The Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is a fundamental policy in Singapore’s public housing system, ensuring that HDB flats serve their primary purpose: providing homes for Singaporean families. It requires owners to live in their flats for a set number of years before selling, renting out the entire unit, or purchasing another private property. This rule helps prevent speculation and flipping, maintaining affordability and stability in the housing market. Understanding MOP is crucial for planning upgrades, resale, or investment decisions. This guide delves into the HDB MOP rules as they stand in 2025, covering various flat types, exceptions, and post-MOP considerations.
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What Does MOP Mean?
The Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is the mandatory duration that homeowners must reside in their HDB flat before they are allowed to sell it on the open market, rent out the entire unit, or acquire private residential property. The MOP begins from the date you collect the keys to your flat and excludes any period when the flat is not occupied. This rule ensures that flats are genuinely owner-occupied, discourages speculation, and helps maintain housing affordability for Singaporean families. It also allows HDB to manage supply and demand effectively, ensuring long-term stability in the public housing market.
HDB MOP Rules for BTO, Resale Flats, ECs, and More (2025)
From 2024 onwards, BTO flats are no longer launched under the mature or non-mature estate classification. Instead, new BTO projects are now categorised as Prime, Plus, or Standard flats, as announced during the National Day Rally 2023.
These classifications help buyers understand the location advantages and pricing tiers of each project. The MOP varies depending on the flat type, ensuring that homes are occupied by genuine residents and supporting the long-term stability of Singapore’s public housing system.
Here’s a breakdown of the HDB MOP for various flat types in 2025:
| Type of HDB Flat | HDB MOP |
| New HDB flats (including BTO, Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS)) | Five years |
| Executive Condominiums (ECs) (first-time buyers from developers) | Five years (must occupy), then 10 years MOP for privatisation and sale to foreigners; resale buyers are exempted from MOP |
| New HDB flats under the PLH Model | 10 years |
| Resale HDB flats (Two-room or bigger, applied on or after 30 August 2010) | Five years |
| SERS flats | Five years after receiving the keys |
| Flats bought under the Fresh Start Housing Scheme | 20 years |
Note:
- The “five years after receiving the keys” rule applies specifically to SERS flats, not to all flat types.
- The MOP for ECs includes an initial five-year occupation period before the EC is privatised, after which other restrictions apply.
- The MOP counts from the date of key collection and requires owners to physically occupy the flat during this period before they can sell, rent out, or buy another private property.
HDB MOP for Resale Flats
There are some exceptions to the MOP for resale flats, though they are rare. These include:
- One-room flats
- Flats bought before 30 August 2010 without CPF Housing Grants. These flats can be sold or rented out immediately. This is the MOP for resale flat without grant.
For a complete list of exceptions and eligibility conditions, please refer to the official HDB guidelines.
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HDB MOP for PLH BTO and Balance Flats
PLH (Prime Location Public Housing) flats come with additional rules.
- MOP for PLH flats is 10 years.
- Resale restrictions and eligibility conditions for buyers apply during the first 10 years.
Our complete guide on PLH flats explains these rules in detail. The rest of this article focuses on general MOP rules applicable to most flat types.
HDB MOP for SERS Flats
For SERS flats announced on or after seven April 2022, MOP follows amended guidelines.
- Post-7 April 2022 SERS flats: Five years from the date of key collection.
- Pre-7 April 2022 SERS flats: Either seven years from the date of selection or five years from key collection, depending on the scheme.
HDB MOP for New ECs (Executive Condominiums)
When purchasing an EC directly from the developer:
- Buyers must comply with a five-year MOP.
- After five years, the EC can be sold to Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs).
- After 10 years, the EC privatises, allowing resale to foreigners.
For resale ECs, there is no MOP requirement, giving buyers full flexibility to sell or rent immediately.
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HDB MOP Rules and Restrictions: What You Can’t Do Before MOP is Fulfilled
During the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), HDB homeowners must adhere to specific rules to ensure that flats serve their intended purpose as owner-occupied homes. Homeowners are not allowed to sell or rent out the entire flat, buy another property, or make arrangements that violate HDB policies.
These restrictions help maintain housing affordability and stability, prevent speculative buying, and ensure flats remain available for genuine Singaporean families who need them.
Here’s a detailed look at what you cannot do before MOP is completed:
Can I Rent Out My HDB Room Before MOP or During MOP?
- Renting out the entire flat is strictly prohibited during MOP.
- You can rent out individual rooms, but you must occupy at least one bedroom yourself.
- Each room rental requires a minimum lease term of six months. Shorter tenures risk violating HDB regulations, which could lead to severe penalties, including confiscation of the flat.
Other important points:
- Standard tenancy agreements and rental rules apply for room rentals.
- You cannot lock a bedroom and falsely claim residency while renting out the whole flat; this is illegal. The consequences far outweigh any potential rental income.
Can I Buy Another Property Before or During MOP?
No. HDB rules allow ownership of only one HDB flat at a time. You cannot purchase any form of private residential property until your MOP is fully completed. This prevents speculative buying and ensures flats remain for genuine homeowners.
What About After the MOP Is Over?
Once the MOP is fulfilled, homeowners gain flexibility. You can sell your flat on the open market, rent out the entire unit, or purchase another private property. This allows families to adjust their living arrangements, upgrade to larger homes, or access additional investment opportunities while complying with HDB regulations. In most cases, you can:
- Sell your flat on the open market
- Rent out the entire flat
- Buy another private property
Special Case: PLH Flats
For flats sold under the Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) model, additional restrictions apply:
- You cannot rent out the entire flat, even after completing the extended 10-year MOP.
- This applies only to new HDB flats launched in prime (central) locations starting from the BTO launch in November 2021.
- Existing flats in these areas are exempt from these new rules.
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Why Is HDB MOP Important in Singapore?
In Singapore, the primary purpose of an HDB flat is to provide affordable housing for citizens, rather than serving as a short-term investment.
The Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) ensures that flats are owner-occupied for a specified period, preventing buyers from immediately reselling them at a higher price. This helps to keep public housing prices stable and protects genuine homebuyers from speculative market activity.
With the introduction of the Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) Model, the MOP can be selectively extended as a cooling measure. For instance, the MOP for PLH flats is extended to 10 years to discourage property “flipping” in central locations, maintaining affordability in prime areas.
HDB MOP Exceptions: Can I Sell My HDB Before MOP Is Over?
While the MOP must generally be fulfilled, HDB allows early sale under certain exceptional circumstances. Whether your application is approved depends on your situation. HDB carefully reviews each request on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specific circumstances of the homeowners. This flexibility ensures that residents facing unique or unforeseen situations may have the opportunity to sell their flat before the MOP is fully completed, while still maintaining the overall purpose and stability of public housing. Common exceptions include:
- Bankruptcy: If selling your flat and downsizing can prevent bankruptcy, HDB may allow an early sale.
- Divorce: This is one of the most common reasons. Both spouses can sell the flat and divide the proceeds.
- Inability to Pay Home Loan: If the family’s sole breadwinner is unable to earn due to death or disability, HDB may permit early sale.
- Terminal Illness: Considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Loss or Renouncement of Citizenship: If moving abroad permanently, HDB may allow an early sale and refund CPF contributions.
HDB MOP Exception for Bankruptcy
- If none of the flat owners are Singapore Citizens (SCs), you must obtain Official Assignee consent before selling the flat.
- If any flat owner is an SC, consent from the Official Assignee is not required.
HDB MOP Exception for Divorce
If divorce occurs after meeting the MOP, you need to provide supporting documents, such as:
- Writ for Judicial Separation, or
- Interim Judgment and Certificate of Making Interim Judgment Final, or
- Divorce Certificate (for Muslims), and
- Court Order (if applicable)
If you’re wondering “when can I sell my resale HDB flat?”, you can do so only after completing the five-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). Once the MOP is met, you’re free to sell your flat in accordance with HDB’s resale rules.
For more details on retaining or selling your HDB flat after a divorce, refer to HDB’s official guidance here.
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How Can I Check the MOP of My HDB Flat?
To find out your flat’s MOP status, use My HDBPage:
- Log in to My HDBPage with your SingPass.
- Go to My Flat > Purchased Flat > Flat Details.
- Check the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) section to see the start date and duration.
Post-MOP: Is There Anything Else I Need to Know?
Once you’ve fulfilled the MOP, you gain more flexibility with your HDB flat, but there are still a few essential rules to keep in mind before selling or renting it. These include checking compliance with the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP), ensuring you meet the PR quota, following all HDB resale procedures to avoid delays or complications, and making sure any legal or financial obligations related to the flat are fully settled.
Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) Quota
The EIP quota ensures a balanced mix of ethnic groups in all HDB estates, promoting racial integration and harmony.
- Introduced on 1 March 1989, it addresses the formation of ethnic enclaves in HDB estates.
- For example, some areas in Bedok and Tampines had Malay households exceeding 30% of the estate population, while Hougang had over 90% Chinese households.
- The policy prevents communal clustering and fosters stronger social cohesion within neighbourhoods.
Before selling your flat, you must check that the sale does not cause the block or neighbourhood to exceed EIP quotas.
Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) Quota
The PR quota ensures that Permanent Resident families are well integrated into local communities.
- If selling your flat would exceed the PR quota for the block or neighbourhood, the sale may not be approved.
- Malaysians are generally exempt from PR quota rules due to cultural similarities with Singaporeans.
- If both you and the buyer belong to the same ethnic group or citizen type, there are no restrictions on the sale.
After registering your Intent to Sell, you can check the EIP and PR quotas of your flat via HDB’s Resale Portal. Staying informed about these quotas helps ensure a smooth and compliant resale process while maintaining balanced and harmonious communities.
It’s important to plan your sale carefully and consider these rules before finalising any agreements. Doing so helps avoid delays, penalties, or complications during the resale process.
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