Ready to get a place of your own? If you are single, Singaporean, and 35 years old and older, you can buy an HDB flat and may even be eligible for housing grants! Here’s a comprehensive overview of housing options for singles looking to buy an HDB flat.

Buying an HDB BTO Flat as a Single

BTO flats are priced with market discounts, offering an affordable option for home buyers. From the October 2024 sales launch, singles can apply for 2-room Flexi BTO flats in all locations during our sales launches. Learn more about the Standard, Plus, and Prime classification framework. 

As a single, you may also be eligible for housing grants! Depending on your monthly income, you may be eligible for up to $60,000 in Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (also known as EHG) when you buy an HDB BTO flat as a single.

Visit the HDB Flat Portal to check out the upcoming BTO projects and weigh your options. Find out how you can purchase a BTO flat with our step-by-step guide.

Buying a Resale HDB Flat as a Single

Singles aged 35 and above can also buy HDB flats from the open market:

• Flats launched prior to the October 2024 sales launch: The new Standard, Plus, and Prime classification framework will not be applied to existing owned flats and flats that were launched for sale before the October 2024 sales launch. In other words, singles can continue to buy a resale flat of any size (except 3Gen flats and those sold under the Prime Location Housing (PLH) model).

• Standard, Plus, or Prime flats: When the flats under the new classification framework or previously launched under the PLH model are eventually sold on the resale market, singles will be able to buy a Standard or Plus resale flat of any size (except 3Gen flats), or a 2-room resale Prime/ PLH flat. For Plus and Prime flats, resale conditions such as income ceilings and a 10-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) will apply to flat buyers, including singles, to moderate demand and keep these flats affordable and accessible to a wide range of buyers even at the point of resale.

Together, this means singles will have a wider range of options on the resale market.

If you’re buying a resale flat as a single, you may be eligible for up to $115,000 in grants! This consists of:

• Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (Singles) of up to $60,000
• CPF Housing Grant for Resale Flats (Singles) of up to $40,000
• Proximity Housing Grant (Singles) of up to $15,000

Resale flats can be purchased anytime throughout the year. After finding the resale flat of your choice and negotiating the purchase price with the seller, you will only need to wait about 8 weeks from HDB’s acceptance of your resale application before collecting the keys to your new home. More details in our guide to buying a resale HDB flat.

Other Housing Options

Looking to live on your own, but haven’t met the minimum age criteria to buy an HDB flat? You can consider renting from the open market. Here are some tips to look out for:

• Request the flat owner to show documentary proof that they own the flat, and HDB’s approval letter to rent out the flat or bedroom
• Refer to CEA’s templates when preparing your tenancy agreement and make sure that you fully understand all the terms and conditions
• Ensure that you are included as an authorised tenant