HDB Flats

About 80% of Singaporeans live in Housing ​Development Board (HDB) flats built by the ​government.


It is a rather different concept from the government ​housing in other countries.


For most, you own the title deed to the property so it ​is your asset. HDB flats can be bought and sold in ​the open market. In recent years, many have ​transacted at more than a million dollars.

White Concrete Building Under Blue Sky

What Type of HDB Flat Can a Singapore Citizen with ​Foreign Spouse Purchase?

If Foreign Spouse has Permanent Resident (PR) Status:

  1. Resale HDB Flat
  2. Brand new Built-to-Order (BTO) Flat

If Foreign Spouse does not have Permanent Resident (PR) Status:

  1. Resale HDB Flat
  2. Brand new Built-to-Order (BTO) Flat, limited to 2-Room Flexi in a non-matured ​estate and Singaporean spouse must be at least 35 year-old.

*If you have a child who is a Singapore Citizen or a PR, you will then not be ​restricted to any flat type.

Please note that the foreign spouse can only be an essential occupier and not ​a co-owner of the HDB flat.

This will have two implications:


i) The income of the foreign spouse cannot be taken into account when ​applying for a housing loan, which means a smaller loan quantum.


ii) The foreign spouse will not have the same legal rights to the property, even ​if they contribute to the loan repayments.

<Important> HDB FLAT ELIGIBILITY (HFE) LETTER


HDB requires all potential buyers of a HDB flat, be it BTO or resale, to have a ​valid HFE Letter. The HFE letter is to be applied via the HDB website.


Please have various documents ready eg. the softcopy of your payslips.

The HFE has a validity of 9 months, so it is advisable to apply it sooner than ​later as it will take about a month for HDB to have it ready.