The HDB Public Rental Scheme was created to house low-income Singaporeans at affordable prices. As HDB’s raison d’etre is to provide affordable homes for all Singaporeans, there’s something for everyone, even those on a very tight budget.
Under the HDB Public Rental Scheme, those who cannot afford to buy their own home or rent on the open market can turn towards this heavily subsidised rental option. In this article, we will cover the housing options available under the scheme, HDB rental flat eligibility criteria, the HDB rental application process, rental costs, and more.
But first, what is the HDB Public Rental Scheme and how does it differ from renting an HDB flat on the open market? Let’s find out.
What Is the HDB Public Rental Scheme?
The HDB Public Rental Scheme was created to provide for Singapore Citizen households with no other housing alternatives. The number of available rental flats under the scheme is limited and households must fulfil HDB’s rental flat eligibility criteria for the scheme, before being allowed to submit their HDB rental application.
Under the HDB Public Rental Scheme, your landlord is HDB. That means you’ll rent your HDB flat from the Government. These subsidised HDB rental flats’ monthly rent can range from just $26 to $275 a month for a 1-room or 2-room HDB rental flat.
In comparison, on the open market, your landlord is an individual or couple (i.e. the owner(s) of the flat). You mutually agree on a monthly rent, but this amount is influenced by the prevailing HDB rental prices. Based on median HDB rental flat prices in Q2 2023, it costs anything from $2,350 to $3,200 a month to rent a 3-room HDB flat.
What Are the HDB Rental Flat Eligibility Criteria?
| Categories | HDB rental flat eligibility criteria |
| Age | At least 21 years old |
| Citizenship | The main applicant must be a Singapore Citizen |
| Household income | Not more than $1,500 a month |
| Housing status | Not an existing tenant or essential occupier of an HDB flat |
| Property ownership | Do not own any property (including HDB flats, Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flats, executive condominiums (ECs), or private properties both local and overseas) |
| Debarment status | Not barred under any rule, regulation, or policy by the government or HDB |
| Family support | No children who can house you or provide other housing options |
If you qualify for the HDB Public Rental Scheme, you can submit your HDB rental application for a flat either as a family or as a single. If you are applying as a family, you can submit your HDB rental application under the Family Scheme and ComLink Rental Scheme (for families). For those who are single, you can apply under the Joint Singles Scheme and Joint Singles Scheme Operator-Run (JSS-OR) Pilot. Each has slightly different eligibility criteria on top of the general criteria listed above.
Assuming you meet the other HDB rental eligibility criteria, HDB will assess your application along with your circumstances, such as household size and expenses such as medical needs.
HDB will conduct assessments on applicants, and if you are found to actually be able to afford to purchase your own flat, or have other housing options, you can be barred from applying under the scheme and submitting your HDB rental application or being listed as an occupant. Hence, it’s unwise to try and fool the authorities into leasing a subsidised flat to you.
If you have children who can house you in their own homes or are financially able to provide other housing options for you, you will not be eligible for the scheme as well. This is to ensure that the subsidised rental flats are distributed to the truly needy.
HDB Rental Eligibility Criteria Under Family Scheme
Under the Family Scheme:
- You must be a Singapore Citizen (SC)
- You must include at least another SC or a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) in your basic family nucleus
- Your family nucleus must comprise any of the following:
- You and your spouse
- If you’re single, you and your parents
- If you’re widowed or divorced, you and your children are under your legal custody (care and control)
- A fiancé and fiancée
- If you’re orphaned, you and your siblings (at least one parent was an SC or SPR)
Note that if you are divorced and have joint custody of any children under the age of 21, you must obtain your ex-spouse’s written agreement before you can list them in a flat application.
Also, although technically they do not meet the HDB rental eligibility criteria, unmarried parents are also welcome to speak to an HDB officer who can review their application on a case-by-case basis.
Can Singles Rent an HDB Flat Under the HDB Public Scheme?
Yes, singles can rent an HDB flat under the HDB Public Rental Scheme. However, they must submit their HDB rental application jointly with another single under the Joint Singles Scheme or Joint Singles Scheme Operator-Run (JSS-OR) Pilot.
The following HDB rental flat eligibility criteria are for singles applying under the Joint Singles Scheme:
- You and your listed occupier must be SCs
- Both of you must be single
- Any of the following is considered as singles:
- Unmarried and at least 35 years old
- Divorced or legally separated from a spouse, with legal documents, and at least 35 years old
- Widowed or orphaned (at least one parent was an SC or SPR)
If you are unable to find a suitable flatmate for the Joint Singles Scheme, take heart. HDB launched the Joint Singles Scheme Operator-Run Model (JSS-OR) back in Q4 2021 to assist such applicants.
Under the JSS-OR, you can apply for an HDB rental flat as a single without the need for a flatmate at the application stage. When you submit your HDB rental application, the JSS-OR operator will match you to a suitable flatmate and manage the flat-sharing arrangements.
On 13 March 2023, HDB announced that they will be piloting a new public rental scheme called Single Room Shared Facilities, which is set to be rolled out at the end of 2023. These government rental flats will allow low-income singles to live in their own rooms but share common areas such as toilets and kitchens.
The former Anderson Junior College (AJC) hostel in Ang Mo Kio Avenue, which consists of two 11-storey blocks, will be the site of the new initiative aimed at providing tenants with greater privacy while promoting a community-type living environment. But what other housing options are available under the HDB Public Rental Scheme? Let’s take a look.
HDB Public Rental Scheme Application Procedure
If you meet the HDB rental flat eligibility criteria, you can submit your application through HDB’s e-service.
Depending on your citizenship, the number of dependents you have, and your marital and employment status, the application will have to be accompanied by different documents.
If your application is successful, you’ll get up to two chances to select your flat. You can choose HDB Public Rental Scheme flats from the following application zones.
Generally, you are limited to only 1-room HDB flats under the HDB Public Rental Scheme. The only exception is families comprising three or more individuals, who can apply for 2-room flats.
Choose wisely because once your flat selection has been confirmed, you will not be allowed to make any changes to your application. After confirming, you’ll need to sign the tenancy agreement or pay the required fees by the date as stated in the written notice from HDB.
The second flat selection will be considered your final offer. If you fail to proceed with the tenancy agreement and pay HDB, you and other occupiers listed in the application will not be allowed to submit your HDB rental application for another flat under the HDB Public Rental Scheme for a year.
Once the application has been submitted, it’s a waiting game. Truly needy applicants who are in immediate need of a housing solution will be given priority.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent an HDB Flat From the Government?
$800 or less
First-timer
$26 to $33
$44 to $75
$800 or less
Second-timer
$90 to $123
$123 to $165
Between $801 and $1,500
First-timer
$90 to $123
$123 to $165
Between $801 and $1,500
Second-timer
$150 to $205
$205 to $275
Those benefiting from HDB’s Public Rental Scheme may pay as little as $26 a month to keep a roof over their heads. Even the highest rent one can expect is just $275. The variation depends on your household income, the type of flat you want to rent, and whether you are a first or second-time applicant.
HDB defines first-time applicants as those who have never owned an HDB flat, whether bought from a BTO exercise or resale market. You must not have obtained a housing subsidy from buying an EC from a developer, Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), or the privatisation of Housing and Urban Development Company (HUDC) estates.
As long as you have done any of the above, or received subsidies in any of the abovementioned forms, you are considered a second-time applicant and will have to pay slightly higher rents.
Just like regular rental properties on the open market, once you have signed the tenancy agreement for a Public Rental Scheme flat, you are required to pay a deposit equivalent to one month’s rent. Once that’s done, you’ll have a space to call your own.
Alternative: Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS)
If you fail to meet the stringent requirements of the HDB Public Scheme, there is another way to rent an HDB flat from the Government. It’s called the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) and temporarily houses families that are awaiting the completion of their new homes.
Under PPHS, the HDB rental flat eligibility criteria are a lot less onerous. Singaporeans can apply for an HDB rental flat under this scheme if they have booked an uncompleted flat under one of HDB’s sales exercises and are:
- A married couple (both first-timers or a first-timer and a second-timer)
- Applying under the Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme (both first-timers or a first-timer and a second-timer)
- A divorced or widowed parent with children
More importantly, the ceiling for your monthly household income is $7,000, which is much higher than the income ceiling for HDB Public Scheme rental flats.
Other PPHS HDB rental flat eligibility criteria are:
- You must be an SC submit their HDB rental application and indicate they are applying with another SC or SPR
- All members of your PPHS household must not own an existing HDB flat
- If any of you co-own an existing HDB flat with your parents and/or siblings who are not listed in your sales application, you can apply for PPHS but you must give up ownership of that flat within six months upon collecting the keys for your PPHS flat.
- All members of your household must be listed in your sales application, but if you have a child after submitting the application, that’s fine. Just submit a request to include your child in the household.
PPHS rental flats are offered at subsidised monthly rents ranging from $400 per month (2-room flat) to $1,328 per month (3-room flat). However, flats are very limited and you can view the locations here.
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