 2019, to August 15, 2024, the rates of five-year premiums are as such:
| Flat Type | 5-Year Premium | Sum Insured | |
| Before 31 Dec 2022 (including 7% GST) |
From 1 Jan 2023 (including 8% GST) |
||
| 1-room | $1.62 | $1.63 | $29,000 |
| 2-room/ 2-room Flexi | $2.71 | $2.73 | $48,700 |
| 3-room | $4.87 | $4.91 | $60,400 |
| 4-room/ S1 | $5.94 | $5.99 | $82,000 |
| 5-room/ S2/ 3-Generation | $7.13 | $7.19 | $97,300 |
| Executive/ Multi-Generation | $8.10 | $8.18 | $106,200 |
| Studio Apartment (Type A/ B) | $2.71 | $2.73 | $48,700 |
All HDB flat owners taking out an HDB loan are automatically signed up for HDB Fire Insurance, currently provided by FWD (the previous insurer was Etiqa). You have to pay for a fire insurance plan for as long as you have an outstanding HDB loan. The cost ranges from $1.63 to $8.18 for five years.
The current appointed insurer for the HDB Fire Insurance Scheme is FWD Singapore Pte Ltd and the insurance is valid for a five-year period; renewal is done once every five years.
How To Purchase Or Renew Your HDB Fire Insurance
If your HDB Fire Insurance is expiring, you can purchase or renew your policy at Insurer FWD’s website.
The renewal can also be done at AXS stations or you can head down physically to FWD’s office or send a cheque with this form to the insurer.
FWD’s office: 5 Temasek Boulevard, #18-01 Suntec Tower Four, Singapore 038986 (Strictly by appointment only).
Contact: 6820, 8888 (Mondays to Fridays, 9:00am-10:00pm & Saturdays, 9:00am-1:00pm, excluding public holidays).
What Does The HDB Fire Insurance Cover
The HDB Fire Insurance covers the cost of reinstating damaged internal structures, fixtures, as well as areas built and provided by HDB. It does not include home contents such as furniture, renovations and personal belongings.
This means that in the event of a major fire, you don’t have to pay to fix the damage to your walls, electrical wiring, and HDB water pipes.
As seen by the table below, the mandated insurance covers structural parts of the house and is a bare minimum cover.
The Difference Between Fire Insurance And Home Insurance
If you wish to go further to extend protection over your home contents that are not covered under the HDB Fire Insurance, you can buy a separate home insurance policy.
Home Insurance covers renovations, home furnishings and your home contents. In general, these are the areas it covers:
- Fittings, fixtures, and renovation work
- Contents of your home
- Personal items, money and valuables
- Alternative accommodation
- Personal accident for individual, family and domestic helper
- Pets
- Personal liabilities
Home Insurance that covers fires has two types. The first is insured peril, which covers you for specific events or mishaps, such as fires, floods, and thefts. The second is all risk coverage, offering protection for a wide range of situations and costs more.
You can buy a separate Home Insurance policy from an insurer of your choice. A list of general insurers can be found on the website of the General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA).
Home Insurance plans start from $32 and can be as pricy as $200 a year, depending on how comprehensive the contents coverage and the flat size. Providers for Home Insurance include FWD, NTUC Income, Singlife with Aviva, AIG, and Etiqa.
Do You Need To Buy HDB Fire Insurance Even Though You Already Have An Existing Home Insurance
As long as you have an outstanding HDB mortgage loan, HDB Fire Insurance is mandatory and required by HDB.
It is after all a small fee to keep you and your home structure safe to prevent any shocks and surprises caused by accidents.
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