Home Improvement Programme (HIP)

The HIP helps to resolve common maintenance problems of ageing flats such as spalling concrete. HIP works are carried out in a systematic and comprehensive way to minimise inconvenience to you.

The programme was introduced in 2007 for flats built up to 1986 that have not undergone the Main Upgrading Programme. In August 2018, HIP was extended to include flats built between 1987 and 1997.

Duration of work

HIP works will require about 1.5 to 2 years to complete for a typical precinct (comprising 8 to 10 blocks). Works in each flat will take 10 working days or less, depending on the improvements chosen.

Polling requirements

The HIP will only proceed if at least 75% of a block’s eligible Singapore Citizen households have voted in favour of the HIP. Singapore Permanent Resident households are not eligible to participate in the poll.

Precinct working committee

In each HIP precinct, a working committee, chaired by the Adviser to the Grassroots Organisation will be formed. The committee comprises representatives from the residents, grassroots leaders, HDB officials, and Town Council officials. HDB will work with the working committee to implement the HIP.

Scope of HIP works

View the Essential, Optional, and EASE improvements offered under the HIP.

Scope of works

The HIP comprises 3 components – Essential, Optional and Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) Improvements. If your block votes in favour of the HIP, you will enjoy Essential Improvements that are important for public health and safety. At the same time, you can opt for Optional and EASE improvements. The costs of the improvements are subsidised for Singaporean households.

Essential improvements

These compulsory improvements are considered necessary for public health, safety, and for technical reasons. They include:

  • Repair spalling concrete/ structural cracks
  • Replace waste/ soil discharge stacks
    • (The pipes will be changed if they are cast iron, mixture of cast iron and UPVC, or if they are UPVC and there are leaks and cracks.)
  • Replace pipe sockets with new clothes drying rack
  • Upgrade electrical load
    • (This will be carried out after the completion of HIP works, if necessary.)

Optional improvements

You may choose any of the improvements below and only pay for your share of the improvement works carried out in your flat. The Optional Improvements are:

  • Package to upgrade existing toilet(s)/ bathroom(s)*
  • New entrance door**
  • New grille gate
  • New refuse chute hopper, where applicable

* Your toilets must pass a water test for leaks to prevent ceiling leaks in the flat below, before you can opt out of the optional toilet upgrading.
** HDB will first determine whether your flat requires a fire-rated or non-fire rated main door, based on SCDF’s Fire Code. You can opt for a fire-rated door if your flat requires one. A home fire alarm device (HFAD) will also be installed as part of this fire safety work. If your flat does not require a fire-rated door, you can opt for the non-fire-rated door offered under HIP.

Since 2020, we have refreshed the HIP package to include more contemporary and better-quality improvement items. These new fittings and finishes apply to HIP projects polling after 30 March 2020:

Improvement Item  Features
External retractable clothes drying rack, where technically feasible

7 horizontal stainless steel poles, which can be extended and retracted within the frame of the rack

 

You may refer to the instructions here for the use of the external retractable clothes drying rack or watch how it works, and how you can maintain it.
Toilet/ Bathroom upgrade                                      

Larger wall/ floor tiles

Better-quality sanitary fittings
Entrance door and gate

Decorative timber door or laminated timber door, with enhanced resistance against scratches

Wrought iron grille gate or mild steel entrance gate with interior thumb-turn knob

Find out in this video how the HIP helps improve the living conditions in HDB flats, and what to expect when your precinct is undergoing HIP.

You can also see in this video how the HIP helps deal with common maintenance problems related to ageing flats, such as spalling concrete and ceiling leaks, in a systematic and comprehensive manner, and hear from residents who have benefitted from this programme.

Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) improvements

To enhance the safety and comfort of seniors living in HDB flats, we have introduced EASE improvements as optional improvements. From 1 April 2024, we have refreshed the EASE package to include more improvement items.

You may choose any of the following items based on your needs:

(A) For fall prevention/ additional support

<New> Grab bars (foldable U-profile)

For units with site constraints where linear grab bars cannot be installed

  
<New> Lowering of toilet/ bathroom entrance kerb  
<New> Wall-mounted foldable shower seat  
<New> Handrail at main entrance with step(s)

 
Grab bars (linear and fixed U-profile)  
Slip-resistant treatment to existing toilet/ bathroom flooring  

 

(B) For wheelchair users

<New> Widening of toilet/ bathroom entrance  

Accessibility solutions (ramp for single-/ multi-step entrance, and wheelchair lifter)

  • For flats with single-step entrance, up to 4 single-step ramps will be offered within the flat, and a single-step ramp will be offered as a default option at the main entrance
  • For flats with multi-step entrance, the following types of ramps will be offered for selection - portable ramp; customised ramp for 2 to 3 steps; customised ramp for more than 3 steps; or wheelchair lifter
  

 

(C) For safety and well-being

<New> Bidet spray (next to pedestal pan)  

<New> Rocker switch (for existing small lighting switches within flat)

  • Set of up to 12 switches
  

<New> Home Fire Alarm Device (HFAD) in living room

  • 1 piece

[For EM flat, 2 HFADs will be offered to comply with Fire Code.]

  

EASE (Direct Application)

You can still enjoy the benefits of EASE if you wish to have the improvements before the HIP, or if your blocks do not qualify for the HIP, and the programme is offered to all HDB flats in all towns.

Find out more about EASE (Direct Application).

Cost and subsidy

These are the payment schemes for Singapore Citizen and Singapore Permanent Resident households.

Singapore Citizen households

The Government fully funds the Essential Improvements and subsidises a major portion of the Optional Improvements. These are the cost-sharing ratios and estimated amounts payable:

Flat Type

1/ 2/ 3-Room

4-Room

5-Room

Executive

Cost-sharing ratio

5%

7.5%

10%

12.5%

Amount payable*
(Full optional improvement package with fire-rated main door & home fire alarm device)

$599.50

$899.25

$1,199.00

$1,498.75

 Amount payable*
(Full optional improvement package with non-fire-rated main door)

  $594.05 $891.05 $1,188.10 $1,485.10
* For HIP projects polling after 30 March 2020.All amount stated are estimates and inclusive of 9% GST. The final amount will be determined only upon completion of the upgrading works.

 

Similarly, EASE is highly subsidised by the Government. The estimated cost to install all the EASE improvement items and ramps is as follows:

Flat Type

1/ 2/ 3-Room

4-Room

5-Room

Executive

  Executive Maisonette
Cost-sharing ratio  5% 7.5%  10% 12.5% 12.5% 
Amount Payable*
(Full EASE package with single-step ramp)		  $286.65  $430.00 $573.30 $716.65 $731.65 
Amount Payable*
(Full EASE package with portable ramp) 		  $310.65  $465.95 $621.30 $776.60  $791.60
Amount Payable*
(Full EASE package with customised ramp for 2 to 3 steps, at the main entrance)		  $359.70 $539.55  $719.40 $899.25  $914.20
 Amount Payable*
(Full EASE package with customised ramp for more than 3 steps, at the main entrance)		 $490.50   $735.75  $981.00 $1,226.25 $1,241.20 
 Amount Payable*
(Full EASE package with wheelchair lifter**)		  $572.25 $858.35  $1,144.50  $1,430.60  $1,445.60

* Amount if all the items are opted for. All amounts stated are estimates and inclusive of 9% GST. The final amount will be determined only upon completion of the upgrading works.

** Excludes a mandatory maintenance fee payable to the wheelchair lifter supplier annually for 2 years. Residents are encouraged to continue with regular maintenance even after the mandatory period.

 

For elderly residents living in HDB rental flats, the improvement items will be fully funded by the Government.

Use our financial calculator to calculate the cost of your HIP/ EASE improvement items and the monthly instalments required.

 

Singapore Permanent Resident households

Singapore Permanent Resident households have to pay the full upgrading cost. For optional and EASE improvements, they need not pay for items that they have opted out of.

Find out more details about the HIP for your precinct.

Upcoming polling

See which precincts have been shortlisted for the HIP polling.

Batch Precinct Polling Dates
16 Blks 58, 59A, 59B, 59C & 60 Geylang Bahru 17 to 18 January 2026
16 Blks 762 – 771 Choa Chu Kang North 5/ Street 54 23 to 25 January 2026
16 Blks 500 – 521 Pasir Ris Street 52 30 January to 1 February 2026
16 Blks 80, 80A, 80B, 81, 81A, 81B, 82, 82A, 82B, 84, 84A, 84B & 86 Lorong 2/ 4 Toa Payoh 30 January to 2 February 2026
16 Blks 460 to 468 Hougang Ave 8/Hougang Ave 10/Upper Serangoon Road 6 to 8 March 2026
16 Blks 13, 14 & 14A Upper Boon Keng Road 7 to 8 March 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 


Polling results

The polling results determine whether a shortlisted precinct will undergo the HIP.

Batch Precinct Polling Dates
15 Blks 358 – 363 Hougang Avenue 5 07 to 09 November 2025 
15 Blks 744 to 747 Woodlands Circle And Blocks 701 to 713 Woodlands Drive 40/ 70  07 to 09 November 2025 
15 Blks 285 – 287, 290A – 290G & 291A – 291E Bukit Batok East Avenue 3/ Street 24  07 to 10 November 2025
10 Blks 17-29, 33-38 & 41-50 Tiong Bahru Rd/ Lim Liak St/ Kim Cheng St/ Kim Pong Rd/ Moh Guan Terrace/ Seng Poh Rd  14 to 16 November 2025
15 Blks 810 - 832, 828A & 830A Jurong West Street 81 14 to 17 November 2025
16 Blks 472 to 490B Tampines Street 43-45/ Ave 9 14 to 16 November 2025
16 Blks 305 to 308, 340 to 346 and 350 to 355 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4/ Loop/ Central 14 to 17 November 2025
16 Blks 58, 59A, 59B, 59C & 60 Geylang Bahru 17 to 18 January 2026
16 Blks 762 – 771 Choa Chu Kang North 5/ Street 54 23 to 25 January 2026
16 Blks 500 – 521 Pasir Ris Street 52 30 January to 1 February 2026
16 Blks 80, 80A, 80B, 81, 81A, 81B, 82, 82A, 82B, 84, 84A, 84B & 86 Lorong 2/ 4 Toa Payoh 30 January to 2 February 2026

Scheduled billing dates

See which precincts have been scheduled for billing.

For precincts that are still undergoing upgrading, billing is not expected to take place within the next 3 months (subject to change).

These precincts are scheduled for billing in the coming months:

 Precinct Branch in Charge Date of Billing
Blk 25 - 27, 29A, 803 - 805 Chai Chee Road/ Avenue Bedok 20 March 2026
Blk 405 - 417 Pasir Ris Drive 6 Pasir Ris 20 March 2026
Blk 711 - 731 Jurong West Avenue 5/ Street 71/ 72  Jurong West   20 May 2026
Blk 109 - 115 Whampoa Road Toa Payoh 20 May 2026
Blk 19 - 22, 143, 145 - 150 Mei Ling Street/ Queen's Close  Queenstown 20 July 2026

Disclaimer:

You will only need to pay the upgrading cost after the upgrading works in the precinct are completed and if you are the flat owner at the date of billing. Billing will only occur after the upgrading costs for the precinct and the flat owners' share of the upgrading costs are finalised.

The images in the information provided herein are for illustrative purposes and the actual improvements (including the colour, type, design, dimensions and specifications of the actual improvements) installed may differ from the improvements shown in the images in the information provided herein.

Your use of and/or reliance on all or any part of the information relating to the Home Improvement Programme contained in the HDB InfoWEB (the “Content”) is subject to your full acceptance of the Terms of Use of the HDB InfoWEB.

To seek clarification of the Content, please visit www.hdb.gov.sg to obtain HDB’s contact details.

 

Find out more about HIP in our HIP guide. For more information on the HIP works after a successful poll, you can refer to our HIP information booklet.