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HDB Eligibility
Who can buy HDB flats and which eligibility scheme applies to you
Updated March 2026 · Singapore regulations
Basic Requirement
At least one applicant must be a Singapore Citizen (SC). Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR) can only buy HDB resale flats with an SC co-applicant or under limited schemes. Foreigners cannot buy HDB flats under any circumstances.
Eligibility Schemes
| Scheme | Who Qualifies | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Public Scheme | SC + SC/PR spouse, children, or parents | Most common — applies to the majority of HDB buyers |
| Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme | SC engaged couple | Must marry within 3 months of key collection |
| Orphans Scheme | SC orphan + unmarried SC/PR siblings | At least one sibling must be SC |
| Joint Singles Scheme | 2 or more SC singles aged 35+ | Can buy 2-room Flexi BTO (non-mature estates) or any resale flat |
| Single SC Scheme | SC single aged 35+ | 2-room Flexi BTO (non-mature estates) or any resale flat of any size |
| Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme | SC + non-citizen (non-PR) spouse | Resale flats only; no housing grants available |
Income Ceilings
| Property | Income Ceiling |
|---|---|
| HDB Resale (any size) | No income ceiling |
| 2-room Flexi BTO | $7,000/month |
| 3-room BTO | $7,000/month |
| 4-room, 5-room, 3Gen BTO | $14,000/month |
| Executive Condo (EC) | $16,000/month |
Income ceiling = average gross monthly household income over 12 months, including all employment income.
Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)
You must physically occupy your HDB flat for 5 years (MOP) before you can:
- Sell it on the open market
- Rent out the entire flat (renting individual rooms is allowed during MOP)
- Invest in private residential property in Singapore or overseas
The MOP clock starts from the date of key collection, not the date of purchase. Periods of absence (e.g., working overseas) may not count toward the MOP.
Private Property Restrictions
HDB owners cannot own local or overseas private residential property during the MOP. After MOP, they may invest in private property, but must:
- Sell the HDB flat within 15 months of purchasing a completed private property
- Sell the HDB flat within 6 months of the private property receiving its TOP
PR-Specific Rules
- PRs can only buy HDB resale flats (not new BTO flats)
- PRs are not eligible for CPF housing grants (unless married to SC)
- A PR couple without any SC cannot buy HDB at all
- PRs must dispose of their overseas private residential property within 6 months of buying HDB
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