Singapore Expats

We have being living overseas for the past 7 years because of my work. My childrens is very happy studying in the school here.
We has a HDB flat back in Singapore and we has being subletting it out since we left Singapore but now we decided we wanted to sell the HDB flat but couldn't because we did not occupy the flat for a minimum of 5 years. This rule was not there when we bought the flat way back then. HDB state that the flat must be physically be occupy for the periods of 5 years in order to sell the flat in the open market. That mean we have to go back to Singapore to stay in the flat for 5 years.
My problem is I'm afraid that the children might not fit into the local education system and I has a good job. I couln't effort sending them to the private school in Singapore.

Do anyone have any solutions to my problem as how I can sell the flat without physically occupying the flat. I'm prepare to leave the flat empty for 5 years.

First you check if you could sell through this portol

https://www5.hdb.gov.sg/BP21/ISRR014p.n ... l?OpenForm

Direct from the horse's mouth


Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)

HDB flat owners must have physically occupied their flats for a period of time before they are eligible to sell it on the open market. In general, the requisite occupation period (referred to as minimum occupation period - MOP) is 5 years for a flat purchased directly from HDB or a resale flat bought under the CPF Housing Grant Scheme; and 2½ years for a resale flat without a CPF Housing Grant. The period will depend on the mode of purchase, the mode of financing and the flat type.

A list of the MOP by flat type is shown below.


1-Room and HUDC Flat

No occupation period for owners owning 1-room flat or HUDC flat


2-Room to Executive Flat
5-year MOP for owners who bought 2-room and larger flats directly from HDB;

2½-year MOP for owners who bought 2-room and larger resale flats from the open market without CPF housing grant


Resale Flats bought under CPF Housing Grant Scheme
5 years from effective date of purchase of resale flat


Flat bought under Selective En-Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS)
7 years from date of flat selection (provided seller has taken possession of the replacement flat) or 5 years from effective date of possession of replacement flat, whichever is earlier and subject to HDB's prevailing policies.


If there is any period of subletting of the entire replacement flat (subject to HDB's prior approval), the MOP will be extended to make up for the subletting period. Flat owners who had enjoyed the SERS benefits more than once are not allowed to sell the replacement flat.





Do I have to fulfill the minimum occupation period of my flat before selling it in the open market?

Yes. One of the eligibility conditions before a flat lessee can sell an HDB flat in the open market is meeting the minimum occupation period. The length of occupation period depends on the mode of purchase and the flat type. In general, it is 5 years for a flat purchased directly from HDB or a resale flat bought under the Housing Grant Scheme; and 2½ years for a resale flat without a Housing Grant . You are advised to ensure that you are eligible to sell the flat in the open market before signing the Option to Purchase and offering the Option to the buyers.