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Buying a Flat 101: 7 HDB Priority Schemes You Need To Know

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In an urgent need to purchase a house? Just got married and looking to move close to your parents? Don’t panic – several priority schemes are in place to assist you and your family with your diverse housing needs.

Under the HDB Priority Schemes, you will be allocated a proportion of available flats according to your various needs. This includes everyone in a variety of life stages, from extended families wanting to live closer to one another, first-timer families with or expecting two or more young ones, the elderly, divorced or widowed parents with children, as well as public rental tenants who can afford to buy their own property.

Now keep reading to find out what they are!

buying-flat-101-7-hdb-priority-schemes-you-need-know-ohmyhome-buying-flat

Privileges for first-timers

During the Build-To-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flat (SBF) sales launches, first-timer applicants get to enjoy higher priority and improve ballot chances for a new flat. This even extends to Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flats and Executive Condominiums (EC).

Even though more flats are set aside for first-timers, there’s no getting around the system, as it is not on a first come first served basis.

What are the types of HDB Priority Schemes?

SchemeEligibilityCriteria
Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS)Young first-timer married couples with children get higher priority in securing a flat.
  • Must be a first-timer applying as a married couple.
  • Must either be expecting your first Singapore Citizen child during your application or have at least one Singapore Citizen child below 16 years old (legally adopted or natural child from the lawful marriage).
    • Applications received from May 2019 sales exercise onwards will require a higher age limit at 18 years old.
Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS)Both married children and their parents purchase new flats in the same neighbourhood.
Parents and their married child can make a joint application for 2 flats in a BTO project where 2-room Flexi or 3-room flats are integrated in the flat mix.
  • Parents must submit a joint application with their married child.
  • Parents can only apply for a 2-room Flexi or 3-room flat.
  • The married child’s household can apply for a 2-room Flexi or larger flat.
Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS)For married couples looking to live near their parents, MCPS will help improve the chances of applying for a new flat near them. This also makes it convenient for them to take care of their aging parents.
  • At least one parent is a Singapore Permanent Resident or Singapore Citizen.
  • Both parents must live in the same estate or within a 2km radius with you as an owner or registered occupier, a tenant or registered occupier of an HDB rental flat, or as an owner of private property.
  • If you plan to live together with any of your parents, both parents must be included in the flat application.
  • During the 5-year minimum occupation period, you will need to continue to meet this condition:
    • After officially moving into your new flat, your parents who assisted you in qualifying for the MCPS need to keep living together with you, or in the same estate or within 2 km of the new property, or 4km for flat applications received from the May 2018 exercise.
Third Child Priority Scheme (TCPS)Eligible families with more than 2 children to encourage the formation of larger families. Your application will be included in the first ballot round; if unsuccessful, your application is then included in the second ballot round, together with other public applicants.
  • You and/ or your partner is a Singapore Citizen.
  • You must be a Singapore Citizen to qualify, if you are divorced or widowed.
  • Your family must consist of at least three children (legally adopted or natural child from the lawful marriage). Divorcees must have the legal custody and care of the children.
  • Third child must be a Singapore Citizen born on or after 1 January 1987.
  • Other offspring must be either Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents.
  • You have not previously purchased a property under TCPS.
Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/ Widowed Parents) (ASSIST)Divorced or widowed individuals with children may apply for help under ASSIST.
  • Must have at least one child below 16 years old (legally adopted or natural child from the lawful marriage).
    • Applications received from May 2019 sales exercise onwards will require a higher age limit at 18 years old.
  • Other than your matrimonial flat/ property, you must not have acquired any interest in an HDB flat or private property, after the date of divorce/ separation or death of your partner.
Tenants’ Priority Scheme (TPS)Rental tenants may buy their own property under TPS. Eligible applicants falling under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), Relocation and Resettlement may also do so.
  • Both you and your family are first-timers, while second-timers are eligible from the May 2016 sales exercise.
  • Both you and your family must have been living in an HDB public rental property for at least 2 years.
Senior Priority Scheme (SPS)Eligible seniors looking to move close to their married child, and looking to purchase a 2-room Flexi flat in a familiar area get to apply for the SPS.
  • Your married child is a Singapore Permanent Resident or Singapore Citizen.
  • If you plan to live together with your married child, they must be included in the flat application OR
  • Your married child must live in the same estate, or within a 2km radius of the 2-room Flexi flat you are applying for with you as an owner or registered occupier, a tenant or registered occupier of an HDB rental flat, or as an owner of private property.
    • For flat applications received from May 2018 exercise, you must apply for a flat where the nearest block is within 4 km from an HDB flat or a private residential property that your married child reside in.
  • The new 2-room Flexi flat must be located in the same area or within 2 km of your current flat or private property, or within 4 km of the 2-room Flexi flat for flat applications received from the May 2018 exercise.
  • Additionally, as you apply to live with your married child (after including their names in your flat application), you need to ensure the following:
    • The property which your married child lives in will be used for the proximity reference, if they own more than one property.
    • The private residential property must be owned by immediate family members including child or adopted child, siblings, parent(s) or parent(s)-in-law, if your married child does not own it.
  • During the 5-year minimum occupation period, you will need to continue to meet this condition:
    • After officially moving into your new flat, your married child who assisted you in qualifying for the SPS need to keep living in the same estate or within 2 km of the new property, or within 4 km of the 2-room Flexi flat you are applying for flat applications received from the May 2018 exercise.

Curious to find out more about how the priority schemes can benefit you? Our HDB Buyer Agent Service includes financial planning and exploring of housing grants suitable to your diverse needs. Call us at 6886 9009 to learn more about the schemes and housing grants available now!

Source: HDB- Priority Schemes

While the Information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the Information. The Information may change without notice and Ohmyhome is not in any way liable for the accuracy of any information printed and stored or in any way interpreted and used by a user.

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