More Than 5,000 Private Home Households Apply for EASE Subsidy, With New Guidelines for Conserved Buildings

The Enhancement for Active Seniors scheme, known as EASE, was introduced in 2012 and was initially open only to HDB residents. It was enhanced twice, in 2018 and 2024, adding more accessibility items.

In February this year the Ministry of National Development announced it would extend the scheme to private residences. Up to 80,000 eligible private households can apply for a S$1,200 subsidy to offset 75 per cent of the cost of installing senior-friendly fittings, so that older family members can move around more safely and comfortably at home.

Replying to queries from Lianhe Zaobao, the ministry said that in the five months from April to end-August, more than 5,000 households had applied for the private residences subsidy.

The private homes eligible for the subsidy include some conserved shophouses and terrace houses. To ensure the historic character of these buildings is not damaged, the Urban Redevelopment Authority has compiled a set of operational guidelines setting out what owners and contractors should note when adding senior-friendly fittings.

Some of the fittings specified under EASE, such as installing a ramp at the main entrance or mounting grab bars on walls, could damage the historic character of a conserved building if handled poorly. The guidelines show examples and illustrations for these fittings, explaining how to handle them appropriately.

On the pintu pagar. The pintu pagar is a low, carved, openwork half-door that provides ventilation while protecting the privacy of those inside, and is a signature design element of Peranakan architecture and old Nanyang houses in Singapore and Malaysia. Grab bars may only be installed between the pintu pagar and the main door frame, and once installed must not obstruct the pintu pagar from opening outwards.

On ramps. Where a ramp is being considered outside the main door and the area outside is a five-foot-way style common corridor laid with decorative encaustic or terracotta tiles, owners should choose a removable ramp, fitted only when needed and otherwise stored away. Owners must not drill holes in the floor tiles to fix the ramp in place, and should instead bolt it to the steps at the entrance.

URA told Zaobao that installing the accessibility fittings listed under EASE inside a conserved building generally does not require a building works permit, and owners can refer to the guidelines and proceed themselves. “The principle is that installation works should avoid damaging key features of the building or its decoration, such as ornate tiles, decorative relief panels, murals, and doors and windows of nostalgic character.”

If a proposed fitting might damage the historic character of the building, owners should consult URA and work out a suitable solution with the authority. If the authority finds that an installed fitting obscures or damages a key feature of the building or its decoration, it can require the owner to remove it and restore the original.

A consultant at heritage restoration consultancy Studio Lapis said that when restoring or renovating a conserved building where EASE fittings also need to be installed, a careful balance must be struck between meeting accessibility needs and preserving important architectural and historical features. A restoration consultant may need to understand more about the building’s historical value and confirm which conservation provisions and regulations apply, before working out an approach that minimises the impact.

Certain structures or original design elements in conserved buildings can make the standard fittings specified under the scheme difficult to apply. Front entrance steps, long-standing staircases, floor paving and wall decoration all complicate the picture, and adding ramps, grab bars and handrails is not as straightforward as it would be in a modern building.

Still, with professional advice and careful design, solutions can be found, such as specially designed ramps, alternative fixing methods, and freestanding or minimally invasive installation approaches.

“Accessibility requirements and historic preservation should not be seen as conflicting goals,” the consultant said. “With sound planning, technical assessment and careful design, we can improve accessibility while continuing to protect the architectural and cultural character of Singapore’s historic buildings.”