For a **new HDB flat (BTO / SBF)**, the 99-year lease officially commences **on the date the first batch of buyers collects their keys and takes legal possession of the flats in that block**.
This is formally known as the **Lease Start Date** or **Lease Commencement Date**.
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### Key Distinctions to Note
1. **HDB Flats vs. Private Condominiums:**
* **HDB BTOs:** Your 99-year lease countdown does **not** begin when construction starts, nor when the land is alienated to HDB. You do not lose 4 to 5 years of lease during construction; the full 99-year clock only starts ticking when the building is completed and key collection begins.
* **Private 99-Year Leasehold Condos:** The 99-year lease begins on the **land alienation / tender grant date** from the government. By the time buyers receive their keys at TOP (around 4–5 years later), roughly 94 to 95 years of the lease remain.
2. **Block-Level Standardization:**
* The official Lease Commencement Date is assigned on a **block-wide basis** based on when keys are ready and handed over to the first owners. Even if you collect your keys a couple of months after your neighbour, the remaining lease is calculated based on that common block commencement date.
3. **Where to Verify the Exact Date:**
* **HDB Flat Portal (My Flat Dashboard):** The Lease Commencement Date is displayed under your flat particulars and lease records.
* **HDB Resale Flat Listing / Map Services:** Listed under block information (e.g., "Lease Start Date: 01 Jan 2026, Remaining Lease: 98 years 4 months").
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Gan Eng Joo Onassis 颜荣裕, REALTOR®
MSc BIT (Middlesex, England, United Kingdom); BBA (South Australia)
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