Residential
For first-timer applicants and those with more urgent housing needs, there are privileges and priority schemes in place to improve your chances of being balloted to book an HDB flat under our Build-To-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flat (SBF) sales launches. You may also be given priority for Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flats and Executive Condominiums (EC).
Watch these videos to learn more about first-timer benefits and priority schemes when buying an HDB flat.
Please note that no priority or privilege applies for queue numbers to book a flat. Those are randomly generated for flat applicants who are successful in the ballot.
As a first-timer applicant, your housing needs are more pressing. You will enjoy greater priority and other privileges when you apply for a new HDB flat, DBSS flat, or EC.
You will also be considered as a first-timer family, and will enjoy the same priority benefits.
HDB
DBSS
EC
95% of flat supply is set aside for first-timer families during the initial launch period (1 month)
70% of flat supply is set aside for first-timer families during the initial launch period (1 month)
In sales launches, more flats are set aside for first-timers.
From the November 2015 sales launch, at least 40% (subject to a minimum of 100 units for each BTO project) of the 2-room Flexi flats will be set aside for elderly applicants. Any unused elderly quota will be distributed amongst the other households.
BTO distribution for non-elderly in non-mature estates
Flat type
Families (PPS)
Families (MCPS)
Other families
Singles
2-room Flexi
5%
10%
50%
3-room
30%
N/A
4- and 5-room
25%
BTO distribution for non-elderly in mature estates
2-room Flexi to 5-room
35%
SBF distribution for non-elderly in non-mature estates
BTO distribution for projects with shorter waiting time
4-room & bigger flats
For more information, you can read about PPS and MCPS further down this page.
Mode of Sale
First-timers
Second-timers
95%
70%
You will get 2 ballot chances as compared to second-timer applicants, who get 1 ballot chance. However, in cases where there is an overwhelming demand for flats, we cannot guarantee that all first-timers will be successful in the ballot. Should you be unsuccessful for 2 or more BTO applications (as a first-timer family) in the non-mature estates, you will get 1 additional chance per subsequent BTO application in the non-mature estates.
Type of Applicant
Number of Chances
First-timer
Second-timer
2
1
For BTO sales launches in the non-mature estates, first-timers will get additional chances if their first 2 BTO applications were unsuccessful.
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
3
4
5
An application is only considered unsuccessful if you are not invited to select a flat, e.g. not successful in the ballot, or the flats were all taken up before your queue number was due.
Additional chances are not given for SBF and BTO sales launches in mature estates as the supply of those flats is limited.
To manage repeated non-selection of flats by first-timers, please note that:
Priority schemes enhance your chances in the computer ballot that we conduct for flat applications. You can apply for these if all the people listed in your flat application meet the eligibility conditions.
Priority Scheme
Available For:
DBSS*
Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS)
Yes
No
Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS)
Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS)
Third Child Priority Scheme (TCPS)
Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/ Widowed Parents) (ASSIST)
Tenants’ Priority Scheme (TPS)
Senior Priority Scheme (SPS)
* The DBSS developer will only make known the flat quota during the initial project launch, and has flexibility in how it administers the priority schemes. Please check with the developer for more details.
You can get priority for up to 2 schemes. So long as you meet all of the applicable eligibility conditions, you can apply for 1 priority scheme with the exception of PPS, where PPS applicants can also apply for TCPS or MCPS, and vice versa.
This scheme helps first-timer married couples with children get their flat more easily.
Up to 30% of BTO units and 50% of SBF units are allocated to applicants under this scheme.
A computer 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.
This scheme helps married children and their parents get new flats in the same precinct. 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.
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.
At least 1 of your parents (including widowed or divorced parents) / married child is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident
If your child is widowed and has children, he/she can also qualify for MCPS
If your child is divorced but has children under his/her legal custody, care and control, he/she can also qualify for MCPS
Do note that:
Household Status
BTO Sales Launch
SBF Sales Launch
Non-mature estate*
Mature estate
2-room
4-/ 5-room
2-room and bigger^
First-timer family
Second-timer family
15%
3%
* Within the quota, first priority is given to these cases:
^ Within the quota, first priority is given to:
The available quota is first given to MCPS applicants that are eligible for first priority. Any remaining quota then goes to the other MCPS applicants.
After collecting the keys to your new flat, your parents/ married child who helped you qualify for the MCPS must continue to live within 4 km* of your new flat.
*For flat applications received for Feb 2018 sales launches or earlier, your parents/ married child who helped you qualify for the MCPS must continue to live in the same town or within 2 km of your new flat.
After collecting the keys to your new flat, your parents/ married child who helped you to qualify for the MCPS must continue to live with you in the new flat.
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 is up to 5% of BTO/ SBF units.
After collecting the keys to your new flat, the three children who helped you to qualify for the TCPS must continue to live with you in the new flat. In addition, they must not:
Submit any application or be included as occupiers in an application to buy a flat from HDB or on the open market, a DBSS flat or an EC unit from the developer; and
Rent an HDB flat (including DBSS flat)
This scheme provides assistance to divorced or widowed persons with children.
The flat allocation is up to 5% of BTO 2-room Flexi and 3-room flats in non-mature estates. This quota is shared with the 30% quota set aside for second-timers.
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.
The flat allocation is up to 10% of 2-room Flexi and 3-room BTO/ SBF units.
This scheme helps elderly residents 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 elderly applicants’ chances when they ballot for a flat.
At least 40% of the 2-room Flexi flats (subject to a minimum 100 units for each BTO project) offered during our sales launches will be set aside for elderly applicants. Within this, half (20%) will be set aside for eligible elderly under the SPS.
The new 2-room Flexi flat must be located within 4 km of your current flat or owner-occupied private property
At least 1 of your parents (including widowed or divorced parents)/ married child is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident
After collecting the keys to your new flat, your parents/ married child who helped you qualify for the SPS must continue to live within 4 km* of your new flat.
*For flat applications received for Feb 2018 sales launches or earlier, your parents/ married child who helped you qualify for the SPS must continue to live in the same town or within 2 km of your new flat.
If you have been invited to select a flat, you may check out the flats available for selection