Check the flat’s original classification
Standard, Plus and Prime apply to projects launched from October 2024. PLH is the earlier Prime Location Public Housing model, and HDB treats PLH flats as Prime for current resale eligibility. Other flats launched before October 2024 remain unclassified.
| What changes | Standard | Plus | Prime | PLH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidies at launch | Market discount | Market discount and additional subsidies | Market discount and additional subsidies | Market discount and additional subsidies |
| Minimum occupation period | 5 years | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Subsidy recovery on first resale | None | Project-specific | Project-specific | Project-specific |
| Renting out the whole flat | Singapore Citizen owners may apply after MOP | Not allowed, even after MOP | Not allowed, even after MOP | Not allowed, even after MOP |
| Renting out bedrooms | 3-room or larger, with HDB approval | 3-room or larger, with HDB approval | 3-room or larger, with HDB approval | 3-room or larger, with HDB approval |
| Buying private residential property | After the 5-year MOP | After the 10-year MOP | After the 10-year MOP | After the 10-year MOP |
| Who can buy on resale | Singapore Citizen or eligible PR households | At least one Singapore Citizen; buyer conditions apply | At least one Singapore Citizen; buyer conditions apply | At least one Singapore Citizen; buyer conditions apply |
| Resale family income cap · 4-/5-room | No purchase income cap | S$16,000/month; eligible extended families S$24,000 | S$16,000/month; eligible extended families S$24,000 | S$16,000/month; eligible extended families S$24,000 |
| Flat types for a single resale buyer | All types except 3Gen | All types except 3Gen | 2-room only, where offered | 2-room only, where offered |
| Income cap for a single resale buyer | No purchase income cap | S$16,000/month | S$8,000/month | S$8,000/month |
| Private-property wait-out for resale buyers | None for non-subsidised purchases without an HDB loan | 30 months after disposing of private residential property | 30 months after disposing of private residential property | 30 months after disposing of private residential property |
These rules cover 99-year flats. Short-lease 2-room Flexi flats and Community Care Apartments have separate rules. PLH is the earlier prime-location scheme; other flats launched before October 2024 remain unclassified.
Subsidy recovery applies to the original HDB buyer on the first resale. The project’s rate applies to the resale price or valuation, whichever is higher where a valuation is required. Subsequent resale buyers keep the occupation, rental and buyer restrictions, but do not pay subsidy recovery when they sell.
The family income row covers 4-/5-room resale flats where offered. For Prime/PLH resale, the prevailing BTO caps also apply: S$8,000 for 2-room, and S$8,000 or S$16,000 for 3-room depending on the project. The single-buyer rows are for a Singapore Citizen buying alone; joint singles have separate conditions. Grants and HDB loans have their own income limits.
The MOP counts time living in the flat, from taking possession. Bedroom rental needs HDB approval and the owners and authorised occupiers must continue living there; 3Gen bedrooms cannot be rented out during MOP. After MOP, households with a Singapore Citizen owner may retain the HDB flat when buying private property; all-PR owner households must sell it within six months of acquiring a local private residential property.
The 15-month wait-out for non-subsidised resale purchases without an HDB loan ended on 27 July 2026. Private property must still be sold within six months of the resale purchase. A 30-month wait still applies to resale Plus/Prime/PLH, or Standard purchases with an HDB loan or housing grants other than the Proximity Housing Grant.
The MOP starts from taking possession
The minimum occupation period counts time living in the flat after taking possession. The construction wait is separate. Standard flats have a 5-year MOP; Plus, Prime and PLH flats have a 10-year MOP. The period affects when you can sell the flat or buy private residential property.
Subsidy recovery is set at launch
Each Plus, Prime or PLH project has its own subsidy-recovery percentage. The original HDB buyer pays it on the first resale, based on the resale price or valuation, whichever is higher where a valuation is required. Later resale buyers keep the occupation, rental and buyer restrictions, but do not pay this recovery when they sell.
Official sources
Standard, Plus and Prime housing framework
HDB eligibility for couples and families
Conditions after buying a resale flat
Regulations for renting out bedrooms
Increase in income ceilings, 22 August 2026