HDB & public housing

BTO

Build-To-Order (BTO) is HDB's main way of selling new flats: HDB offers flats in upcoming projects during a sales exercise, eligible households apply online, and a computerised ballot decides the order in which they book.

EIP

The Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) sets limits on the share of HDB flats in each block and neighbourhood that households of each ethnic group can own, to keep a balanced mix of communities in HDB towns.

EC

An executive condominium (EC) is a condominium built and sold by a private developer, but with HDB rules for buyers, such as an income ceiling and a minimum occupation period.

FCS

The Family Care Scheme (Proximity) is an HDB priority scheme that gives parents and their children, married or single, a better chance in the BTO and SBF ballot when they apply to live with or within 4 km of each other.

HFE letter

An HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter tells you upfront whether you can buy a new or resale HDB flat, how much in CPF housing grants you can get, and how much you can borrow from HDB.

HIP

The Home Improvement Programme (HIP) is HDB's upgrading programme for ageing flats, fixing common problems such as spalling concrete and old pipes.

LBS

The Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) lets HDB flat owners aged 65 and above sell part of their flat's remaining lease back to HDB while continuing to live in it.

MOP

The Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is the length of time HDB flat owners must live in their flat before they can sell it on the open market, rent out the whole flat or buy private property.

Renting Out an HDB Flat

Singapore citizen owners can rent out their whole HDB flat once they have met the minimum occupation period, with HDB's approval, for at least 6 months at a time.

Resale Levy

The resale levy is a fixed sum that second-timers pay HDB when they buy a second subsidised flat, such as a new BTO flat, after already enjoying one housing subsidy.

SBF

A Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) is an HDB sales exercise for flats left over from earlier sales, including unselected flats from past BTO exercises, surplus SERS replacement flats and flats HDB has bought back.

SERS

The Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) is HDB's programme, started in August 1995, for redeveloping selected older HDB blocks.

SHB

The Silver Housing Bonus (SHB) is a cash bonus of up to $40,000 per household for Singapore citizens aged 55 and above who right-size to a 3-room or smaller HDB flat and commit up to $60,000 of the proceeds to their CPF Retirement Account.

SSC Scheme

Under the Single Singapore Citizen (SSC) Scheme, unmarried or divorced Singapore citizens aged 35 and above can buy an HDB flat on their own.

Standard, Plus and Prime Flats

Standard, Plus and Prime is HDB's location-based classification for new BTO flats launched from October 2024.