Eligibility Schemes For Buying A Resale HDB Flat

Source : Housing Development Board (HDB)

Depending on Scheme of Purchase, a resale flat can be purchased by a maximum of 4 applicants and 6 occupiers. Applicants are also known as lessees and they will be able to utilize their CPF for the financing of the flat and payment of monthly installments, whilst occupiers not able to do so.


1. Public Scheme (PA)

The Public Scheme allows a buyer with a family nucleus to buy an HDB flat from the open market. If you wish to buy a resale flat under the Public Scheme, you must meet the following eligibility conditions:

Citizenship
You must:
be a Singapore Citizen (SC) or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR).
include at least one listed occupier who is a SC or SPR.

Age
You must be at least 21.

Family Nucleus
You must form a family nucleus, such as:
Your spouse and children, if any; or
Your parents and siblings; or
Your children under your legal custody, care and control (for widowed, divorced or separated persons).

Income Ceiling
There is no income ceiling (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant).

Ownership of Private Residential Property
You can own private property (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant) but must live in the HDB resale flat.

Ethnic Integration Policy
You can buy an HDB resale flat in any town/estate as long as the approved proportion of your ethnic group has not been reached.

To check, click Ethnic Group Eligibility or call HomeLink at 1800-8663060.

CPF Housing Grant for Family

You may apply for the CPF Housing Grant for Family or Singles if you meet all the eligibility conditions for CPF Housing Grant Scheme for Family or Singles.


2. Fiance/Fiancee Scheme (FS)

The Fiance/Fiancee Scheme allows a couple intending to get married to buy an HDB flat from the open market. If you wish to buy a resale flat under the Fiance/Fiancee Scheme, you must meet the following eligibility conditions:

Citizenship
You must be a:
Singapore Citizen (SC); or
Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR)
Your fiance(e) must also be an SC or SPR.

Age
You must be at least 21.

Family Nucleus
You must list your fiance(e) either as a co-applicant (provided he/she is above 21) or an occupier in the application.

Special Condition
You and your fiance(e) must register your marriage with the Registries of Civil or Muslim Marriages and submit your marriage certificate to HDB within 3 months from the date of taking possession of the flat. [If you are applying for CPF Housing Grant, you must submit your marriage certificate on or before the date of taking possession of the resale flat].

If your fiance(e) is between 18 and 21, his/her parents must consent to the purchase.

If your fiance(e) is less than 18, a licence to marry from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports must be obtained and submitted to HDB for verification.

If you are a divorcee, you have to produce the Decree Nisi, Order of Court and Decree Nisi Absolute for verification.

Income Ceiling
There is no income ceiling (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant).

Ownership of Private Residential Property
You and your fiance(e) can own private property (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant) but must live in the HDB resale flat.

Ethnic Integration Policy
You can buy an HDB resale flat in any town/estate as long as the approved proportion of your ethnic group has not been reached.

To check, click Ethnic Group Eligibility or call HomeLink at 1800-8663060.

CPF Housing Grant for Family
You may apply for the CPF Housing Grant for Family if you meet all the eligibility conditions for CPF Housing Grant Scheme for Family.


3. Single Singapore Citizen Scheme (SSC)

Single citizens who have reached the age of 35 can buy a resale HDB flat under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme (SSC). There is no restriction by flat type or location. Below are the eligibility conditions for purchase of resale flats under the SSC Scheme.

Citizenship
You must be a Singapore Citizen.

Age
You must be at least 35 years of age (based on date of birth) at the point of submission of your resale flat application. This age criterion applies to both unmarried singles and divorcees.

As for widowed persons and orphans, the age criterion is at least 21. For an orphan buying a resale flat on his or her own, he or she must not have another sibling below the age of 35 buying a flat separately under the Orphans Scheme, SSC or Joint Singles Scheme.

Income Ceiling
There is no income ceiling (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant).

Ownership of Private Residential Property
You can own private property (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant) but must live in the HDB resale flat.

Ethnic Integration Policy
You can buy an HDB resale flat in any town/estate as long as the approved proportion of your ethnic group has not been reached.

To check, click Ethnic Group Eligibility or call HomeLink at 1800-8663060.

CPF Housing Grant for Singles
You may apply for the CPF Housing Grant for Singles if you are at least 35 and meet all the eligibility conditions under the CPF Housing Grant Scheme for Singles.


4. Joint Singles Scheme (JSS)

The Joint Singles Scheme allows two to four single citizens to jointly buy an HDB flat from the open market. If you wish to buy a resale flat under the Joint Singles Scheme, you and the co-applicant(s) must meet the following eligibility conditions:

Citizenship
You must be Singapore Citizens.

Age
You must be at least 35 years of age (based on date of birth) at the point of submission of your resale flat application. This age criterion applies to both unmarried singles and divorcees.

As for widowed persons and orphans, the age criterion is at least 21. The orphan buying the resale flat must not have another sibling below the age of 35 buying a flat separately under the Orphans Scheme, SSC or Joint Singles Scheme.

Special Condition
You must buy the flat jointly as co-applicants.

Income Ceiling
There is no income ceiling (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant).

Ownership of Private Residential Property
You can own private property (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant) but must live in the HDB resale flat.

Ethnic Integration Policy
You can buy an HDB resale flat in any town/estate as long as the approved proportion of your ethnic group has not been reached.

To check, click Ethnic Group Eligibility or call HomeLink at 1800-8663060.

CPF Housing Grant for Singles
You may apply for the CPF Housing Grant for Singles if you are at least 35 and meet all the eligibility conditions under the CPF Housing Grant Scheme for Singles.


5. Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme (NCS)

The Non-Citizen Scheme allows a citizen with a non-citizen spouse to buy an HDB flat from the open market. If you wish to buy a resale flat under the Non-Citizen Scheme, you must meet the following eligibility conditions:

Citizenship
You must be a Singapore Citizen.

Age
You must be at least 21 if your spouse is holding a social visit pass (including work permit) of at least 6 months.

You must be at least 35 if your spouse is holding a social visit pass (including work permit) of less than 6 months.

If the social visit pass expires during the resale transaction, you have to produce the renewed social visit pass at the point of completion of the resale transaction.

Family Nucleus
You are married to a non-citizen.

Income Ceiling
There is no income ceiling (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant).

Ownership of Private Residential Property
You can own private property (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant) but must live in the HDB resale flat.

Ethnic Integration Policy
You can buy an HDB resale flat in any town/estate as long as the approved proportion of your ethnic group has not been reached.

To check, click Ethnic Group Eligibility or call HomeLink at 1800-8663060.

CPF Housing Grant for Singles
You may apply for the CPF Housing Grant for Singles if you meet all the eligibility conditions under the CPF Housing Grant Scheme for Singles.


6. Non-Citizen Family Scheme (NCF)

The Non-Citizen Family Scheme allows a single citizen with non-citizen family members to buy an HDB flat from the open market. If you wish to buy a resale flat under the Non-Citizen Family Scheme, you must meet the following eligibility conditions:

Citizenship
You must be a Singapore Citizen.

Age
You must be at least 21.

Family Nucleus
You must form a family nucleus, such as:
Your parents and siblings; or
Your children under your legal custody, care and control (for widowed, divorced or separated persons).

The non-citizen family member listed as occupier must have a social visit pass (including work permit) of at least 6 months.

If the social visit pass expires during the resale transaction, you have to produce the renewed social visit pass at the point of completion of the resale transaction.

Income Ceiling
There is no income ceiling (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant).

Ownership of Private Residential Property
You can own private property (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant) but must live in the HDB resale flat.

Ethnic Integration Policy
You can buy an HDB resale flat in any town/estate as long as the approved proportion of your ethnic group has not been reached.

To check, click Ethnic Group Eligibility or call HomeLink at 1800-8663060.

CPF Housing Grant for Singles
You may apply for the CPF Housing Grant for Singles if you are at least 35 and meet all the eligibility conditions under the CPF Housing Grant Scheme for Singles.


7. Orphans Scheme (OR)

The Orphans Scheme allows two or more orphans who are unmarried siblings to buy an HDB flat from the open market. If you wish to buy a resale flat under the Orphans Scheme, you must meet the following eligibility conditions:

Citizenship
You must be a Singapore Citizen (SC) with at least one other unmarried sibling who is an SC or a Singapore Permanent Resident, included as a co-applicant or occupier in your application.

Age
You must be at least 21.

Family Nucleus
Your application must comprise you (an unmarried orphan) and your unmarried siblings.

Special Condition
You and your unmarried siblings are not allowed to buy or to rent separate flats under the Orphans Scheme.

Income Ceiling
There is no income ceiling (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant).

Ownership of Private Residential Property
You can own private property (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant) but must live in the HDB resale flat.

Ethnic Integration Policy
You can buy an HDB resale flat in any town/estate as long as the approved proportion of your ethnic group has not been reached.

To check, click Ethnic Group Eligibility or call HomeLink at 1800-8663060.

CPF Housing Grant for Singles
You may apply for the CPF Housing Grant for Singles if you are at least 35 and meet all the eligibility conditions under the CPF Housing Grant Scheme for Singles.


8. Citizen/SPR Siblings Scheme (NCP)

The Citizen/SPR Siblings Scheme allows two or more single siblings whose parents are not citizens and not residing in Singapore permanently to buy an HDB flat from the open market. If you wish to buy a resale flat under the NCP Scheme, you must meet the following eligibility conditions:

Citizenship
You must be a Singapore Citizen (SC) or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) with at least one other sibling who is also an SC/SPR.

Age
You must be at least 21.

Family Nucleus
The application must comprise at least two single siblings whose parents are not SCs and not residing in Singapore.

Special Condition
If your parents have a less than 6 months social visit pass, your application must be supported by a Statutory Declaration to affirm that the non-citizen parents are not residing in Singapore permanently. (Parents' passports and Marriage Certificate must be produced at the time of registration).

Siblings of the same parents are not allowed to apply separately to rent or buy HDB flats.

Income Ceiling
There is no income ceiling (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant).

Ownership of Private Residential Property
You can own private property (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant) but must live in the HDB resale flat.

Ethnic Integration Policy
You can buy an HDB resale flat in any town/estate as long as the approved proportion of your ethnic group has not been reached.

To check, click Ethnic Group Eligibility or call HomeLink at 1800-8663060.

CPF Housing Grant for Singles
You may apply for the CPF Housing Grant for Singles if you are at least 35 and meet all the eligibility conditions under the CPF Housing Grant Scheme for Singles.


9. Conversion Scheme

You must meet the following eligibility conditions if you wish to buy a resale flat under the Conversion Scheme:

Citizenship
You must be a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR).
You must include at least one listed occupier who is a Singapore Citizen/ Singapore Permanent Resident.

Age
You must be at least 21.

Family Nucleus
You must form a proper family nucleus with one of the following:
Your spouse and children, if any; or
Your parents and siblings; or
Your children under your legal custody (for widowed, divorced or separated).

Income Ceiling
There is no income ceiling.

Ownership of Private Residential Property
You can own private property (unless applying for CPF Housing Grant) but must live in the HDB resale flat.

Purchase Options
You can buy:
(i) 2 units of 3-room or smaller flat from the open market
(ii) an adjoining 3-room or smaller flat from the open market.

Special Condition
For purchase option (ii), you must be a flat owner of a 3-room or smaller flat.

Ethnic Integration
Purchase option (i), you can buy 2 adjoining HDB resale flats in any new town/estate as long as the approved proportion of your ethnic group has not been exceeded. Buyers and sellers of the same ethnic group are not affected by this requirement.

Purchase option (ii), you are not effected by Ethnic Integration Policy.

Procedure to Apply
You must complete the "Scheme for Conversion of 3-Room or Smaller Flat" request and application forms, which are obtainable from the Resale Operations Unit, Atrium, 1st Storey, HDB Hub, 480 Lor 6 Toa Payoh.

The resale application will be registered after HDB has checked and ascertained that pairing of the flats is possible.

Financing
For resale applications received before 19 July 2005, HDB will give a loan of up to 80% of the market value or declared resale price of the adjoining flat (whichever is lower).

For resale applications received on or after 19 July 2005, HDB will give a loan of up to 90% of the market value or declared resale price of the adjoining flat (whichever is lower). However, the amount of loan granted is subject to credit assessment and full utilisation of the applicant's CPF savings in the CPF Ordinary Account.

Status of Leases of Adjoining Flats
For purchase option (ii), you must surrender the leases of the two flats so that one lease can be issued for the combined flat.

Conversion of Flats
On completion of purchase, you must convert the two adjoining flats into one unit by:
# Constructing at least an opening (1.0m by 2.0m) between the two units. (Normal prior approval from HDB for the door opening and other renovation works, if any, must be obtained).

# Removing one each of the PUB meters for electricity, water and gas supply (by licensed contractors) and making good the electrical sub-mains outside the flats after removal (by using HDB term contractor).

# Engaging a licensed electrical contractor and a licensed plumber to apply to Power Supply Pte Ltd and PUB Water Department respectively for approval before carrying out any re-wiring and re-piping works; and where applicable, to engage a licensed gas service worker to apply to the Power Gas Pte Ltd for approval before carrying out any work on the gas pipes. Alternatively to apply directly to the said Company to carry out these works.

# Retaining existing flat number for the combined flat.

To Resell Combined Flat
You can resell your combined flat after you have occupied the flat for 30 months or in accordance with the prevailing resale policy.

You will be treated as having sold a flat and required to pay resale levy, if your original 3-room or 2-room flat was bought direct from HDB.

You will be debarred permanently from buying another flat from HDB, if your original 3-room or 2-room flat was your second flat bought directly from HDB.

You cannot sub-divide the combined flat into two flats to resell, transfer, surrender, etc.

Payment of Upgrading Cost
The lessee of the combined flat is required to pay for the upgrading costs based on the sum total of the two original flat types if the purchase is completed during or after polling for the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP). As each Singapore Citizen is only allowed to enjoy one upgrading subsidy, the subsidy for the second flat will be reduced even if the lessee has not enjoyed an upgrading subsidy previously. If the purchase is completed before polling, the upgrading costs payable will be based on the redesignated flat type.

In addition, if the precinct has voted in favour of the Standard Package plus Space-adding Item, the lessee will be required to pay for the two additional space-adding items. For more details, please check with the Branch Office managing the flat or click here for more details on MUP.