Can I buy my neighbour's 3-room flat & merge into a Jumbo HDB?

If you’d like your own spacious jumbo HDB flat by combining 2 HDB units, here’s what you should look out for.

1. Do you qualify to buy two adjoining HDB flats?

According to HDB’s website under the “Conversion of Adjoining Flats Scheme”, if you are buying 2 adjoining 3-room or smaller flats, you must be a married couple, or a family of parents and children. You will also have to meet the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) and Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) Quota for the block and neighbourhood when you submit your application (this will be considered a HDB resale application).

If you already own one of the HDB flats and are buying your next door neighbour’s 3-room or smaller HDB flat, the good news is that the above EIP/ SPR quota does not apply to you. You’ll just need to be a married couple, or a family of parents and children.

2. Can you can even combine your flats?

If you’re already staying in a HDB 3-room (or smaller) flat and are planning to buy and combine your next door neighbour’s HDB flat with yours, you need to first obtain confirmation that this is possible.

Download and complete this PDF application form ‘Enquiry on Combination of Flats under the Conversion Scheme’, and submit it to HDB via their e-Feedback form, before you purchase the second flat. Wait for their assessment and confirmation.

3. Will you be able to afford both HDB flats?

If you are buying 2 adjoining HDB flats to convert into one jumbo HDB flat, you can get a housing loan for the purchase of both HDB flats. (Of course, this depends on the loan’s eligibility conditions and your credit assessments.)

However, if you are buying a HDB flat next door to your current HDB flat and you have an outstanding housing loan for your current flat, that loan must first be discharged.

If your current loan is from a financial institution, check with your banker on the new loan amount (your current loan plus the amount required to buy the adjoining flat). Remember to make sure that your outstanding housing loan for your current flat is discharged, before you go ahead and buy the adjoining flat.

If your current loan is from HDB loan, you will need deeper pockets because you can only get a loan for the amount needed to buy the adjoining flat. So, make sure you have enough funds to discharge the outstanding loan for your current HDB flat, before you buy the adjoining flat

5. You’ll need to renovate your adjoining HDB flat, too

Once your purchase is completed, you have to convert the adjoining HDB flats into a single unit by engaging a renovation contractor from the Directory of Renovation Contractors to construct at least 1 opening of at least 1 metre by 2 metres between the 2 units.

You also have to engage a licensed contractor to remove the PUB meters (electricity, water, and gas supply) for 1 of the 2 units.

For those who bought an adjoining flat, you may retain your current unit number for the converted flat.

6. How long is the minimum occupation period (MOP)?

You may sell the converted flat after fulfilling the MOP from the date the flat(s) purchase is completed, in accordance with the current resale policy. That means even if you have been staying in your current HDB flat for 10 years before you bought the adjoining flat, you need to fulfil another 5 years of MOP before you can sell off your converted flat.

7. Can you get any HDB housing subsidies?

If you take a CPF housing grant for the purchase of 2 adjoining flats, you will be a second-timer and need to pay a resale levy based on the flat type of the converted flat when buying a second subsidised housing.

But if your current flat is bought from HDB or a resale flat bought with a CPF Housing Grant and you are buying 1 adjoining flat, the information in the table below will apply.

8. Can I split my Jumbo HDB Flat and sell as 2 units?

No, you can’t. You also cannot split it up into 2 HDB flats and transfer it to the next owner. In other words, once two flats become one, it has to remain as one converted flat.

9. Are there any upgrading costs to pay for?

If you complete your purchase before polling is conducted for upgrading in your block, your payment amount will be based on the flat type of the converted flat. But if you complete the payment during or after polling, the payment will be based on the total upgrading cost for both flats. So, do your research and do your sums.

This is something you need to take note of, before you get a big shock when you are hit by a bigger bill than you expect!

10. What type of HDB are you living in currently?

I'm living in my first subsidised HDB flat. If so, you are a second-timer and have to pay a resale levy when you sell the converted flat.

I'm already living in my second subsidised HDB flat. If so, you are no longer eligible to buy another flat from HDB.