Singapore has increased the income ceilings for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats and executive condominiums (ECs), effective August 24, 2026, allowing more households to qualify for subsidised public housing [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].
The monthly household income ceiling for families applying for BTO flats has been raised from S$14,000 to S$16,000, while for singles aged 35 and above, it has gone up from S$7,000 to S$8,000 [1, 2, 3, 7]. The new EC income ceiling increased from S$16,000 to S$18,000, but applies only to projects with land sale tender closing dates on or after August 24, 2026; it does not cover balance units in existing EC projects or those with earlier tenders [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the changes during the National Day Rally speech on August 23. He said the adjustments respond to demographic and economic trends, observing that "by the time they settle down, many are further along in their careers and earning more. So more young couples are crossing the current income ceilings" [1]. He added, "We want to ensure that the vast majority of Singaporean couples can continue to have access to subsidised public housing" [1].
National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said the review of BTO income ceilings began in August 2025 and assured that housing supply remains ample: "We will not end up with a situation where there is insufficient supply" [1]. He noted the increased ceilings will help maintain eligibility for subsidised housing among about 8 in 10 Singaporean households [7].
HDB is on track to exceed its target of launching 55,000 BTO flats between 2025 and 2027, driven by strong demand [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The higher income limits also apply to buyers of HDB resale flats eligible for the CPF Housing Grant and Singles Grant [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7].
Starting February 2027, first-time families with or expecting children will receive one additional ballot chance per Singaporean child when applying for flats, further improving access [3, 7].
The income ceiling changes take effect for HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) applications submitted from August 24, 2026, and for applicable EC land tenders closing on or after that date [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].
