BTO Income Ceiling Raised to S$16,000 for Families and S$18,000 for New ECs, With Extra Ballot Chance for Every Child

The income ceiling for Build-To-Order flats will be increased to S$16,000 for families and S$8,000 for singles. The current income ceiling is S$14,000 for families and S$7,000 for singles. For buyers of new executive condominiums, it will be increased to S$18,000 from S$16,000.

For HDB buyers, this will take effect for those applying for an HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter from 24 August 2026. This letter will be to either buy a new subsidised flat from HDB, buy a resale flat on the open market with the CPF Housing Grant, or obtain an HDB housing loan for the purchase of a new or resale flat.

The new EC income ceiling will apply to developments with land sale tender closing dates from 24 August 2026. The ceiling of S$18,000 will not apply to balance units in existing ECs, or new units in ECs with land sale tenders awarded before 24 August.

Explaining the increase, PM Wong noted that Singaporeans have been marrying later. “By the time they settle down, many are further along in their careers and earning more. More young couples are crossing the current income ceilings,” he said. “We want to ensure that the vast majority of Singaporean couples can continue to have access to subsidised public housing.”

The monthly household income ceiling for BTO flats was last raised in September 2019, from S$12,000 to S$14,000 for families, and from S$6,000 to S$7,000 for singles. National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat first said in August 2025 that the BTO income ceiling was being reviewed.

In 2025, the median household market income for resident households was S$12,446, up from S$9,099 in 2020, according to the General Household Survey released by the Department of Statistics in June. Market income refers to income from employment and non-employment sources, such as rental and investment earnings.

PM Wong said “encouraging results” have been seen from the Government’s efforts to ramp up housing supply. Success rates for booking BTO flats are higher, waiting times are shorter and the resale market has stabilised. HDB resale prices declined in the second quarter of 2026, after dipping for the first time in close to seven years in the first quarter of the year.

The Ministry of National Development and HDB said the higher income ceiling will also apply to those buying an HDB resale flat with the CPF Housing Grant and Singles Grant.

The CPF Housing Grant gives up to S$80,000 for first-timer families buying a two-room to four-room resale flat, and up to S$50,000 for those buying a five-room or larger resale flat. Singles are eligible for S$40,000 in grants when buying a two-room to four-room resale flat, and S$25,000 for a five-room or larger resale flat, under the Singles Grant.

Eligible buyers under the new income ceiling can also get an HDB housing loan for a new or resale flat. The income ceiling for the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme, which is currently the same as that for singles, will be raised. The same applies to schemes for second-timer families such as the Fresh Start Housing Scheme and Step-Up CPF Housing Scheme. Schemes for seniors such as the Lease Buyback Scheme, Silver Housing Bonus and community care apartments will also see the income ceiling increased.

From the February 2027 BTO sales exercise, first-timer families applying for a flat will receive one additional ballot chance for every Singaporean child they have who is aged 18 and below, or if they are expecting a child. This will apply to all BTO and Sale of Balance Flats applications.

“So the more children you have, the more ballot chances you will receive, because we want to help these growing families secure a home sooner,” said PM Wong. He added that while priority is already given to couples who are engaged as well as married couples, there should be “even greater priority” when they have children.

Currently, eligible families under the First-Timer (Parents and Married Couples) category receive three ballot chances. They also get first priority under the Family and Parenthood Priority Scheme when applying for a four-room or smaller BTO flat in Standard projects. Those who have been unsuccessful in two or more BTO applications for Standard flats, which have a five-year minimum occupation period and no subsidy clawback upon resale, get an extra ballot chance for each subsequent application. The overall ballot chances for this category are capped at five. There is no cap on the ballot chances first-timer families with children can receive for every child they have.

As for the concerns of larger families, PM Wong revealed that he has already asked National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat to “consider additional housing support” for larger families, as they often want bigger homes which cost more.

MND and HDB said the next BTO sales exercise will be held in November, a month later than originally planned, to give buyers enough time to review their housing plans and apply for an HFE letter under the revised income ceilings. They advised buyers who are keen to participate in the upcoming exercise to apply for an HFE letter by 25 September.

HDB is expected to roll out about 7,960 flats in Bedok, Geylang, Sembawang, Tengah, Toa Payoh and Yishun in the next exercise. Assisted living flats, also known as community care apartments, will also be offered in Toa Payoh. These flats come with senior-friendly fittings, such as wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and other health and community services.

In May, Chee said HDB will likely exceed its target of launching 55,000 BTO flats from 2025 to 2027, as current trends show a strong demand for housing.