Type of Properties in Singapore
Type of Properties in Singapore
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Commercial Property |
Industrial Property |
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Type of Residential Housing in Singapore
Singapore may be small but not on the range of quality accommodation available. Residential properties fall into two main categories,
Private housing refers to:
Executive Condominiums (ECs) are a hybrid between a public and private housing. ECs are only regarded as a fully private property from the 11th year onward. Before the period, ECs are subject to the same set of rules of the public housing.
- Public Housing (HDB), and the
- Private housing.
Private housing refers to:
- Condominiums / Apartments / Executive Condominiums (ECs)
- Landed Property
Executive Condominiums (ECs) are a hybrid between a public and private housing. ECs are only regarded as a fully private property from the 11th year onward. Before the period, ECs are subject to the same set of rules of the public housing.
Public Housing > HDB |
Private Property > Executive Condominium (After 10 years) |
The most notable differences between private and public housing are:
- Home Loan Restrictions
- Resale Restrictions
- Possibility of Freehold
- Eligibility of Grants
Click the button below to see more information e.g. rental on the type of Residential Properties and Commercial & Industrial Properties.
Comparison of Public & Private Housing
Public Housing
Eligibility: New HDB
Eligibility: Resale HDB
99-year Lease Most Affordable Type of Housing For Owner-occupation Lower Maintenance Cost (Conservancy Charges) Stringent Restriction for Leasing Out Minimum Occupation Period 5 years |
Private Housing
Eligibility: Non-Landed
Eligibility: Landed
Tend to be More Expensive For Owner-occupation and Investment Higher Maintenance Cost (Property Taxes, Monthly Maintenance Charges, etc.) No Restriction for Leasing out No Minimum Occupation Period * Mainly for industrial land. ** Industrial land and 1st residential land at Jalan Jurong Kechil |
Land Tenure in Singapore
Property in Singapore come with different lease periods:
Most housing estates in Singapore either fall into freehold or 99-year lease, with the latter making up the bulk.
A 999-year lease is almost equivalent to freehold.
While 30-year-lease HDB studio apartments come in short supply and are only meant for elderly residents, and the government recently capped the lease for new industrial land at 30 years.
Private developments with a 103-year lease period (the lease period is determined by the developer) on freehold land are few. At the expiry of the lease, the land owner usually a private owner has the right to re-acquire the land, sell the freehold tenure or extend the lease for a price.
Residential properties with 60-year lease are not readily available yet. Most of these lease are for the older industrial land. The 1st development on the first 60-year leasehold residential land plot at Jalan Jurong Kechil is being completed.
Homes in Singapore are predominantly 99-year leasehold because the government sells most land on 99-year tenure due to land scarcity in this country. At the end of the lease period, the government can acquire the land without any compensation to the home owners. Currently, the government does not offer freehold land parcels for sales anymore. Therefore freehold land are rare and are mostly in the prime districts.
However, topping up of the lease of leasehold private housings is allowed.
Lessees may apply for a renewal of the lease with the SLA (Singapore Land Authority). The granting of extension is on a case-by-case basis and will be considered if the development is in line with Government's planning intentions, supported by relevant agencies, and results in land use intensification, mitigation of property decay and preservation of community (SLA, “Waiver of Building Premium”). If the extension is approved, a land premium, decided by the Chief Valuer, will be charged. The new lease will not exceed the original, and it will be the shorter of the original or the lease in line with URA's planning intention.
In addition, near the end of the lease period the State may require the land to be returned in its original conditions. If so, demolition of buildings, land fillings, etc. will have to be borne by the current lessees.
For HDB flats, legally the flat will be returned to HDB at the end of the lease. HDB does not have to make any monetary compensation, or offer a replacement flat to the owners. The owners may also be required to remove any fixtures fitting.
- 30-year lease (HDB studio apartments, and new Industrial land)
- 60-year* lease (private housings, older industrial land)
- 99-year lease (private housings, all HDB flats except for studio apartments)
- 103-year lease (private housings) (Theses houses sit on freehold land owned by private developers.)
- 999-year lease (private housings)
- Freehold (private housings)
Most housing estates in Singapore either fall into freehold or 99-year lease, with the latter making up the bulk.
A 999-year lease is almost equivalent to freehold.
While 30-year-lease HDB studio apartments come in short supply and are only meant for elderly residents, and the government recently capped the lease for new industrial land at 30 years.
Private developments with a 103-year lease period (the lease period is determined by the developer) on freehold land are few. At the expiry of the lease, the land owner usually a private owner has the right to re-acquire the land, sell the freehold tenure or extend the lease for a price.
Residential properties with 60-year lease are not readily available yet. Most of these lease are for the older industrial land. The 1st development on the first 60-year leasehold residential land plot at Jalan Jurong Kechil is being completed.
Homes in Singapore are predominantly 99-year leasehold because the government sells most land on 99-year tenure due to land scarcity in this country. At the end of the lease period, the government can acquire the land without any compensation to the home owners. Currently, the government does not offer freehold land parcels for sales anymore. Therefore freehold land are rare and are mostly in the prime districts.
However, topping up of the lease of leasehold private housings is allowed.
Lessees may apply for a renewal of the lease with the SLA (Singapore Land Authority). The granting of extension is on a case-by-case basis and will be considered if the development is in line with Government's planning intentions, supported by relevant agencies, and results in land use intensification, mitigation of property decay and preservation of community (SLA, “Waiver of Building Premium”). If the extension is approved, a land premium, decided by the Chief Valuer, will be charged. The new lease will not exceed the original, and it will be the shorter of the original or the lease in line with URA's planning intention.
In addition, near the end of the lease period the State may require the land to be returned in its original conditions. If so, demolition of buildings, land fillings, etc. will have to be borne by the current lessees.
For HDB flats, legally the flat will be returned to HDB at the end of the lease. HDB does not have to make any monetary compensation, or offer a replacement flat to the owners. The owners may also be required to remove any fixtures fitting.