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Residential

Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) Flat

A new Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flat is offered for sale under similar eligibility conditions as those of a new HDB flat. However, you buy the flat directly from the developer, not from us. Before you submit an application, we advise that you also learn more about the conditions that apply after you buy a new DBSS flat.

What are the eligibility conditions?

You and any other applicants and essential occupiers need to meet several eligibility conditions.

Family Nucleus

You will need to qualify for the DBSS flat under 1 of these eligibility schemes:

  • Public Scheme
  • Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme
  • Orphans Scheme

Citizenship
  • You must be a Singapore Citizen
  • At least 1 other applicant must be a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident

Age

At least 21 years old

Income Ceiling
The monthly household income must not exceed ^$14,000, or ^$21,000 if purchasing with extended family.

Property Ownership
  • You do not own other property overseas or locally, or have not disposed of any within the last 30 months
  • You have not bought a new HDB/ DBSS flat or EC, or received a CPF Housing Grant before; or, have only bought 1 of these properties/ received 1 CPF Housing Grant thus far
^Applicable for Option to Purchase granted by the property developer on or after 11 September 2019. For Option to Purchase granted before 11 September 2019, income ceilings are $12,000 and $18,000 (if purchasing with extended family)

 

Which eligibility scheme do I apply under?

You can apply for a new DBSS flat under any of these eligibility schemes: Public Scheme, Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme, or Orphans Scheme.

Public Scheme

You form a family nucleus with any of the following:

  • Spouse, and children (if any)
  • Parents, and siblings (if any)
  • Children under your legal custody, care and control (if widowed/divorced#)

#If the care and control of your children under the age of 21 is shared with your ex-spouse, you must obtain his/her written agreement before you can list your children in a flat application.

If you face difficulties in obtaining the agreement or have a question for us, please send us an email at hdbsales@mailbox.hdb.gov.sg.

Applications under this scheme are only valid if there are no changes to the people listed. That means that you are not allowed to subsequently replace your parents’ names with that of a spouse, or vice versa.

Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme

You form a family nucleus with your spouse-to-be. Please note the following for this scheme.

Solemnisation of Marriage

Under this scheme, you need to solemnise your marriage and submit a photocopy of your marriage certificate to the developer within 3 months* of collecting your keys to the DBSS flat.

*Applicable for Option To Purchase granted by property developer on or after 1 May 2018

Written parental consent needed if spouse-to-be is 18 years old and above, but below 21

That person can only be listed as an essential occupier in the flat application. Written consent from that person’s parents/ guardians must be submitted when you book a DBSS flat.

Special Marriage Licence needed if spouse-to-be is below 18 years old

Following your flat application, you must obtain a Special Marriage Licence from the Ministry of Social and Family Development and submit it when you book a DBSS flat.

No change of people listed in the application

Applications under this scheme are only valid if there are no changes to the people listed. That means that, in a case of break-up, you are not allowed to subsequently include the name(s) of a new Fiancé/Fiancée or your parents in the application, even if your ex-Fiancé/Fiancée agrees.

Orphans Scheme

You and your siblings (those applying) are orphans and single, i.e. unmarried, divorced or widowed:

  • All of the siblings that are single must be listed in the same application
  • At least 1 of the deceased parents was a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident

Please note that under the Orphans Scheme, siblings are not allowed to buy/ rent flats separately.

What is the income ceiling?

Your average gross monthly household income must not exceed:

  • ^$14,000
  • ^$21,000 if purchasing with extended family

^Applicable for Option to Purchase granted by the property developer on or after 11 September 2019. For Option to Purchase granted before 11 September 2019, income ceilings are $12,000 and $18,000 (if purchasing with extended family) 

What income documents must I submit?

To assess the average gross monthly household income for your DBSS flat application, you and any other applicants and essential occupiers will need to prepare specific documents depending on your nature of employment. Also, please note that some forms of income/ allowance are not included when assessing your household income.

For your flat application, you and the other applicants and essential occupiers will need to get ready the following documents for our verification:

  • 3 months’ payslips preceding the month of application, if employed full-time (not on commission-basis)
  • 6 months’ of income documents preceding the month of application, for other types of employment
  • Proof of unemployment, if not working

Aside from the above documents, we may also request other documents for verification if needed.

Nature of Employment

Documents to Submit

Notes

Employed person
  • 3 months’ payslips preceding the month of application

or

  • Letter from employer certifying salaries for 3 months preceding the month of application; the letter must contain the:
    • Company stamp/ letterhead
    • Certifying officer’s name, signature, and designation

Note: If your income includes allowances, we will require 6 months’ payslips preceding the month of application.
  • Assessment is based on the average gross monthly income, which:
    • Excludes bonuses and income earned from ad hoc overtime work
    • Includes allowances (fixed/ variable) received on a regular basis (e.g. allowances for food, transport, laundry, uniform, etc.)
  • If you are employed full-time but on no-pay leave for less than 6 months, we will consider you as employed and use your last drawn pay for assessment. If you are on no-pay leave for 6 months or more, your income will not be considered in the assessment.
  • Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) will not be accepted

Self-employed person
  • Latest NOA from IRAS or Statement of Annual Accounts certified by an audit firm

and

and

  • Undertaking affirming the average gross monthly income for 6 months preceding the month of application

  • Assessment is based on the average gross monthly income

Part-time worker
  • 6 months’ payslips preceding the month of application

or

  • Letter from employer certifying salaries for 6 months preceding the month of application; the letter must contain the:
    • Company stamp/ letterhead
    • Certifying officer’s name, signature, and designation
  • Assessment is based on the average gross monthly income.

Commission-based person
  • 6 months’ commission statements/ payslips preceding the month of application

or

  • Letter from employer certifying salaries for 6 months preceding the month of application; the letter must contain the:
    • Company stamp/ letterhead
    • Certifying officer’s name, signature, and designation
  • Assessment is based on the average gross monthly income.

Odd job worker

or

  • Letter from employer certifying salaries for 6 months preceding the month of application; the letter must contain the:
    • Company stamp/ letterhead
    • Certifying officer’s name, signature, and designation
  • Assessment is based on the average gross monthly income.

Unemployed person (between 18 to 62 years old)
  • Undertaking affirming the unemployment status

or 

  • Valid Student Pass or letter from school/ college/ institute of learning to confirm student status, if currently a full-time student
  • If unemployed for less than 3 months, the following documents are required:
    • Income proof for the preceding month(s) from the previous employer stating gross monthly income and last day of service
    • Latest 15 months’ CPF contribution history
  

 

Income/ allowance that will be considered for income assessment

  • Allowances (fixed/ variable) received on a regular basis (e.g. allowances for food, transport, laundry, uniform, etc.)

  • Sustenance allowance

  • Stipend
Income/ allowance that will not be considered for income assessment

  • Alimony allowance

  • Bonuses

  • Director's fee

  • Income from ad hoc overtime work

  • Interest from deposit accounts

  • National Service Allowance

  • Rental income

  • Scholarship overseas allowance

  • Overseas cost of living allowance

  • Pension

 

What is the income ceiling for extended family? How do I work it out?

The income ceiling for extended family is set at a higher level of $21,000 to encourage and help working adults and their parents to live as an extended family in a DBSS flat. This includes married couples, their siblings, and their parents. It is calculated using the combined income of 2 set groups in the extended family.

How to calculate the extended family income ceiling

The set groups and income ceiling calculation are as follows:

Household Type

Income of Group A

(Cannot exceed #$14,000)

Income of Group B

(Cannot exceed #$14,000)

Extended Family Income Ceiling

Parents* with single children

Parents and 1 of the single children

Remaining single children

Group A + Group B must not exceed #$21,000

Parents* with married children^

Parents and remaining working children (if any)

The married children and their children (if any)

* Includes widow/ widower or divorcee

^ Includes applicants applying under the Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme

#Applicable for Option to Purchase granted by the property developer on or after 11 September 2019. For Option to Purchase granted before 11 September 2019, income ceilings are $12,000 and $18,000 (if purchasing with extended family) 

Example

A married couple and their 3 working children wish to buy a DBSS flat. Individually, their average gross monthly income is:

  • Husband: $7,000
  • Wife: $4,000
  • Child A: $4,000
  • Child B: $3,000
  • Child C: $2,000

Their average gross monthly income as an extended family thus works out as:

Income of Group A

  • Parents and 1 of the single children
  • Cannot exceed ^$14,000

Income of Group B

  • Remaining single children
  • Cannot exceed ^$14,000

Extended Family Income Ceiling

  • Group A + Group B must not exceed ^$21,000
  • Husband: $7,000
  • Wife: $4,000
  • Child C: $2,000

Total = $13,000
  • Child A: $4,000
  • Child B: $3,000

Total = $7,000
  • Group A: $13,000
  • Group B: $7,000

Total = $20,000

The extended family’s income is within the income ceiling.

^Applicable for Option to Purchase granted by the property developer on or after 11 September 2019. For Option to Purchase granted before 11 September 2019, income ceilings are $12,000 and $18,000 (if purchasing with extended family)  

 

What if I am an undischarged bankrupt?

Prior consent must be obtained from the Official Assignee (OA) or the private trustee, if you are applying to buy a DBSS flat that is bigger than a 5-room flat. From 1 February 2016 onwards, prior consent is also required to buy any flat type with a net purchase price of $500,000 or above, after taking into account any HDB subsidies or levy.

You do not need to seek prior consent from the OA or the private trustee to be listed as an occupier of a flat.

Am I a first or second-timer applicant?

A first-timer applicant is a person or household that has never received any form of housing subsidy, or similar benefit; a second-timer applicant is a person or household that has. If you are a second-timer and your spouse/ spouse-to-be is a first-timer, you as a couple will enjoy first-timer privileges and priority. You are not required to pay a resale levy when you buy a DBSS flat from a developer as a second-timer.

First-timer applicant

First-timers enjoy privileges and priority in flat allocation.

Yours will be treated as a first-timer application if you and any of the other listed owners and essential occupiers meet the following criteria:

  • Not the owner of a flat bought from HDB, or an EC/ DBSS flat bought from a developer
  • Not sold a flat bought from HDB, or an EC/ DBSS flat bought from a developer
  • Not received any CPF Housing Grant for the purchase of an HDB resale flat
  • Not taken any form of housing subsidy (e.g. benefitted under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) or HUDC estate privatisation)
If you are a second-timer and your spouse/ spouse-to-be is a first-timer, you will be glad to know that you and your spouse/ spouse-to-be will enjoy first-timer privileges and priority as a couple.

Second-timer applicant

Yours will be treated as a second-timer application if any of the following applies to you or any of the other listed owners and essential occupiers:
  • Have owned or sold any of the following:
    • HDB flat bought from HDB
    • Resale flat bought using a CPF Housing Grant
    • EC/ DBSS flat bought from the developer
  • Once taken some form of housing subsidy (e.g. benefitted under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), HUDC estate privatisation)
 

Are there any time periods during which I cannot apply for a flat?

Yes. There are instances where you may need to wait out a set time period before you can apply or be listed in the application for a new DBSS flat.

This usually happens when someone:

  • Has not met the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of a current flat/ EC unit
  • Has previously cancelled a flat application

MOP requirements: current owner/ essential occupier of a flat or an EC unit

Before applying for the new DBSS flat, you need to check if you or any other flat applicant(s)/ essential occupier(s) to be listed in the DBSS flat application own any of these:

  • HDB flat bought from HDB or on the open market
  • EC unit/ DBSS flat bought from the developer

If so, that person must have already met that flat/ EC’s 5-year MOP before he can apply for a new DBSS flat. An essential occupier must also have met the flat/ EC's 5-year MOP before he can be listed in a new DBSS flat application.

In the case of ECs, you must also wait out a 30-month period from the EC’s effective date of disposal, which we will verify using your Notice of Transfer, or any other such documentation we may require.

Type of Property

Time Period Before You Can Apply for a New DBSS Flat
  • HDB flat bought from HDB or on the open market
  • DBSS flat bought from the developer

MOP of 5 years
  • EC unit bought from the developer
 MOP of 5 years + 30 months from date of EC disposal

Cancelled an HDB flat application after booking a flat

If you booked a new HDB flat and subsequently cancel your booking, you must wait out a 1-year period from the date of the cancellation before you can apply or be listed as an essential occupier of a:

  • New HDB flat
  • DBSS flat bought from a developer
  • EC bought from a developer
  • Resale flat bought with a CPF Housing Grant
  • Resale flat announced for SERS

Can I get a new DBSS flat if I used to/ still own or have full/ partial interest in a local/ overseas non-HDB property?

No, you may not. For a DBSS flat application, all the listed owners and essential occupiers must not own, dispose, or have an estate or interest in any other local or overseas property:

  • Within 30 months before the date of the DBSS flat application, and up to the date of taking possession of the DBSS flat

The properties considered in this instance include but are not limited to:

  • Privatised HUDC flats
  • Properties acquired by gift
  • Properties inherited as beneficiaries under a will or as a result of the Intestate Succession Act
  • Private property
  • Properties owned, acquired, or disposed through nominees, regardless of properties’ location

Can I get a new DBSS flat if I used to/ still own an HDB flat, DBSS flat, or EC?

Yes, provided that you only own/owned 1 of the following units prior to your application.

  • Flat bought from HDB
  • EC/ DBSS flat bought from the developer
  • HDB resale flat bought with a CPF Housing Grant (only applies to first-timer applicants)

In essence, an eligible Singapore Citizen is allowed to buy the above properties twice in total, not twice per property type

If you have already bought 2 such properties, you will not be eligible to apply for a new flat or be listed as an essential occupier in an application.


 

 

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