The Singapore government has lifted the 15-month wait-out period for private residential property owners purchasing non-subsidised Housing and Development Board (HDB) resale flats, effective immediately. This change, announced by National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat on July 28, 2026, aims to enhance housing mobility and address evolving market conditions.
Introduced in September 2022, the 15-month wait-out period was a temporary measure designed to moderate demand from private property owners seeking to buy non-subsidised HDB resale flats. The policy required these owners to wait 15 months after selling their private property before being eligible to purchase a resale flat. The government has now assessed that the cooling measure has met its purpose, as market conditions have improved.
The removal of the wait-out period is expected to increase housing mobility, allowing private property owners to transition more seamlessly to HDB flats. However, this change applies only to non-subsidised resale flats purchased without an HDB housing loan. For subsidised flats, including Build-To-Order (BTO) units and resale flats with grants, the existing 30-month wait-out period remains in effect.
The decision to lift the wait-out period follows signs of market stabilisation. HDB resale prices have moderated significantly, with a decline of 0.1% in the first quarter of 2026 and an additional 0.3% in the second quarter. Furthermore, a larger number of new flats are expected to complete their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) and enter the resale market in the coming years, contributing to increased supply.
Private property owners considering this change should be aware that they must sell their existing property within six months of completing the HDB resale purchase. Additionally, while the removal of the wait-out period facilitates a smoother transition, it may also lead to increased competition in the resale market, particularly for larger flats or units in mature estates.
As the housing market continues to evolve, stakeholders should monitor these developments to understand their implications fully.