CPF Housing Grant Eligibility in Singapore: How Much BTO, Resale Flat and EC Buyers Can Get (2022)

CPF Housing Grant Eligibility in Singapore: How Much BTO, Resale Flat and EC Buyers Can Get (2022)
CPF Housing Grant Eligibility in Singapore: How Much BTO, Resale Flat and EC Buyers Can Get (2022)

CPF housing grant eligibility is a factor most will consider when buying their HDB flat. That’s because for first-timers eyeing a BTO flat or resale flat, getting a CPF housing grant (or HDB grant) is probably the single most important aspect as it helps to make homes more ‘affordable’. 

To be clear, the grants are credited into your CPF Ordinary Account (OA) via CPF top-up and must be returned to your CPF account once you sell the flat. Some might even argue not to use your CPF to pay for housing. But hey, in a country where houses are expensive, the CPF housing grant helps to aid your purchase and make it easier to own a home. 

But with so many grants and eligibility conditions, it can get pretty confusing. Worry not, however, in this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the grants and how you can qualify for them.

CPF Housing Grants (HDB Grants): An Overview

The type of housing grant you’re eligible for will largely depend on the following things:

  1. The type of HDB flat (Build-to-Order (BTO), Sale of Balance Flats (SBF), resale HDB flat, or executive condominium (EC))
  2. Whether you’re a first-time or second-time applicant (or have received an HDB grant previously)
  3. Whether you’re buying as a family/couple or single
  4. Your income ceiling

Note: Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) households are not eligible for grants. Only households with at least one Singapore Citizen (SC) can enjoy subsidised flats and grants from HDB. To qualify for the grants, all applicants must be at least 21 years old if you’re buying as a couple/family, and 35 years old for singles. Here’s what you need to know about PRs buying HDB flats in Singapore.

Assuming that you’re buying as a couple, are both Singaporeans, and are first-time home buyers, below is the maximum grant amount that you’re both eligible for each flat type:

Grant / Unit Type Build-to-Order (BTO) /Sale of Balance Flat (SBF) Resale HDB Flat Executive Condominium (EC)
Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) Up to $80,000 Up to $80,000 N.A.
CPF Housing Grants for Resale Flats (Families) N.A. Up to $50,000 Up to $30,000
Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) N.A. Up to $30,000 N.A.
Step-Up CPF Housing Grant  $15,000 $15,000 N.A.

In summary, the maximum grant type and the amount you can get for each type of flat are:

BTO/SBF flat: EHG ($5,000 to $80,000)

Resale HDB flat: EHG + Family Grant + PHG ($65,000 to $160,000)

EC: Family Grant ($5,000 to $30,000)

Types of HDB Grants

1. Enhanced CPF Grant (EHG): For BTO and Resale Flats

The Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) basically replaced both the former Additional CPF Grant (AHG) and Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG). With EHG, first-time applicants buying as a family/couple can get up to $80,000 in grants, while singles can enjoy up to $40,000. The EHG grant is applicable to 2-room Flexi flats on a 99-year lease in non-mature estates and 2-room Flexi flats on short leases. All resale flats under the Joint Single Scheme and up to 5-room under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme are applicable as well.

Income: The household income for the past one year must be $9,000 or below. At least one applicant must be working for a year.

Previous housing subsidies: All applicants or essential occupiers must be first-timers.

Employment: At least one applicant must be working for at least a year.

Remaining flat lease: The remaining lease must be also enough to cover the youngest buyer until 95 years old, or the grant will be pro-rated.

Ownership: You and the other flat applicants must not own any property both locally and overseas, or must dispose of them 30 months before your new flat application.

If you’re buying as a single or with a non-resident spouse, your income must not exceed $4,500 and you must be employed for the past year. If are buying a flat with other singles or a resale flat with your parents then your income must not exceed $9,000. Like families and couples buying with the EHG, the remaining lease must have at least 20 years left and must cover you until you’re 95 years old. You also cannot own any property in Singapore or abroad or must dispose of any property within 30 months before applying for the flat.

If you’re buying under the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme, you’ll be eligible for the EHG if half of your household income for the past one year does not exceed $4,500. You and your spouse must also be working for the past year before applying for the flat. As with other schemes, the remaining lease of the flat must be 20 years or more, and must be enough to cover the youngest buyer until 95 years old. Both buyers must also not own any property locally and overseas, or have disposed them within 30 months before applying for the flat.

Related article: BTO Application Rates in 2022 Are High: Here’s How to Improve Your HDB BTO Application Ballot Chances in Singapore

2. Proximity Housing Grant (PHG): For Resale Flats

If you are buying a resale flat within 4km of your parents/children, or intend to stay in the same flat as them, you will be eligible for the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG). This grant has no income cap and is not restricted to first-time homebuyers. 

Also, note that your parents/children do not need to live in an HDB flat, so you’re still eligible for PHG even if they live in a private property.

For families, the PHG will grant you $20,000 for living within 4km of your parents/children, and $30,000 if you’re staying with them. Singles meanwhile, can enjoy $10,000 if they choose to live within 4km of where their parents live, and $15,000 if they live with their parents. 

And yes, it stacks with other grants too. Since its introduction, the PHG has benefitted over 20,100 Singaporean families. Apart from living within 4km of your parents, here are other eligibility conditions that you need to know:

Income: No income ceiling.

Previous housing subsidies: Don’t need to be a first-timer. However, you must not have received the PHG previously.

Remaining flat lease: More than 20 years.

Flat type: The resale flat must be 2-room or larger.

Read our Proximity Housing Grant guide for more information. 

3. CPF Housing Grant: For Resale Flats

The CPF Housing Grant is for first-time families/married/engaged couples who want to buy a resale HDB flat together. For SC households, the grant amount is $50,000 for 2- to 4-room resale flats and $40,000 for 5-room or bigger resale flats.

For SC-SPR households, the grant amount is $40,000 for 2- to 4-room resale flats and $30,000 for 5-room or bigger resale flats. Below are the eligibility conditions:

Income: $14,000 for couples, $21,000 if buying as an extended or multi-generation family.

Household status: You and the family member(s) buying the resale flat must be first-timer applicants, and must not have owned/bought any HDB property, including EC, Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flat from a developer. You have also not received any CPF Housing Grant to buy a resale flat and not received any form of housing subsidy (e.g. benefitted under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), HUDC estate privatisation).

Flat type: 2-room or bigger.

Employment: At least one applicant must be working for at least a year.

Remaining flat lease: More than 20 years.

Ownership: You and the other flat applicants must not own any property both locally and overseas, or must dispose of them 30 months before your new flat application. All applicants also cannot invest in private residential property from the date of flat application till after the 5-year MOP. You must not also be buying an HDB resale flat that has been announced for SERS.

For singles, you can apply for the Singles Grant. The grant amount will be $25,000 for 2- to 4-room resale flats and $20,000 for 5-room resale flats or bigger. You must be a first-time applicant and your gross monthly income must not exceed $7,000, and $14,000 if you are purchasing a flat with your family or other singles.

Related article: HDB Single Scheme: Should You Buy a New Launch HDB BTO or Resale Flat in 2022?

If your household is made up of a Singaporean and a foreigner, then you can apply under the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme. Under this scheme, you can get $25,000 for 2- to 4-room resale flats and $20,000 for 5-room resale flats. Your gross monthly household income must not exceed $14,000 and all applicants must be first-time applicants.

4. Step-Up CPF Housing Grant: For BTO and Resale Flats

If you wish to upgrade from a 2-room subsidised HDB flat in a non-mature estate to a 3-room subsidised HDB flat in a non-mature estate, you may receive the Step-Up CPF Housing Grant of $15,000 if you’re applying for your second subsidised HDB flat.

For a 2-room or 3-room HDB flat in a non-mature estate, second-timer families who are rental tenants can apply for the Step-Up CPF Housing Grant as well.

Income: $7,000

Flat type: 2-room or bigger.

Employment: At least one applicant must be working for at least a year prior to the flat application as well as the time you submit the flat application.

Remaining flat lease: More than 20 years.

Ownership: You and the other flat applicants must not own any property both locally and overseas, or must dispose of them 30 months before your new flat application.

For Executive Condominiums

First-time EC buyers will also be able to enjoy the CPF Housing Grants when they buy any type of EC from HDB. The grant amount depends on your income and your household type.

Grant amount: $10,000 to $30,000 for SC households, $10,000 to $20,000 for SC-SPR households.

Flat type: Any EC.

Household status: First-timer applicant if you have not received any housing subsidy from HDB or bought any HDB flat previously.

Here’s a table on the differences between the Family Grant and Half-Housing Grant, according to HDB:

Gross monthly household income Family Grant (for SC household Family Grant (for SC/SPR household) Half-Housing Grant (If you are a first-timer (FT) SC and your co-applicant is a second-timer (ST) who has previously taken 1 housing subsidy)
$10,000 or lower $30,000 $20,000 $15,000
$10,001 to $11,000 $20,000 $10,000 $10,000
$11,001 to $12,000 $10,000 N.A. $5,000
$12,001 to $14,000 N.A. N.A. N.A.

At least one applicant must be an SC to be eligible for the grants in the table above.

A Half-Housing Grant is for first-time SC applicants with an applicant who has previously received a housing subsidy. The flat type for this grant would be a 2-room or bigger.

For SC-SPR households, you can enjoy an additional $10,000 when the SPR converts into an SC via the Citizen Top-Up. You need to submit your application to HDB within 6 months of being eligible for it.

Related article: Executive Condo Singapore (2022): 4 Upcoming ECs We Can Expect 

Looking for Resale HDB Flats/EC Units for Sale?

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