Skim Perumahan Negara (SPN) – commonly known as the National Housing Scheme (RPN) – is Brunei’s flagship public housing program aimed at providing affordable homes for its citizens. Launched in the 1980s, this government-backed scheme has delivered tens of thousands of houses to Bruneian families and remains a cornerstone of the nation’s housing policy. In this article, we’ll explore what the RPN program is, who is eligible, how to apply, and the latest developments – all essential information for prospective homebuyers in Brunei.

Overview of Skim Perumahan Negara (RPN)

Skim Perumahan Negara, abbreviated RPN, is a national housing scheme under the Ministry of Development, administered through the Housing Development Department (Jabatan Kemajuan Perumahan, JKP). The RPN program’s primary goal is to provide modern, affordable homes to Bruneian citizens regardless of background. It was introduced to help landless Bruneians become homeowners by subsidising home prices and offering long-term loans (typically 20–30 years). RPN houses are built in planned housing estates (“modern villages”) complete with roads, schools, mosques, and utilities, ensuring a good quality of life for residents.

Since its inception in 1984, the National Housing Scheme has grown into a significant national development program. Over 30,000 homes (including both houses and land plots) have been allocated to Brunei citizens under public housing schemes as of early 2023. Homes are granted in order of application date – applicants are queued and offered houses based on when they applied. The RPN operates alongside a separate Landless Indigenous Citizens’ Housing Scheme (Skim Tanah Kurnia Rakyat Jati, STKRJ), which specifically provides housing to indigenous Malay Bruneians. However, the RPN is open to all Bruneian citizens and remains the largest avenue for public housing. It reflects the Sultanate’s commitment to increasing home ownership and improving living standards for its people.

Eligibility Requirements for Bruneian Citizens

To qualify for the Skim Perumahan Negara, applicants must meet several eligibility criteria set by the government. The basic requirements include:

• Brunei Citizenship: The applicant must be a Bruneian citizen (holding a yellow IC) and subject of His Majesty the Sultan. Permanent residents and foreign nationals are not eligible.
• Age and Family Status: The applicant must be at least 18 years old at the time of application and have dependents (e.g. a spouse or children). In practice, this means the scheme primarily caters to married citizens or those supporting a family.
• No Private Land Ownership: Neither the applicant nor their spouse should own any private land with a title. If they do own land, it must be verified that the land is not developable per government criteria. Essentially, you cannot already have a house/land that can be built on.
• Income Bracket: Applicants should have a household income not less than BND $445 per month and not more than BND $3,030 per month. This income range ensures that assistance goes to those who can afford the nominal house payments but still need government support (very low-income and middle-income households).

These criteria aim to target the RPN scheme towards citizens who truly need housing assistance – typically young families of moderate means without existing homes. Only Bruneian citizens are eligible, as confirmed by the Ministry of Development. Meeting all the above conditions is necessary before one can apply for an RPN house.

Application Process for Public Housing

Applying for a house under the Skim Perumahan Negara involves a formal application process through the Housing Development Department (JKP). Below is a step-by-step guide on how to apply:

1. Obtain the Application Form: Acquire the RPN application form from the Ministry of Development. The form can be downloaded online from the MoD/JKP website or obtained in person at JKP offices. Ensure you have the latest version of the form when you apply.
2. Prepare Required Documents: Along with the completed form, you must attach several supporting documents (copies) as specified by JKP. These include:
   • Brunei identity cards of the applicant and spouse (Smart IC copies)
   • Marriage certificate (or divorce certificate, if applicable)
   • Employment verification documents: a government appointment letter if the applicant is a government employee, or an employer’s confirmation letter if working in the private sector
   • Business registration license, if the applicant is self-employed
   • Letter of enrollment or offer from an educational institution (for applicants pursuing HND-level or higher studies, local or abroad)
     Gathering these documents in advance will streamline your application. They are used to verify your identity, marital status, income, and other eligibility factors.
3. Submit the Application: Submit the filled form and all supporting documents in person to the Housing Development Department’s office. As of now, RPN applications are handled via a manual counter service – there is no fully online submission for the initial application. The main JKP office (e.g. at the Old Airport Road in Berakas) accepts applications and can assist with any inquiries during submission.
4. Acknowledgement and Waiting List: Once submitted, your application will be acknowledged and added to the RPN waiting list. Houses are allotted on a first-applied, first-served basis according to the year your application is registered. You will receive a reference or case number to check on your application status in the future.

Important: Be prepared for a lengthy waiting period. Due to high demand, the waiting list for RPN housing is long – the Housing Development Department has indicated that over 10,000 applicants (in Brunei-Muara alone) are in queue, with some having applied more than 15 years ago. In other words, meeting the criteria and applying does not guarantee an immediate house offer; it may take several years before your turn comes up. The government periodically conducts data updates for applicants (such as the KSPN exercise) to ensure those on the waiting list still qualify and are reachable, so applicants should keep their contact information up to date with JKP.

If your application is successful and your turn is reached, you will be contacted by JKP to be offered a house (or land) allocation. At that stage, you will need to sign the necessary agreements and arrange for the payment scheme. RPN houses are heavily subsidised, and recipients typically pay a nominal monthly installment (a housing loan repayment to the government) over 20–30 years. This makes owning a home affordable – a key benefit of the scheme. However, beneficiaries are expected to occupy the house (not rent it out) and to keep up with payments, as the government has enforcement measures if owners default on their housing loans.

Recent Developments and Housing Estates

The Skim Perumahan Negara continues to expand, with new housing estates and units being delivered across Brunei’s districts in recent years. Government efforts have accelerated to meet the housing demand backlog by constructing more homes and even exploring high-density housing. Here are some noteworthy developments and real-life examples of the RPN in action:

• Keys Handover Ceremonies: A proud moment for any RPN applicant is the official key presentation ceremony when they receive their new home. For example, in mid-2023, a total of 408 new homes under the RPN scheme were awarded to eligible families in Brunei-Muara District in a ceremony at Jerudong. The allocation included 270 apartment units, 126 terrace houses, 4 semi-detached houses, 1 basic bungalow, and even a few residential land plots. Such events are often graced by the Sultan or royal family members, underscoring how important housing is as a national priority. Similarly, in 2019, about 451 houses in Tutong District (RPN Bukit Beruang estate) were handed over to recipients in a grand ceremony officiated by His Majesty the Sultan. These examples show how RPN housing estates are launched across different districts – from Bukit Beruang in Tutong to Kampong Rimba in Brunei-Muara – benefitting citizens nationwide.
• Housing Estates Across All Districts: RPN projects have been implemented in all four districts of Brunei, creating new suburban communities. Major RPN estates in Brunei-Muara include areas like Lambak Kanan, Rimba, Tanah Jambu, Lugu, and Salambigar, which are located around the capital and its outskirts. In the Belait District, RPN housing is found in places such as Kampong Lumut (near Seria) and Kuala Belait vicinity. For Tutong District, the prominent RPN estate is Bukit Beruang, while Temburong District has an RPN housing area in Kampong Rataie. As of 2014, the government had dedicated over 5,500 hectares of land across the country for RPN/STKRJ housing, including more than 3,000 hectares in Brunei-Muara and sizable estates in Belait and Tutong. This geographic spread ensures that public housing opportunities are available in both urban and rural areas, allowing citizens to settle in their home districts.
• New Construction and Units Delivered: The Ministry of Development has been actively constructing thousands of new homes to speed up allocations. In a 2024 Legislative Council address, the Minister of Development highlighted ongoing RPN projects under recent national development plans. Under the 11th National Development Plan, 1,000 terraced houses in Kampong Lugu (Brunei-Muara) and 950 houses in Kampong Tanah Jambu were nearing completion by early 2024. Looking ahead, the 12th National Development Plan has earmarked an allocation of BND $41.5 million for further housing developments. Initial works have started in areas such as Kampong Salambigar, Kampong Katok, Kampong Lumut, and Kampong Rataie, with plans to build over 1,600 new houses in the coming years. Additionally, infrastructure like roads and drainage are being prepared for future housing phases (for example, Phase 2 of RPN Kampong Rimba, etc.), indicating continuous growth of RPN estates.
• Modern Designs and Vertical Housing: Recognizing land constraints and the large number of pending applicants, Brunei’s government has begun shifting towards vertical housing for RPN. Instead of solely building single-family houses, newer projects include apartment blocks. The country’s first high-rise RPN apartments – a complex of 300 units in Lambak Kanan/Salambigar – was launched to maximize land use. These six-storey apartment buildings are equipped with modern amenities (e.g. multi-storey car parks, recreational facilities) and eco-friendly features. The move to build flats and condos under RPN will help accommodate more families within limited land, a strategy important for Brunei’s future housing sustainability.

Overall, recent developments show a strong government push to clear the housing backlog by building more homes across various estates. From the roll-out of hundreds of new homes in established areas to the exploration of new housing sites in semi-rural localities, Brunei is steadily working toward the goal of housing every eligible citizen. Public housing remains a dynamic sector – with regular updates in LegCo (Legislative Council) sessions, budget allocations for housing, and periodic key ceremonies that turn thousands of Bruneians into proud homeowners each year.

Conclusion

In summary, the Skim Perumahan Negara (RPN) is Brunei’s national public housing scheme offering citizens a pathway to affordable home ownership. We have discussed the essentials that homebuyers need to know – from the program’s objectives and eligibility criteria to the application process and the latest housing projects underway. If you are a Bruneian citizen without a home, RPN can be a life-changing opportunity, providing a heavily subsidized house with long-term financing. The key points to remember are: ensure you meet the requirements (citizenship, age, income, etc.), prepare the necessary documents, and apply through JKP to get on the waiting list.

Thanks to sustained government commitment, the RPN has delivered over 30,000 homes since 1984 and continues to grow. New housing estates in Brunei-Muara, Tutong, Belait, and Temburong are in progress to accommodate pending applicants. Successful applicants will eventually be invited to receive the keys to their new homes – a milestone that not only fulfills personal dreams but also reflects Brunei’s vision of providing for its people’s welfare.

For the latest information, prospective applicants should stay tuned to official announcements from the Ministry of Development and the Housing Development Department. Regular updates (for instance, calls for data verification or new application windows) are released via government websites and media. By understanding how Skim Perumahan Negara works and keeping informed, Bruneian homebuyers can better navigate the journey toward owning an affordable home under this national housing scheme. Homeownership in Brunei is within reach – and the RPN program is designed to make it a reality for those who need it most.

Sources: The facts and figures in this article are referenced from official Brunei government sources and reputable news outlets, including the Ministry of Development’s publications, Legislative Council reports, and local news media covering public housing developments.