Staying on after you sell your HDB.

How long can I stay?

Up to 3 months from the resale completion date. HDB will not approve any further extension beyond that.

What has to happen?

• The buyer must agree. It is a private arrangement between you and the buyer.
• HDB must approve it. You request it in the resale application, and both parties endorse it before completion.
• Either side can cancel the arrangement at any time before the completion date.

Who pays what during the stay?

After completion the buyer is the legal owner, so the flat’s outgoings are the buyer’s responsibility unless you agree otherwise. Agree in writing what you will cover. IRAS notes that the owner-occupier property tax rate does not apply to the buyer while you are still living there.

Agree the details in writing

HDB advises both sides to set out in their own agreement what happens if the seller stays beyond the agreed date, including compensation. Settle the move-out date, the condition the flat is handed over in, and any fee.

What it means for the buyer

The buyer’s own MOP starts only when the extension ends. Some buyers decline an extension for this reason, so ask early and offer clear terms.

Plan so you need it less

An extension is a safety net, not a plan. Line up your sale and purchase so the gap is as short as possible: see sell-and-buy timelines.