Priority Schemes

Priority schemes enhance your chances in the computer ballot for flats offered in Build-To-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises. You may apply for these if you and the persons listed in your flat application meet the eligibility conditions.

You may apply for up to 2 priority schemes if you are able to meet the eligibility conditions. To promote marriage and parenthood, applicants who qualify for the Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS) may apply for another priority scheme, such as the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) or Third Child Priority Scheme (TCPS).

Please note that there is no priority or privilege to secure a small queue number to book a flat.

To help young families secure their flats in a more timely manner, HDB will introduce a new priority category, First-Timer (Parents & Married Couples), or FT(PMC) in short, from the August 2023 BTO exercise. FT(PMC) applicants will receive an additional ballot chance and enjoy higher priority in BTO and Sale of Balance Flats exercises. Read the press release for more details and the eligibility criteria.

Priority for first-timers

As a first-timer applicant, you will enjoy greater priority and other privileges when you apply for a flat from HDB.

Couples comprising a first-timer and second-timer applicant are also considered as a first-timer family, and will enjoy the same priority benefits.

Privileges

Higher proportion of flat supply

A higher proportion of flat supply will be set aside for first-timer families in the mature and non-mature estates, as well as projects with shorter waiting time. More information on the distribution of quotas can be found in modes of sale.

Priority schemes

You may apply for priority schemes to enhance your chances in the ballot. Read about the various priority schemes, such as Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS) and Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS), further below.

Deferred Income Assessment and Staggered Downpayment Scheme

First-timer applicants may also be eligible for deferred income assessment and Staggered Downpayment Scheme.

Ballot chances

You will get 2 ballot chances as compared to second-timer applicants, who will get 1 ballot chance. However, in cases where there is an overwhelming demand for flats from first-timers, not all first-timers will be successful in the ballot.

You will get 1 additional chance for every subsequent unsuccessful BTO application in the non-mature estates, if you have been unsuccessful for 2 or more BTO applications (as a first-timer family) in the non-mature estates previously.

No. of Previous Unsuccessful Applications

(For BTO sales launches in non-mature estates)

Additional Chances

(+1 per application after 2 unsuccessful applications)

Total

(Additional chances + 2 first-timer chances)
0 to 1 0 2
2 1 3
3 2 4
4 3 5

An application is considered unsuccessful if you are not invited to book a flat, i.e. you did not receive a queue number, or the flats were all taken up before your queue number was due.

Additional chances are not given for applications for BTO flats in the mature estates and SBF exercises as the flat supply is limited.

Application restrictions for rejecting a BTO/ SBF flat

To manage repeated non-selection of flats which will deprive other applicants who are in urgent need to buy a flat, please note that those who had been invited to book a flat but did not do so will have the additional ballot chance for their previous unsuccessful BTO applications in the non-mature estates set to 0.

We thus strongly encourage applicants to book a flat at the first opportunity when invited by HDB to do so, to minimise disappointment from repeated unsuccessful applications.

Should an applicant reject 2 chances to book a flat, their first-timer privileges will be removed for a 1-year period. Any flat applications made during this period will be placed together with second-timer applicants, and no additional ballot chances will be given.

To ensure more efficient flat allocation so that those who need it can secure their flats more quickly, HDB will tighten the rules for non-selection of flats from the August 2023 BTO exercise. Read more in the press release.

Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS)

This scheme helps first-timer married couples with children get their flat more easily.

Flat allocation

Up to 30% of BTO flats and 50% of SBF flats are allocated to applicants under this scheme.

Eligibility conditions

  • You and your spouse must be first-timer buyers
  • You have a citizen child (i.e. natural offspring from a legal marriage or legally adopted) who is aged 18 years or below. For adoptive parents, you must have the Adoption Order of your child when you apply for a flat
  • If you or your spouse is expecting, and have a doctor's certification of the pregnancy, you may also apply for the PPS

Balloting process if you also applied for TCPS and/ or MGPS

A computerised ballot is conducted for each priority scheme. For example, a married couple with 3 children is eligible for the TCPS and PPS. Their application will first be balloted with other TCPS applicants. If that ballot is unsuccessful, their application is then balloted again under the PPS.

Family and Parenthood Priority Scheme (FPPS)

From the August 2023 BTO exercise, the PPS will be expanded to include eligible FT(PMC) applicants, and will be renamed as the Family and Parenthood Priority Scheme (FPPS). Up to 40% of BTO flats and up to 60% of SBF flats will be set aside for the FPPS. Read more in the press release.

Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS)

Parents and their married child can make a joint application for 2 flats in a BTO project where 2-room Flexi or 3-room flats are integrated in the flat mix.

Flat allocation

  • Flat allocation (parents): Up to 15% of the 2-room Flexi or 3-room flats (minimum of 20 units)
  • Flat allocation (married child): Corresponding number of 2-room Flexi or bigger flats
  • The flats will be randomly pre-identified

Eligibility conditions

  • Parents (including widowed or divorced parents) must submit a joint application with their married child. If the child is widowed and has children, or divorced and has child(ren) under his/ her legal custody, care, and control, he/ she will also qualify for MGPS 
  • Parents may only apply for a 2-room Flexi or 3-room flat
  • The married child may apply for a 2-room Flexi or bigger flat

How it works

  • If successfully balloted, both households (parents and married child) will have the opportunity to book flats in the BTO project, from a pool of pre-identified flats
  • 3 queue numbers will be given, i.e. 1 will be under MGPS and 2 will be under the Public Scheme@
    • The MGPS queue number will allow both households to book a flat each, jointly
    • The 2 Public Scheme queue numbers will allow each household to book a flat as a public applicant, separately
    • Depending on the ballot results, you may choose whether to book the flats jointly under the MGPS, or separately as public applicants

@ Public Scheme is for applications by couples and families who are not under any priority scheme

Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS)

This scheme helps a married child and the parents to live with or close to each other for mutual care and support, by giving greater assurance when they apply for a new flat. Fiancé/Fiancée applicants may also apply for the MCPS.

Flat allocation

  • First-timer families: Up to 30% of BTO/ SBF flats
  • Second-timer families: Up to 5% of BTO flats, up to 3% of SBF units
Important note:

For flats offered under the Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) model, the proportion of flats set aside for households applying for flats near their parents/ married children under the MCPS will be reviewed and adjusted depending on location of the project.The MCPS allocation quota for the specific projects will be available when the projects are launched for sale. More information on PLH.

Eligibility conditions: MCPS (with parents/ married child)

  • At least 1 of your parents (including widowed or divorced parents)/ married child is a SC or SPR. If your child is widowed and has children, or is divorced but has children under his/ her legal custody, care and control, he/ she can also qualify for MCPS
  • Your parents/ married child must be included in your flat application to live together with you
Important note:

After collecting the keys to your new flat, the parents or married child who has helped you to qualify for the MCPS must continue to live with you in the new flat throughout the minimum occupation period of the new flat.

Eligibility conditions: MCPS (near parents/ married child)

  • At least 1 of your parents (including widowed or divorced parents)/ married child is a Singapore Citizen (SC) or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR).  If your child is widowed and has children, or is divorced but has children under his/ her legal custody, care, and control, he/ she can also qualify for MCPS
  • You must be applying for a flat in a project where the nearest block is within 4 km from an HDB flat or a private residential property that your parents/ married child lives in
Important note:
  • If your parents/ married child owns more than one property, the property which they live in will be used for the proximity reference
  • If your parents/ married child does not own the private residential property, it must be owner-occupied by their immediate family members (defined as child or adopted child, parent(s) or parent(s)-in-law, or siblings)
  • After collecting the keys to your new flat, your parents/ married child who has helped you qualify for the MCPS must continue to live within 4 km of your new flat throughout the minimum occupation period of the new flat

Quota of flats given priority under MCPS

The available quota is given first to MCPS applicants who are eligible for first priority. Any remaining quota then goes to the other MCPS applicants.

Distribution of quota#

Household Status BTO Sales Launch SBF Sales Launch^
Non-Mature Estates* Mature Estates
2-room Flexi 3-room 4-/ 5-room 2-room Flexi and bigger^
First-timer family 5% 30% 30% 30% 30%
Second-timer family 5% 5% 3% 3% 3%
# Does not apply to flats under the PLH model.
* Within the quota, first priority is given to these cases:
  • Applicants who apply for a flat under MCPS (with parents/ married child) to live together with their parents/ married child
  • Parents who own a flat in a mature estate and are applying for a flat in a non-mature estate to live closer to their married child
^ Within the quota, first priority is given to:
  • Applicants who apply for a flat under MCPS (with parents/ married child) to live together with their parents/ married child, i.e. applying for priority

Third Child Priority Scheme (TCPS)

This scheme helps families with more than 2 children and encourages the formation of larger families. Your application will be included in the first ballot round with other TCPS applicants; if unsuccessful, your application is then included in the second ballot round, together with other public applicants.

Flat allocation

Flat allocation is up to 5% of BTO/ SBF flats.

Eligibility conditions

  • You and/or your spouse is a Singapore Citizen (SC)
  • If you are divorced or widowed, you must be a SC to qualify
  • Your family must consist of at least 3 children (i.e. natural offspring from a legal marriage or legally adopted). For divorced parents, you must have the legal custody, care, and control of your children. For adoptive parents, you must have the Adoption Order of your children when you apply for a flat
  • Your third child must be a SC born on or after 1 January 1987
  • Your other children must be either SCs or Singapore Permanent Residents
  • You have not previously bought a flat under the TCPS
5-year minimum occupation period (MOP)

After collecting the keys to your new flat, the three children who have helped you to qualify for the TCPS must continue to live with you during the minimum occupation period of the new flat. In addition, they must not:

  • Apply or be included as occupiers in an application to buy a flat from HDB or on the open market, or an EC unit from property developer
  • Rent an HDB flat

Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/ Widowed Parents) (ASSIST)

This scheme provides assistance to divorced or widowed persons with children.

Flat allocation

The flat allocation is up to 5% of 2-room Flexi and 3-room BTO flats in the non-mature estates. This quota is shared with the 15% quota set aside for second-timers. If there are more second-timers than the flat supply set aside for them, not all second-timers will be successful in their flat application, in keeping second-timers within the flat supply set aside for them.

Eligibility conditions

  • You must have at least 1 child aged 18 years or below (i.e. natural offspring from a legal marriage or legally adopted). For adoptive parents, you must have the Adoption Order of your child when you apply for a flat
  • You must not have acquired any interest in an HDB flat or private residential property (except for your matrimonial flat/ property) after the date of divorce/ separation or demise of your spouse

Tenants’ Priority Scheme (TPS)

This scheme helps tenants of HDB rental flats to purchase their own home. The TPS quota is also for those applying under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), Relocation and Resettlement.

Flat allocation

The flat allocation is up to 10% of 2-room Flexi and 3-room BTO/ SBF flats.

Eligibility conditions

You and your family must be living in an HDB public rental flat for at least 2 years.

Senior Priority Scheme (SPS)

This scheme helps seniors who wish to buy a 2-room Flexi flat to age-in-place in a familiar environment or live near their parents/ married child, by improving the seniors’ chances when they ballot for a flat.

Flat allocation

At least 40%# of the 2-room Flexi flats will be set aside for seniors. Within this, half will be set aside for eligible seniors under the SPS.

# For BTO projects, it is subject to a minimum flat supply of 100 units per project

Eligibility conditions: SPS (near existing home)

The new 2-room Flexi flat must be located within 4 km of your current flat or owner-occupied private property.

Eligibility conditions: SPS (married applicants living near or with parents/ married child)

  • You must be married, and at least 1 of your parents (including widowed or divorced parents)/ married child is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident
  • If your parent/ child is widowed or divorced, you may also qualify for SPS
  • You must be applying to live with your parents/ married child (you need to include their names in your flat application), or
  • You must be applying for a flat in a project where the nearest block is within 4 km from an HDB flat or a private residential property that your parents/ married child lives in
Important note:
  • If your parents/ married child owns more than one property, the property which they live in will be used for the proximity reference
  • If your parents/ married child does not own the private residential property, it must be owner-occupied by their immediate family members (defined as child or adopted child, parent(s) or parent(s)-in-law, or siblings)
  • After collecting the keys to your new flat, your parents/ married child who have helped you qualify for the SPS must continue to live within 4 km of your new flat throughout the minimum occupation period of the new flat