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PAP MPs propose inheritance and property taxes to curb housing hoarding

Singapore ruling party lawmakers have called for new taxation measures including inheritance tax and levies on multiple residential properties to address housing affordability concerns. The proposals aim to discourage property speculation and ensure homes remain accessible to owner-occupiers.

LSN Singapore · 6 October 2026

Members of Parliament from the People's Action Party have advocated for fiscal measures designed to prevent the accumulation of residential properties, citing concerns over housing market accessibility. The suggested interventions include an inheritance tax on residential properties and enhanced taxation for individuals holding multiple residential units.

Proponents of the measures argue that such policies would discourage property hoarding and redirect housing stock toward genuine owner-occupiers rather than investors seeking portfolio accumulation. The calls reflect growing attention within Singapore's political establishment to housing affordability challenges facing younger and middle-income households.

The proposals represent a significant policy discussion within the ruling coalition, signaling potential consideration of more interventionist taxation approaches to housing markets. Implementation of such measures would require broader government endorsement and would mark a departure from Singapore's historically market-oriented property policies.

Housing affordability has emerged as a key policy concern in Singapore, with government officials increasingly acknowledging the need for measures to ensure property accessibility across income segments. The PAP MPs' suggestions are expected to fuel ongoing debates about the appropriate balance between market mechanisms and regulatory intervention in residential property markets.