• Published Date: 18 Sep 2018

    We have prepared some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to facilitate salespersons in guiding their clients on the HDB resale process. The FAQs are in the Annex below.

    We would also like to share with salespersons some recent developments in the processing of resale applications:

    a) We have implemented a new Quick Response (QR) code payment system for payment of the resale application Administrative fee, Processing fee for Request for Value, Caveat fee, Conveyancing fee, Stamp and Registration fee, Survey fee, and Title Search fee.  Flat buyers and sellers can easily and conveniently select the QR code payment option and scan the code using any of the approved banking apps. Unlike credit cards, they do not need to go through the hassle of keying in their credit card/ bank account details for each transaction. Please see attached illustrations:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/252840551409505/posts/2340791869281019/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Singapore_HDB/status/1032568804151181315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw


    b) For resale applications received from 28 August 2018, buyers who are taking an HDB housing loan have the option of retaining up to $20,000 in their CPF Ordinary Account (OA). Previously, flat buyers had to fully utilise the balances in their CPF OA before they took up an HDB housing loan. This option will provide the buyers with greater flexibility in using their CPF funds. The funds can be used for their monthly mortgage instalments and will improve retirement adequacy, if left unutilised. They can continue to draw down all their CPF OA balance for the flat purchase if they wish to. They will just have to indicate the amount they want to retain when they submit their resale application.

    c) Under the Ethnic Integration Policy, the household ethnic classification is based on the buyer or the spouse, if any. At the point of flat purchase, mixed race households can choose their household ethnic classification based on either the buyer’s race or the spouse’s race. For example, a “Chinese-Malay” couple can choose to purchase under Chinese or Malay. The ethnic classification will remain the same when they subsequently sell the flat on the open market.

    d) It is necessary for flat buyers and sellers to give the correct information to HDB. It is an offence under Section 60 of the Housing & Development Act for any person to give false information relating to the buying or selling of an HDB flat. Any person who gives false information shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both.
     
    HDB also reserves the right to debar any person who makes a false statement from buying a flat^, taking over ownership of a flat^ by way of transfer, being included as an essential occupier of a flat^ or taking up an HDB housing loan for a period of 5 years from the date of cancellation of the resale application or the date of approval to compulsorily acquire the flat. Any existing application registered in the HDB’s rental waiting list will also be cancelled.
    (^includes a unit to be bought under the Design, Build and Sell Scheme or the Executive Condominium Housing Scheme)

    e) For buyers getting an HDB housing loan or applying for a CPF Housing Grant, the income assessment period has been reduced from 12 months to 6 months for self-employed persons, employed persons without monthly CPF contributions, part-time/ odd jobs/ commission-based workers. The period remains at 3 months for employed persons with monthly CPF contributions, and 12 months for those applying for the Additional CPF Housing Grant.

    We are also aware of a WhatsApp message going around among salespersons stating that there is no need to use SingPass to login to the HDB Resale Portal to register an Intent to Sell. This is incorrect. All sellers and buyers who are Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents need to use SingPass to login to the HDB Resale Portal. Only non-resident Administrators/ Executors who are not eligible to apply for SingPass, can login to the HDB Resale Portal without SingPass. This can be done via the ‘I am a non-resident Administrator/ Executor’ option to register the Intent to Sell. For those who may have inadvertently registered the Intent to Sell as a non-resident Administrator/ Executor, their Intent to Sell record will not be updated and they will not be able to proceed with subsequent submission of the resale application.          

    Please disseminate the information to your salespersons.

    ANNEX:

    Accessing the HDB InfoWEB/ HDB Resale Portal
    Q1 Which browser should be used to access the HDB InfoWEB/ HDB Resale Portal?
    A1

    For optimal results, the following browsers should be used to access the HDB InfoWEB (www.hdb.gov.sg)/ HDB Resale Portal:

    Desktop
    Google Chrome
    Internet Explorer 11

    Mobile Devices
    (Android) Google Chrome
    (Apple iOS) Safari
    Q2 Do sellers and buyers need to have a SingPass for the resale transaction?
    A2

    All sellers, buyers and their spouse need to have a SingPass for the resale transaction. The SingPass is required when they login to the HDB Resale Portal for the various processes of selling or buying a flat.  

    For those who do not have a SingPass or have forgotten their SingPass password, they may apply for a new one or reset it via the SingPass website at www.singpass.gov.sg.

    Spouse who are not eligible for a SingPass will have to contact HDB’s Customer Relations Manager to make an appointment to acknowledge the resale documents in person.
    Registering Intent to Sell or Intent to Buy
    Q3 Can salespersons register the Intent to Sell or Intent to Buy on behalf of their clients?
    A3 Only sellers or buyers can register their own Intent to Sell or Intent to Buy via the HDB Resale Portal.
    Q4 When should sellers register their Intent to Sell?
    A4

    Sellers should register their Intent to sell before they start marketing their flat for sale. The Intent to Sell will provide a preliminary assessment of the sellers’ eligibility to sell the flat and receive information about the Ethnic Integration Policy/ Singapore Permanent Resident (EIP/SPR) Quota for their block, status of upgrading, billing of upgrading costs and recent transacted prices of nearby flats.

    After registering the Intent to Sell, sellers will have to wait out a 7-day cooling-off period before they can grant buyers an Option to Purchase.
    Q5 When should buyers register their Intent to Buy?
    A5 Buyers should register their Intent to Buy at the HDB Resale Portal before they start sourcing for a flat to buy. After registering their Intent to Buy, buyers will receive an instant assessment on their eligibility to buy a resale flat, the CPF Housing Grants and an HDB housing loan.
    Q6 Can buyers amend the information they have provided in the Intent to Buy?
    A6 After registering an Intent to Buy, buyers are not allowed to amend the information they have provided. If they wish to make changes, e.g. in the family composition, they would have to delete the Intent to Buy and register a fresh one.
    Choosing Mode of Financing
    Q7 For buyers who intend to take an HDB housing loan, when should they apply for an HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter?
    A7 For buyers who intend to take an HDB housing loan to finance the flat purchase, they must obtain an HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter before the sellers grant them an Option to Purchase.
    Q8 For buyers who intend to use their CPF monies to finance the flat purchase, when must their CPF funds be available?
    A8 Buyers who intend to use their CPF monies to purchase the resale flat must ensure that the funds are available in their CPF Ordinary Account when they submit the resale application. If the CPF funds are not available, the buyers may have to pay any shortfall in cash. Otherwise, the completion will be delayed.
    Requesting for Value of Flat
    Q9 Who can submit the Request for Value?
    A9 Buyers or their salesperson can submit the Request for Value after they have been granted an Option to Purchase by the sellers. Salesperson can submit the Request for Value via the e-Resale e-Service or Estate Agent Toolkit.
    Submitting Resale Application
    Q10 Can salespersons submit the resale application on behalf of their clients?
    A10 Yes, salespersons can submit the resale application on behalf of their clients via the e-Resale e-Service or the Estate Agent Toolkit.
    Q11 When submitting the resale application, must all the required documents be uploaded? Can some of the documents be uploaded after the resale application is submitted?
    A11 At the point of submitting the resale application, the documents required for the processing will be indicated.  All the required documents must be uploaded with the resale application.  If all the required documents are not submitted, the resale application cannot be processed and it will be rejected.
    Q12 Whose contact number or email address should be provided in the resale application?
    A12 The seller’s or buyer’s contact number and email address should be provided so that we can send them SMS/ email to update on the progress of the transaction or to contact them regarding their resale application.
    Q13 How can an applicant apply for the Enhanced Contra Facility?
    A13

    The Enhanced Contra Facility (ECF) is to facilitate the concurrent sale and purchase of resale flats. To make use of the scheme, applicants have to submit their applications for both transactions at the same time. They have to submit their request for the ECF in their flat applications. Both transactions will be completed on the same day.

    To be eligible for the ECF:
    - The applicants must NOT have an outstanding mortgage loan with a bank or financial institution for the flat they are selling.
    - The applicants are not taking a mortgage loan from a bank or financial institution for the resale flat that they are buying.
    - The applicants must appoint HDB to act for them in the sale and purchase of both flats.
    Q14 How can sellers request for a Temporary Extension of Stay?
    A14

    The Temporary Extension of Stay is to help sellers to transit to their new homes after they sell their flat. The buyers must agree to allow the sellers to stay temporarily in the flat after the transaction is completed. The buyers must make the request when they submit the resale application and pay a non-refundable administrative fee of $20 (inclusive of GST).

    To be eligible for the Temporary Extension of Stay :
    - Sellers must have committed (i.e. exercised Option to Purchase or signed Sale and Purchase Agreement) to buy a residential property (HDB flat or private property) in Singapore that is completed and ready for occupation.
    - Sellers must not be renting out their flat when the resale application is submitted.

    Important Notes:
    (a) The temporary Extension of stay is for a period of up to 3 months only.
    (b) The sellers and buyers have to negotiate and agree on the rental, if any.
    (c) The sellers have to inform HDB’s Branch when they vacate the flat.
    (d) During the period of the Temporary Extension of Stay, the buyers, who is the flat owner, will have to pay the  service and conservancy charges (S&CC) and will not be eligible for any rebates. They will also pay the property tax based on the residential tax rate and not the owner-occupier tax rate.
    Accepting Resale Application
    Q15 After a resale application is submitted, when will HDB accept it?
    A15 After the resale application is submitted by both sellers and buyers, HDB will verify the sellers’ and buyers’ eligibility to sell/buy the flat. If the application is in order, it should be accepted within 10 working days after it is submitted. Sellers and buyers will be notified of the acceptance via SMS/emails.
    Q16 When will a resale transaction be completed?
    A16 After the resale application is accepted, the completion will be scheduled 8 weeks later. Sellers and buyers will be informed of the completion date in the acceptance letter. The timing for the completion will be confirmed by HDB’s Customer Relations Manager nearer the completion date.
    Q17 How can sellers and buyers monitor the progress of their resale application?
    A17 Sellers and buyers can monitor the progress of their resale application by logging in to the HDB Resale Portal with their SingPass.
    Q18 Can the sellers or buyers change the completion date of the transaction?
    A18

    As the date given in the acceptance letter is already the earliest possible date to complete the transaction, it would not be possible to advance the completion date.  

    Nevertheless, if the sellers and buyers would like to defer the completion, please send a written confirmation signed by both the sellers and buyers agreeing to the new date to us at hdbresale@mailbox.hdb.gov.sg, within a week from the date of the HDB’s acceptance letter.
    Inspecting Flat
    Q19 When will HDB inspect the flat and how will the sellers be notified of the inspection?
    A19

    The inspection will be scheduled 5 working days after the application is accepted. If sellers wish to change the appointment, they would have to contact HDB’s Branch Service Line at 1800-225-5432.  

    The purpose of the inspection is for HDB to check whether there are any unauthorised renovation works done to the flat.
    The windows will also be checked to see if they comply with the Building & Construction Authority’s requirements.
    Endorsing Resale Documents
    Q20 When can the sellers or buyers endorse the documents?
    A20 The documents will be ready for endorsement about three weeks after we have accepted the resale application.  The sellers and buyers will receive an SMS notification when the documents are ready for their endorsement.
    Q21 If a family member who needs to endorse the documents at the HDB Resale Portal does not have a SingPass, what should he/she do?
    A21

    If the family member is a Singapore citizen or Singapore permanent resident, he/she can apply for a SingPass via the SingPass website at www.singpass.gov.sg (there is a SingPass service link on the login page of the HDB Resale Portal).  

    If the family member is a non-resident, he/ she may sign the documents in person at our office. Please contact our Customer Relations Manager to make an appointment.
    Q22 If the sellers or buyers are appointing HDB to act in the transaction, when do they pay the conveyancing fees?
    A22

    The sellers or buyers need to make the payment once they have endorsed the resale documents. The payment can be made using credit card (VISA or Mastercard) or NETS QR payment*. Payment must be made before we can approve the resale transaction.

    *The mobile apps that support NETS QR payment are NETSPay, DBS PayLah!, DBS digibank, POSB digibank, OCBC Pay Anyone and UOB Mighty.
    Attending Resale Completion
    Q23 What is the likely timing for the completion?
    A23 For buyers taking an HDB loan, the completion timing can be in the morning (between 10:00am and 12:00pm) or afternoon (between 3:00pm and 5:00pm). For buyers taking a bank loan, the completion timing will be in the afternoon (between 3:00pm and 5:00pm). Sellers and buyers will be notified of the completion timing nearer to the completion date.
    Q24 Who needs to attend the completion appointment?
    A24 If all the documents have already been endorsed at the HDB Resale Portal, only the flat sellers and buyers need to attend the completion appointment. However, if they have engaged the services of a private solicitor to act for them in the transaction or appointed a Power of Attorney to represent them, a representative from the solicitor’s firm or the attorney will attend the appointment on their behalf. Family members who are not able to endorse any documents online will also be called to attend the completion appointment to personally sign them.
    Q25 For buyers who are buying the resale flat under the Fiance/Fiancee scheme, when must they submit their marriage certificate to HDB? (solemnise their marriage)
    A25

    All buyers who are buying the resale flat under the Fiance/Fiancee scheme must solemnise their marriage within 3 months after the resale completion. This is regardless whether they are applying for the CPF Housing Grant and/or the Proximity Housing Grant.

    If their marriage is registered in Singapore, they need not submit a copy of their marriage certificate to HDB.

    If their marriage is not registered in Singapore, they would have to submit a copy of their marriage certificate to their HDB Branch.
    Q26 What are the things that the buyers need to do to prepare for the completion?
    A26

    Buyers have to do the following to prepare for the resale completion:

    (a) Arrange to inspect the flat to make sure the sellers have vacated the flat before the completion.
    (b) Buy the fire insurance, if they are taking an HDB housing loan. They can do it online at http://etiqa.com.sg/hdbfire. 
    (c) Pay the balance purchase price of the flat and outstanding fees, if any, in full. They can print a copy of the payment advice from the HDB Resale Portal and use it to make payment (by Cashier’s Order and/ or NETS) at HDB’s Payment Office (HDB Hub Atrium Level 3). They will have to produce the receipt showing the payment of the amount in full before the completion can take place.
    Q27 What are the things that the buyers need to bring for the completion?
    A27

    Buyers must bring the following when they attend the resale completion:

    - Identity card of all buyers.
    - Spouse’s passport and long term social visit pass/ work permit if the spouse is not a Singapore Citizen nor Singapore Permanent Resident.
    - Receipt to show that the balance purchase price and outstanding fees, if any, have been paid in full.
    - The Mortgage Fire Insurance Policy certificate if the buyers are taking an HDB housing loan.
    Q28 What are the things the sellers need to do to prepare for the completion?
    A28

    Sellers have to do the following to prepare for the resale completion:

    - Rectify any unauthorised renovation works in the flat and, if required, arrange for another inspection with the Branch before the resale completion.
    - Terminate all GIRO arrangements for payments relating to the flat e.g. service and conservancy charges, property tax, Singapore Power, etc.
    - Pay the service and conservancy (S&CC) charges up to the day of completion and get a confirmation from the Town Council.
    - Pay the Property tax up to the end of the year.
    - Vacate the flat and arrange for the buyers to inspect it before the resale completion.
    Q29 What are the things sellers need to bring for the completion?
    A29

    Sellers must bring the followings when they attend the resale completion:

    - Identity cards of all the sellers.
    - Original Option to Purchase (Pages 1 to 10).
    - BCA windows declaration form.
    - Confirmation for payment of the service and conservancy charges and property tax.
    - Original duplicate lease of the flat if it has been issued to the sellers.
    - Full set of the keys to the flat, including the duplicates, if any.
    Q30 Where can sellers get a copy of the town council payment and the BCA windows retrofitting form?
    A30 Sellers can print the Town Council payment letter and the BCA windows retrofitting form from the HDB Resale Portal under the “Approval and completion” section (step 5).