These days, getting a queue number for a BTO or SBF is like winning a 4D or Toto. Chances of getting one to book a flat are slim. Nevertheless, there are ways to increase your chances, one of which is to look at the HDB priority schemes.
As they say, the devil’s in the details. In this lengthy guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about each scheme so that you know for sure if you’re truly eligible for it. These include:
- The complete list of eligibility conditions
- The quota or allocation of flats
- Other things to take note of, like the expanded Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)
- The documents you need to prepare when applying for each HDB priority scheme
Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS)
For growing families who need a bigger place to stay, the Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS) is the answer to their prayers. This HDB priority scheme helps them acquire a home more easily as a large share of BTO and SBF flats are earmarked for eligible applicants.
Flat allocation
For BTO flats, a maximum of 30% of the launched units is set aside for the scheme’s qualified applicants. For SBF flats, up to 50% is allocated.
Who qualifies for this scheme?
First-time applicants consisting of a married couple, who are either expecting their first Singapore Citizen (SC) child at the time of application, or have at least one SC child aged 18 years old or below. The child must be a natural offspring or legally adopted by the married couple.
Moreover, if you applied for the Third Child Priority Scheme (TCPS) and/or Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS), the balloting will be held separately for each HDB priority scheme. For instance, a married couple with three children qualifies for both PPS and TCPS. The application will first be balloted among TCPS applicants. If they are not drawn, they will be included in the ballot under PPS.
Documents you need to prepare
The application for these HDB priority schemes occurs when you submit an online application for a BTO/SBF flat during which you will be required to upload supporting documents.
The documents you need to upload to apply for PPS include:
- Identity cards of the married couple and their children
- Marriage certificate
- Adoption certificate, birth certificate, or doctor’s certification of pregnancy
Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS)
Parents who wish to live near their loved ones will find that the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS) will help them and their married child’s family purchase BTO and SBF flats within the same precinct. There must, however, be a mix of 2-room and 3-room flats, as well as larger units, available in the project.
Flat allocation
At least 20 units or a maximum of 15% of 2-room Flexi or 3-room flats are set aside for parents. The same number of 2-room Flexi flats or bigger units is allocated for married child households.
Who qualifies for this scheme?
Parents are required to submit a joint application with their married child’s family to qualify. The parents can only buy a 2-room Flexi flat or three-roomer, while the married child’s family can purchase a two-roomer or a bigger unit.
If the application is successful, both parents and married child will be given the chance to select units on the same level or elsewhere in the BTO development from a pool of pre-chosen flats.
An important point to take note of is that the two sets of families who qualify for MGPS will receive a total of three queue numbers: one for MGPS and two under the Public Scheme.
The MGPS queue number will allow them to jointly pick their flats, while the Public Scheme queue numbers obtained by each household will let them select a unit as Public Scheme applicants. Contingent on the ballot results, the two households can either choose the flats together under MGPS, or separately under the Public Scheme.
Documents you need to prepare
The documents you need to upload to apply for MGPS include:
- Identity cards of all persons registered in the application
- Marriage certificate of parents and their child
- Birth certificate of married child
Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS)
The Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) is open to both first-time and second-time applicant families who want to live with or near their parents/married children.
Engaged couples with similar aspirations can also apply for this scheme. Whether you are planning to live with your parents under one roof or close to them in the same area, here are the eligibility criteria you need to comply with.
Flat allocation
For first-time homebuyer families, a maximum of 30% of BTO or SBF flats are set aside for the scheme’s qualified applicants. For second-time homebuyer families, only up to 15% of BTO flats and a maximum of 3% for SBF units are set aside for the scheme’s qualified applicants.
Quota of units given priority under MCPS
| Applicant type | SBF | BTO | |||
| Mature estates | Non-mature estates | ||||
| 2-room and larger flats | 2-room | 3-room | 4-/5-room | ||
| First-timers | 30% | 30% | 5% | 30% | 30% |
| Second-timers | 3% | 3% | 15% | 15% | 10% |
For a BTO application under the MCPS, the first priority within the quota is given to families jointly applying to purchase the same flat. So this group has a higher chance of securing a home than those buying a flat near their parents/married child’s family.
Parents who wish to relocate from a mature estate to a non-mature one so that they can live near their married child’s home will also get first priority. As such, parents who already live in a non-mature estate but want to move to a different non-mature estate get lower priority.
Another thing to note is that the available quota prioritises applicants who are qualified for the first priority, while the leftover quota will be used for the other applicants.
Who qualifies for this scheme?
For those purchasing a flat to live with parents/married child:
- At least one of the parents or married child is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident (PR).
- The parents and married child must be registered as flat occupants.
For those buying a flat near the home of parents/married child:
- At least one of the parents or married child is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident.
- The parents or the married child’s family is applying to buy a flat in a project, in which the closest block is within 4km from the home (HDB or private property) of either the parents or married child.
Remember, if the parents or married child possesses more than one house, the one which they live in will be used for calculating the distance. If neither household owns private housing, the property must be held under the name of an immediate family member, such as siblings, children, parent(s), or parent(s)-in-law.
Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) requirement
For those purchasing a flat to live with parents/married child:
After receiving the keys to your new flat, the parents or married child who assisted you in qualifying for the HDB priority scheme must live with you in the property during the five-year MOP.
For those buying a flat near the home of parents/married child:
After receiving the keys to your new flat, the parents or married child who assisted you in qualifying for the scheme must continue to live within 4km of your new home within the five-year MOP.
Previously, the distance requirement was within 2km or within the same town for applications received for the February 2018 launches or earlier.
Documents you need to prepare
The documents you need to upload to apply for MCPS include:
- Identity cards of all persons registered in the application
- Marriage certificate of parents and their child
- Birth certificate of married child
Third Child Priority Scheme (TCPS)
As your kids grow up, personal space will start becoming an issue. And no parent wants to deal with their children fighting over who gets their own room.
Fortunately, there is the Third Child Priority Scheme (TCPS). This scheme increases your chance of getting picked as your application will undergo up to two rounds of balloting. The first round will be under TCPS. But if it is not successful, your application will again be balloted along with the other public applicants.
Flat allocation
A maximum of 5% of BTO or SBF flats.
Who qualifies for this scheme?
- For married couples, at least one of you must be a Singapore Citizen.
- For those who are widowed or divorced, the applicant needs to be a Singapore Citizen.
- Your family must have at least three children (natural offspring from a legal marriage or legal adoption). For divorce or divorcees, you must have legal custody of your kids.
- The third child must be a Singapore Citizen. The other kids can be either a Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR.
- You must not have previously acquired a flat under TCPS.
Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) requirement
All three children that helped you qualify for this HDB priority scheme must continue to live with you in the new flat during the five-year MOP. During this period, they are not eligible to submit any application or be listed as an occupier to buy a flat from the HDB or resale market, a DBSS flat or an EC unit from the developer. They also cannot rent an HDB flat.
Documents you need to prepare
The documents you need to upload to apply for TCPS include:
- Identity cards of all persons registered in the application
- Marriage or divorce certificate
- Death certificate for widows and widowers
- Birth certificate of all children or adoption certificate
Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (ASSIST)
The Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (ASSIST) is meant for second-time applicants consisting of divorced or widowed parents with children.
Flat allocation
This is up to 5% of 2-room and 3-room BTO flats in non-mature estates. But the quota is shared with the 30% quota allocated for all other second-time applicants (e.g. not divorced or widowed).
Who qualifies for this scheme?
- Second-timer applicants comprising divorced or widowed parents must have at least one child aged 18 years old or below (natural offspring from a legal marriage or legal adoption).
- You must not have acquired any stake in an HDB or private housing, except for the matrimonial flat or property after the date of divorce or death of your spouse.
Documents you need to prepare
The documents you need to upload to apply for ASSIST include:
- Identity cards of all persons registered in the application
- Divorce certificate for divorces and divorcees
- Death certificate for widows and widowers
- Birth certificate of all children or adoption certificate
Tenants’ Priority Scheme (TPS)
The Tenants’ Priority Scheme (TPS) helps HDB flat renters to purchase their own homes. The TPS quota also helps families that need to be relocated and resettled due to the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS).
Flat allocation
A maximum of 10% of 2-room and 3-room BTO/SBF flats.
Who qualifies for this scheme?
- First-time or second-time applicants.
- In addition, you and your household must have been residing in a HDB public rental flat for a minimum of two years.
Documents you need to prepare
The documents you need to upload to apply for TPS include:
- Identity cards of all persons registered in the application
- Marriage certificate
- Divorce certificate for divorces and divorcees
- Death certificate for widows and widowers
- Birth certificate of all children or adoption certificate
Senior Priority Scheme (SPS)
It’s sad when senior citizens have to leave behind the community they have called home for decades. It means leaving behind neighbours they have come to call friends and living far from shops they frequent. Fortunately for them, with the Senior Priority Scheme (SPS), they are given the priority to purchase 2-room flexi flats close to where the heart is.
Flat allocation
A minimum of 40% of 2-room Flexi flats available during sales launches will be allocated for seniors. Of this, half or 20% will be set aside for qualified seniors under SPS.
Who qualifies for this scheme?
Senior citizens who wish to buy these properties to live close to their parents or married child will benefit from this scheme.
There are two sets of eligibility criteria to fulfil in applying for this HDB priority scheme.
For those buying a flat to age-in-place (near existing flat):
- The new 2-room Flexi flat must be within 4km of your current flat or owner-occupied private housing.
For those buying a flat to live with or near parents/married child:
- At least one of the senior’s parents or married child is a Singapore Citizen or Singaporean PR.
- For those buying a flat to live with parents or a married child, their names must be included in the application.
- For those buying a flat to live near their parents or married child, the senior must be applying to buy a new 2-room Flexi flat in a project, in which the closest block is within 4km from the home (HDB or private property) of either the parents or married child.
On top of that, if the parents or married child possesses more than one house, the one which they live in will be used for calculating the distance. If neither household owns a private property, the property used to calculate the distance must be held under the name of an immediate family member, such as siblings, children, parent(s), or parent(s)-in-law.
Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) requirement
For those buying a flat to live near parents/married child:
After receiving the keys to your new flat, the parents or married child who assisted you in qualifying for the scheme must continue to live within 4km of your new home within the five-year MOP.
Previously, the distance requirement was within 2km or within the same town for applications received in February 2018 or earlier.
Documents you need to prepare
The documents you need to upload to apply for SPS include:
- Identity cards of all persons registered in the application
- Marriage certificate of parents and their child
- Birth certificate of married child
Which HDB priority scheme will you be applying under? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Facebook post!
If you found this article helpful, 99.co recommends 4 ways an essential occupier can help with your HDB BTO or resale flat purchase, grants, etc. and HDB BTO application terms you need to know [2021 Edition].
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