The HDB Guide for Seniors

Seniors looking to buy an HDB flat can consider senior-friendly housing options like a short-lease 2-room Flexi flat or a Community Care Apartment (CCA). You can also tap on priority schemes like the Family Care Scheme and Senior Priority Scheme to improve your chances of securing a flat near your children or near your existing home.

If you are a senior who currently owns an HDB flat, there are also options to monetise your flat to supplement your retirement needs. Depending on whether you would like to continue living in your current flat or move into a new flat, you could:

• Rent out your HDB flat or spare bedroom

• Sell part of your flat’s lease back to HDB under the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS)

• Tap on the Silver Housing Bonus (SHB) to right-size to a 3-room or smaller flat

HDB Housing Options for Seniors

If you are a senior looking to buy an HDB flat, consider senior-friendly housing options like a short-lease 2-room Flexi flat or a Community Care Apartment.

Short-lease 2-room Flexi flat

If you are aged 55 and above, you can buy a 2-room Flexi flat with a shorter lease. You can choose a lease of between 15 and 45 years in 5-year increments, if it covers both you and your spouse until at least 95 years of age. The price of the flat will be adjusted based on the chosen lease length.

Short-lease 2-room Flexi flats are designed for seniors and come installed with grab bars. You can also opt for additional fittings under the Optional Components Scheme (OCS), including:

• Sanitary fittings such as a wash basin and shower set

• Floor finishes in the living/ dining room and bedrooms

• Senior-friendly fittings such as built-in kitchen cabinets and a built-in wardrobe

Learn more about the eligibility conditions, application process, and costs and fees for short-lease 2-room Flexi flats.

Community Care Apartment (CCA)

If you are aged 65 and above, you could also consider a CCA. This senior-friendly housing option comes with care services that can be scaled according to care needs, as well as social activities to support seniors to age independently within the community.

Each CCA unit comes with pre-installed fittings and senior-friendly design features, such as a wheelchair-accessible bathroom with slip-resistant flooring and grab bars. There are also furnished communal spaces for residents to mingle, share meals, and take part in group activities.

Learn more about the eligibility conditions, application process, and pricing for CCAs.

Priority Schemes for Seniors

If you are a senior looking to buy a new flat from HDB, you can improve your chances of securing a flat by tapping on these priority schemes:

• Family Care Scheme, if you wish to buy an HDB flat to live with or near your children

• Senior Priority Scheme, if you wish to buy an HDB flat near your existing home

Learn more about HDB priority schemes.

Housing Monetisation Options

If you are a senior who currently owns an HDB flat and are looking at ways to supplement your retirement income, there are several housing monetisation options you can tap on.

Depending on whether you would like to continue living in your current flat or move into a new flat, you could either choose to rent out your spare bedroom(s) or your HDB flat, take up the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS), or right-size with the Silver Housing Bonus (SHB).

Rent out spare bedroom(s) or your HDB flat

You could choose to:

• Rent out your spare bedroom(s) and continue to live in your flat while receiving monthly rental income. Learn more about the eligibility conditions, regulations, and how to apply for approval to rent out your bedrooms.

• Rent out your whole HDB flat and live with your family for mutual care and support while receiving monthly rental income. Learn more about the eligibility conditions, regulations, and how to apply for approval to rent out your flat.

Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS)

Under the LBS, you can sell part of your flat’s lease to HDB and receive a cash bonus of up to $30,000. You will also need to use part of the proceeds to top up your CPF Retirement Account and join CPF LIFE, giving you monthly payouts for life.

Learn more about the eligibility conditions, LBS bonus amount, and how LBS works. 

Silver Housing Bonus (SHB)

With the SHB, you can receive a cash bonus of up to $40,000, if you sell your current flat and buy a 3-room or smaller flat – this includes the 2-room Flexi flats and CCAs mentioned earlier.

To qualify for SHB, you need to commit to a net increase of up to $60,000 in your CPF Retirement Account after right-sizing. You will also need to join CPF LIFE, which will give you monthly payouts for life.

Learn more about the eligibility conditions and SHB amount.