HDB Flat Eligibility Criteria for BTO and Resale Flats
HDB flats are, first and foremost, subsidised public housing meant for Singaporean Citizens, so not everyone is eligible to buy one. The above is a general guideline for HDB flat eligibility. If you would like to read in more detail about the HDB flat eligibility for couples and families, seniors, and singles, you can head over to the HDB website.
The quickest way to know your HDB flat eligibility is when you apply for the HDB HFE letter. You’ll be first asked to do a preliminary HFE check before you can take the next step towards applying for a valid HFE letter.
Upon application, you will be informed of your HDB flat eligibility, CPF housing grant eligibility, the amount you qualify for, and HDB loan eligibility and the amount you can loan. Those who are second-time HDB flat buyers will also have the resale levy amount included in your HFE letter.
Regardless, here is a rough explanation of the various HDB eligibility schemes used to assess various HDB flat homebuyers in Singapore.
HDB Eligibility Schemes
1. HDB Public Scheme
To qualify for this HDB eligibility scheme, you’ll need to form a family nucleus with any of the following:
- Spouse, and children (if any)
- Parents, and siblings (if any)
- Children under your legal custody, care, and control (if widowed/divorced)
2. HDB Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme
Under this HDB eligibility scheme, you’ll form a family nucleus with your spouse-to-be, and if you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to solemnise your marriage within three months of getting the keys to your HDB flat. HDB will require a photocopy of your marriage certificate.
If you’ve solemnised your marriage before collecting the keys, you can submit the photocopy when you visit the HDB sales office to get the keys. If you’ve done it after key collection, then you’ll submit your marriage certificate to your managing HDB branch.
3. HDB Orphans Scheme
For this HDB eligibility scheme, applicants are orphans and single, and cannot buy/rent HDB flats separately. Furthermore, one of the deceased parents must have been a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.
What If I Don’t Fit into Any of the above Schemes?
Perhaps your spouse isn’t a Singapore Citizen or SPR, or you’re not planning to get married for a good while yet. There are a few other HDB eligibility schemes that you might be eligible for, however, the choice of flats you may buy might be limited.
4. HDB Single Scheme (Single Singapore Citizen Scheme)
For BTO flats, you are limited to applying for 2-room Flexi flats in non-mature estates. However, from the second half of 2024 onwards, singles will qualify for 2-room Flexi flats across all locations.
If you intend to buy resale flats, you can buy all flat types in any location (except for 3Gen flats). To qualify for the HDB Single Scheme, you’ll need to be:
- A Singapore Citizen
- A first-time homebuyer
- At least 35 years old
- Single (unmarried, divorced, or widowed)
5. HDB Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme
This HDB eligibility scheme is applicable if you:
- Are a first-timer applicant
- Your spouse is neither a Singapore Citizen nor a Permanent Resident
- Your spouse must hold a valid Visit Pass or Work Pass at the time of your flat application
If you and your spouse have children from the marriage, and they are either Singapore Citizens or SPRs, you can apply for a flat under the Public Scheme instead. Read more about buying a home together as a Singaporean-foreigner couple and get more information on HBD flat eligibility under the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme.
6. HDB Joint Singles Scheme
For those who don’t want to apply under the HDB Single Scheme because they wish to live with their friends or partner, go for the Joint Singles Scheme. Under this HDB eligibility scheme, you and up to three other co-applicants can apply for a 2-room Flexi, provided all of you fulfil the following criteria:
- All of you must be Singapore Citizens
- Be at least 35 years of age
- Apply together as co-applicants
Are SPRs Allowed to Buy HDB Flats?
If you’re an SPR couple looking to buy an HDB flat, you can only buy resale flats. If you do an HDB BTO eligibility check, you will find you do not meet the HDB flat eligibility requirements for a BTO flat.
As a single SPR, you can’t apply for a BTO flat on your own as the HDB BTO eligibility check will tell you that you need to have a family nucleus for the HDB application. This means you can purchase an HDB resale flat only under the Public Scheme or the Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme.
You’ll also need to meet these four main requirements for HDB flat eligibility:
- You must be at least 21 years of age
- You must have been a Permanent Resident for a minimum of three years
- Upon purchasing the resale flat, you cannot sell the unit or lease it out entirely within the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)
- You can’t own any private property locally or abroad. Any private property owned will have to be disposed of within six months of purchasing the HDB resale flat
- However, once the MOP has been fulfilled, you can acquire private property without having to sell the flat
