For an HDB resale application, the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) and Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) quotas apply for the month in which HDB receives the complete application. If the buyer submits in one month and the seller submits in the next, the earlier submission alone does not establish which quota applies. HDB needs both parties’ portions and the necessary supporting documents.
HDB updates the quotas on the first day of each month. If your application is likely to cross a month end, check the block again when the new month starts and coordinate with the other party while keeping to the submission terms in your Option to Purchase (OTP). Read HDB’s resale eligibility guidance.
- Check the flat’s quota using the exact block and the relevant household details.
- Write down the agreed submission timeframe from your OTP.
- Confirm who will send each portion and which supporting documents are needed.
- Recheck the quota if the complete application will reach HDB after the month changes.
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Distinguish the quota check from the application
An early check helps you decide whether to proceed with a particular flat or buyer. HDB makes quota information available through its monthly quota check. Sellers who have registered an Intent to Sell can also monitor their flat through My Flat Dashboard. Save the date of the check so you know which month you looked at.
| Event | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Quota check during the viewing period | The result for the block and household details at the time of the check |
| OTP granted or exercised | Where the buyer and seller are in the option process |
| One party submits a portion | One side has sent its application |
| Both portions and supporting documents reach HDB | The complete submission establishes which month’s quota applies |
An OTP and a quota result answer different questions. Use the OTP to track contractual dates and the quota service to check eligibility for the proposed transaction. HDB’s resale terms require the buyer and seller to meet the applicable quota conditions at submission. Read HDB’s resale terms.
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Work through a month-end example
Suppose the buyer sends their portion on 30 September. The seller sends theirs on 2 October, and HDB receives all necessary documents with the two portions by that date. The applicable quota is October’s. A September check can explain why the parties planned to proceed, but they need to look at the October result for this submission.
Now suppose both parties have sent their portions before month end and one required document has yet to reach HDB. Ask HDB how the incomplete submission is recorded and what it needs. A confirmation for one party’s portion does not establish when HDB received everything.
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Coordinate submissions without assuming a result
Before submission, agree who will confirm that both sides have filed and who will follow up if HDB asks for more information. A short checklist with the OTP deadline, the documents and the person responsible for each can help a family plan around work or school commitments. If the new quota result differs, ask HDB about the case promptly, especially if the option has already been exercised.
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Frequently asked questions
Does a favourable check at the viewing reserve eligibility?
Treat it as a result for the month checked. HDB applies the quota for the month of the complete submission.
Is this the same quota as the one for renting a whole HDB flat?
This guide concerns resale. The HDB rental quota guide covers a separate check for proposed tenants.
Where can a seller read about difficulty finding an eligible buyer?
See the guide to EIP buyback assistance and constrained flat sales.