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What You Need to Know About the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) – Updated Feb 2023

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The article was edited on 7 Feb 2023 for accuracy, specifically on the section about the amount needed to be topped up to the CPF RA.

Can you make money from your HDB flat while living in it? Is there a way to make an income from your property without renting it out?

The answer to both of those questions is: Yes, under the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS).

What is the Lease Buyback Scheme?

The LBS allows you to sell part of your flat’s lease back to the Board and use the proceeds to receive a bonus that can be your stream of income during retirement.

Are you eligible for the Lease Buyback Scheme?

You must meet these requirements to qualify for the scheme:

CriteriaEligibility
Age65 years old or older
CitizenshipAt least one owner must be a Singapore Citizen
Gross Monthly Household Income$14,000 or less
Flat TypeAll flat types, except for short-lease flats, HUDC and Executive Condominiums
Property OwnershipMust not be owning another property at the same time
Minimum Occupation Period5 years
Minimum LeaseAt least 20 years

Read Also: What You Need to Know About Minimum Occupation Period

So how does the Lease Buyback Scheme work?

Let’s say, you and your partner are both 66-year-old empty-nesters who own a fully-paid 5-room flat, and it has a remaining lease of 65 years.

Under the Lease Buyback Scheme, you can choose to sell 35 years of your lease to HDB, keeping the remaining 30 years of the lease, and get a bonus! The LBS bonus depends on the type of flat you own, though.

Since you own a 5-room flat, the LBS bonus you will receive can be up to $7,500. 4-room flats, on the other hand, can receive up to $15,000 and $30,000 for 3-room flats.

In addition to the bonus, the proceeds will be used to top up your CPF Retirement Account (RA).

If there is only one flat owner, the RA top-up will be up to the current age-adjusted Full Retirement Sum (FRS). But for households with two owners, each owner will have to use his or her share of the proceeds to top up his or her RA to the current age-adjusted Basic Retirement Sum.

You can only pocket the cash left after you’ve topped up your CPF RA. You may retain up to a maximum of $100,000. But if there are still some remaining proceeds after the top-up and setting aside of the $100,000 cash, you are required to use you and your co-owner’s share to further top up your respective RAs to the current FRS before you can keep the remaining balance in cash.

How to determine your remaining lease period?

You can actually choose how long your remaining lease will be, according to the age of the youngest owner of the flat. The duration of the lease retained will determine the net proceeds you can receive.

Age of youngest HDB flat ownerMinimum lease retainedOther options
65 – 693035
70 – 742530, 35
75 – 792025, 30, 35
80 and above1520, 25, 30, 35

Here’s how to determine the amount you need to top up to your CPF RA

This applies to applications received from 1 Jan 2023.

Age of Flat OwnerTop-up Requirement for 1 OwnerTop-up Requirement for 2 or More owners
65 – 69$198,000$99,400
70 – 79$188,800$94,400
80 and above$178,000$89,400

How to calculate the amount of LBS bonus you can receive?

Your household will receive the full bonus as long as the total top-up to the flat owners’ RA is $60,000 or more. If you are unable to do so, you will receive a pro-rated bonus of: 

  • $1 for every $2 CPF top-up for 3-room or smaller flats; or
  • $1 for every $4 CPF top-up for 4-room flats; or
  • $1 for every $8 CPF top-up for 5-room flats or bigger flats.

So how can you actually earn money through the LBS?

Well, if you have at least $60,000 in your RA after the top-up, you can use those savings to buy a CPF LIFE plan, which will provide retirees with a monthly income for life. (Note: Those aged 80 years old and above are not eligible to join CPF LIFE.)

In summary, this is how the Lease Buyback Scheme works

Step 1 Sell part of your flat’s lease to HDB
Step 2Choose to retain the length of your remaining lease based on the age of the flat’s youngest owner
Step 3Receive a bonus of up to $30,000 for a 3-room or smaller flat, $15,000 for a 4-room flat and $7,500 for a 5-room or bigger flat
Step 4 Use the net proceeds to top up your CPF RA
Step 5Use your RA savings to join CPF LIFE to receive monthly payouts no matter how long you live

Why is the Lease Buyback Scheme important?

Retirement funds – or the lack thereof – is a pressing issue in Singapore as more and more of the elderly population find themselves facing retirement without a financial safety net and/or insufficient funds in their CPF RA. The LBS was then introduced by HDB as a way to help seniors earn cash without parting ways with their beloved home. Homeowners who participate in the scheme can still rent out spare rooms for additional income.

Does Ohmyhome’s in-house property agent recommend it?

Our Ohmyhome CEA-licensed property agent emphasised that the scheme will not necessarily benefit everyone’s circumstances. He explained that the LBS would not be an advantage for empty-nesters who are willing to part with their home and right-size to a smaller unit.

However, it is definitely an avenue to consider should the discerning elders have chronic/mobility-restrictive conditions and/or formed a tightly-knit community amongst their neighbours that would prevent them from buying a new home.

He recommends that it is worth considering other possible options such as right-sizing to a smaller flat if you’re willing to relocate or rent out your property to tenants. After all, you won’t be able to put your flat on the market again after LBS.

Want to sell your old HDB flat instead?

Sell your home for a high price in no time, hassle-free. Our Super Agents are CEA-certified and among the Top 1% in Singapore. With more than 8,000 happy customers served, we’ve garnered 4-star ratings on both Facebook and Google! Because at Ohmyhome, we‘re always by your side, always on your side.

Drop us a message on WhatsApp or via our Live Chat at the bottom, right-hand corner of the screen to reach any of our Super Agents.

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