If you need to postpone an HDB resale completion appointment, speak to the other party before changing your plans. HDB’s resale guidance says to submit written confirmation signed by both buyers and sellers through MyRequest@HDB. Keep the existing appointment on the calendar until HDB confirms what happens next.
A later completion date affects the legal transaction timeline. A Temporary Extension of Stay is a different arrangement that can allow an eligible seller to remain after completion. Work out whether your problem is with completing the transaction or with getting access to the flat.
- Find the appointment date in HDB’s acceptance notice.
- Identify the reason and proposed date for the change.
- Obtain the required written confirmation from both sides.
- Use the HDB submission route and wait for the outcome.
- Recheck financing, sale proceeds and moving bookings.
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Confirm which date needs to change
Open HDB’s resale completion guidance for buyers and its completion guidance for sellers. HDB describes the date in the acceptance notice as the earliest possible completion date. If either side needs to defer it, confirm whether both parties agree and follow the written process.
| Question | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Existing appointment | Date, time and application reference | Shows the schedule that currently applies |
| Proposed change | Reason and proposed date agreed by both sides | Provides the facts for the request |
| Signed confirmation | Record signed by buyers and sellers | Supports the HDB submission |
| HDB response | Acknowledgement and confirmed appointment, if issued | Distinguishes the request from its outcome |
| Linked plans | Funding, handover and temporary accommodation | Shows what needs a separate update |
Use the HDB resale process overview for the MyRequest@HDB route. If the parties do not agree, contact HDB or the solicitor handling your transaction with the facts. An informal message about postponing an appointment does not establish a new official schedule.
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Recheck financing and moving arrangements
Ask your lender or solicitor how a date change would affect payments, documents or the timing of funds. If the sale is linked to another purchase, identify which commitments depended on receiving proceeds by the original date. Check both transaction calendars. The date you receive keys, the date movers can enter and the date you start living in the flat can also differ.
If the seller needs time after completion, check HDB’s Temporary Extension of Stay guidance. It has its own eligibility, timing and approval requirements. Ask which route fits the actual problem rather than using the names interchangeably.
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Worked example with a linked purchase
A seller asks for a later completion date because a linked transaction has changed. The buyer checks when financing and temporary housing arrangements would need to be updated. Both parties agree on a proposed date, sign the required confirmation and submit it through the HDB route. They keep the original appointment visible until they receive the official response, then update contractors and movers.
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Frequently asked questions
Can one party change the date on their own?
Follow HDB’s instructions for a deferment request, including the signed confirmation from both sides. Ask HDB about your case if agreement is unresolved.
Should I move all my bookings once the request is sent?
Check which bookings can remain provisional and use HDB’s confirmed appointment when committing to the revised plan.
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Next steps and official sources
Confirm the current date, get both parties’ written confirmation and use the HDB submission route. Recheck financing and possession once you receive the outcome.