Private home owners who want to move into an HDB resale flat no longer have to wait 15 months after selling their property.
National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat announced on 28 July 2026 that the wait-out period would be removed with immediate effect, as conditions in the HDB resale market had improved.
However, this does not mean every former private property owner can immediately buy every type of HDB flat.
In other words, the 15-month rule is gone, but the fine print has not moved out.
Who Can Now Buy a Resale Flat Without Waiting?
Private residential property owners and former private property owners can now buy a non-subsidised HDB resale flat of any size without serving the 15-month wait-out period.
There is also no longer an age restriction.
Previously, Singaporeans aged 55 and above were already exempted from the rule, but only if they were moving into a four-room or smaller non-subsidised resale flat.
With the latest change, private property owners of all ages can buy anything from a two-room flat to an executive flat without waiting, provided the purchase is not subsidised and they are not taking an HDB housing loan.
Current private property owners do not necessarily have to sell their private home before completing the HDB purchase.
However, they must dispose of all private residential properties that they own, whether in Singapore or overseas, within six months after completing the purchase of the HDB resale flat.
Some Buyers Must Still Wait 30 Months
The removal applies only to non-subsidised HDB resale flats bought without an HDB loan.
Private property owners and former owners must still wait 30 months after disposing of their property if they want to buy a subsidised flat.
This includes those buying:
- – A Build-to-Order flat, with or without housing grants;
- – A resale flat using CPF housing grants;
- – An executive condominium unit directly from a developer; or
- – An HDB flat using an HDB housing loan.
Therefore, someone financing a non-subsidised resale flat using cash, CPF savings and a bank loan may no longer have to wait. Someone who needs an HDB loan or housing grant will generally still be subject to the 30-month rule.
Why Was the 15-Month Rule Introduced?
The wait-out period was introduced on 30 September 2022 as a temporary property cooling measure.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, construction delays affected the supply of new BTO flats. At the same time, demand for housing increased, household sizes became smaller and low interest rates made property loans cheaper to service.
This created an imbalance between supply and demand, contributing to rapidly rising HDB resale prices.
The 15-month rule was intended to reduce demand from private property owners entering the resale market and to give buyers with more urgent housing needs, particularly first-time homebuyers, better access to resale flats.
The restriction also created difficulties for some households that genuinely needed to downgrade.
Since the measure was introduced, HDB processed approximately 1,800 appeals for waivers each year. About one in four appeals was approved, mainly for households facing financial difficulties or other exceptional circumstances without alternative housing options.
Why Is the Government Removing It Now?
Mr Chee said the measure had achieved its purpose as the HDB resale market was showing signs of stabilising.
HDB resale prices grew by 10.4 per cent in 2022, but growth moderated to 2.9 per cent in 2025.
Prices then fell by 0.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 and another 0.3 per cent in the second quarter. The first-quarter decline was the first drop in HDB resale prices in almost seven years.
More flats are also expected to become available on the resale market after reaching their minimum occupation period.
About 13,500 flats are expected to reach their MOP in 2026. This is projected to increase to 15,000 flats in 2027 and 19,500 flats in 2028, providing more choices for buyers.
What Happens to Pending Applications and Appeals?
Those who have already appealed for a waiver of the 15-month period no longer need to wait for HDB’s response.
They can proceed to apply for an HDB Flat Eligibility letter, while HDB will contact affected appellants directly.
For HFE applications that are already being processed, HDB will automatically update the applicant’s eligibility status. Applicants do not need to submit a new application solely because of the policy change.
