What You Need to Know About Transferring HDB Ownership

When a bump in the road unexpectedly pops up (or maybe you’ve recently tied the knot), you may find yourself in need of appointing another owner for your HDB flat. Not sure about the conditions that entail such a huge life decision? Here’s what you need to know.

1. Eligibility criteria for transferring HDB ownership

Is the next owner eligible? According to HDB, the proposed appointee must be at least 21 years old, an immediate family member (spouse included), either a citizen or a PR, must not be an existing occupier of another HDB or DBSS flat and with a clean record (read: with no past infringement of HDB or government rules). Check out the HDB website for full details of the eligibility criteria.

2. Payments to be made after the transfer of ownership

For proposed owner:

Seller’s stamp duty

This may be payable once the flat is disposed within a specific holding period. Check out the IRAS website to learn more.

For previous owner:

Resale levy

If you’re transferring ownership of a subsidised flat, you may need to fork out the resale levy once you purchase another subsidised flat or executive condominium

Seller’s stamp duty

Payment of the seller’s stamp duty maybe be required if you have purchased the flat on or from 20 Feb 2010 and withdrew your ownership within a specific holding period

3. New owner needs to re-apply for approval to rent out flat

Yes, even if the previous owner had applied for approval before. Once the property is transferred, the proposed owner needs to once again seek approval from HDB to rent out the whole home or the rooms and the process will start afresh. Keep in mind that there’s a MOP that needs to be fulfilled before one can rent out the flat after the transfer.

4. There’s a 5-year time bar to get another subsidised flat after withdrawing ownership

Want to buy a subsidised flat after withdrawing ownership of your flat (that’s also subsidised)? Be prepared to wait another 5 years from the purchase date of your old flat before applying for your next subsidised flat. This also applies to DBSS flats and ECs.

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Sources: HDB – Conditions After Transfer of Ownership, HDB – Eligibility, HDB – Guide on Transfer