Written answer by Ministry of National Development on applications to list spouse as owner and the other as essential occupier in HDB flat purchase or change of ownership

May 7, 2024

Question No: 5966

Question by: Mr Gan Thiam Poh

To ask the Minister for National Development in the past 10 years (a) how many applications has HDB received for the purchase of flats where one spouse is listed as the owner and the other spouse an essential occupier; (b) how many applications has HDB received for a change in flat ownership to one spouse where the flat originally lists both spouses as co-owners; and (c) whether the Ministry has data on the number of spouses listed as essential occupiers who buy a second private property without having to pay the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty.

Answer:

Over the last ten years, about 3% of all HDB flat purchases had one spouse listed as an applicant and the other spouse as the essential occupier.

Since 1 April 2016, HDB flat owners are not allowed to withdraw one spouse from ownership to become an essential occupier, unless there are extenuating circumstances such as demise or divorce.

Within the Minimum Occupation Period, all owners and occupiers  of HDB flats are not allowed to purchase private property. HDB does not have data on essential occupiers buying a second private property.