Share this article
On 28 July 2026, HDB’s National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat announced a major update to Singapore’s public housing policy: the immediate lifting of the 15-month wait-out period for private property owners looking to purchase HDB resale flats.
What is this ‘15-Month wait-out period’?
During the post-pandemic property boom, HDB resale prices were surging rapidly (rising over 10% in 2022).
A key contributor was cash-rich private property owners selling off their private homes at high valuations and immediately buying large HDB resale flats (like 5-room flats, Executive Apartments, or Million-Dollar resale units). They were outbidding regular Singaporeans with cash-over-valuation (COV) cash payments.
To curb this hot demand, the government imposed a temporary 15-month wait-out period.
That means, private property owners who sold their homes had to wait 15 months before buying a HDB resale flat from the open-market (not subsidised BTOs). Seniors aged 55 and above moving to 4-room or smaller HDB resale flats were exempted.
Cancelling the ‘15-Month wait-out period
Four years later, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat announced that the measure met its objective.
HDB resale price growth has been controlled significantly (down from 10.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2025, with consecutive quarters of slight price declines in early 2026).
Additionally, a large supply wave of new HDB BTO flats (13,500 in 2026; 15,000 in 2027; 19,500 in 2028) is reaching its 5-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), providing ample housing supply to the open HDB market.
Plantation Acres HDB BTO aerial view.
What this means for you: Condo/ Landed vs HDB owner
If you are a condo/ landed/ private house owner...
After selling your private property, you no longer need to rent another house for 15 months. You can sell your private home and immediately buy an HDB resale flat of any size (including 5-room, 3-Gen, or Executive flats). You must also note:
- You must sell your private house within 6 months (after buying HDB)
- You cannot use HDB CPF housing grants
- You cannot take a HDB Loan (30-month wait-out rule for former private homeowners still valid)
- You are subject to the HDB flat’s 5- or 10-year Mininum Occupation Period
If you own a HDB flat...
Selling and buying another HDB flat might get more competitive. From now, you may be up against cash-rich, former private property owners.
If you own a 5-room or larger resale HDB flat, your pool of prospective buyers just expanded significantly to include private property downgraders, which could make selling easier or yield better offers.