HDB’s Enhanced Contra Facility (ECF) lets eligible owners sell an existing HDB flat and buy another resale HDB flat on the same day, using cash proceeds and refunded CPF savings from the sale towards the purchase. If you still have a bank or other financial institution loan on the flat you are selling, or plan to take one for the flat you are buying, HDB’s published eligibility conditions rule out ECF.
Check both loans and your separate funds for fees before counting on the arrangement. HDB requires you to appoint it to act for you in both transactions. The proceeds and CPF refunds routed through ECF cannot pay the stamp duty or legal fees on your purchase. Read HDB’s eligibility and submission guidance.
- Check the lender on the flat you are selling and the proposed lender for the flat you are buying.
- Put stamp duty and legal fees on a separate line in your purchase worksheet.
- Agree on submission timing with the buyer of your flat and the seller of your next flat.
- Request ECF on both applications and check that all three parties submit their portions within HDB’s window.
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Check the two mortgages first
You occupy a different role in each transaction. You are the seller of Flat A and the buyer of Flat B. Write down the lender for each, including whether the purchase is planned without a loan. If you expect an existing bank loan to be discharged before the applications, ask HDB how it will assess the timing before committing to the linked arrangement.
| What to check | Where it matters |
|---|---|
| Outstanding loan from a financial institution | Your sale of Flat A |
| Proposed loan from a financial institution | Your purchase of Flat B |
| Appointment of HDB to act for you | Both transactions |
| Amounts and due dates for fees | Your separate purchase budget |
If another party mentions a loan, ask whose loan it is and which transaction it concerns. The conditions in the first two rows refer to the borrowing of the household requesting ECF. Ask HDB about any other financing arrangement that might affect your case before all parties set their submission dates.
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Make a budget that separates the fees
Start with estimated sale proceeds and the expected CPF refund. Then list the purchase price, earlier payments and the stamp duty and legal fees. Record which funds you expect to be available by each date. HDB excludes ECF sale proceeds and CPF refunds from paying stamp duty and legal fees. Use the payment instructions in your case to confirm how to fund those items. See HDB’s ECF guidance.
Suppose your worksheet shows an estimated $4,000 for fees and only $2,500 in funds you have separately identified for those fees. You still have a $1,500 gap to resolve, even if you expect substantially more than that to come back through the sale. Use your case-specific amounts in place of these illustrative figures.
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Coordinate three parties across two applications
Your household submits the seller’s portion for Flat A and the buyer’s portion for Flat B. The buyer of Flat A and the seller of Flat B submit their corresponding portions. Request ECF in both of your submissions and provide the linked flat details as prompted. HDB says all portions from the three parties must be submitted within seven calendar days.
Agree on who will confirm each submission and who will contact HDB if a document is delayed. Tell your movers when your completion arrangements are confirmed. Work out where the family can wait or store belongings if there is a gap between handing over one flat and getting access to the other on completion day.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I just choose the same completion date myself?
ECF is a specific application arrangement. Submit the request on both resale applications and follow HDB’s instructions on your case.
Does ECF tell me how much CPF I can use?
The facility links the sale and purchase. Verify the CPF amounts available and permitted for your next flat separately, and allow for any payments due before completion.
What should I read next?
Use the cash and CPF timing worksheet for selling and buying an HDB flat alongside HDB’s resale submission guidance.