Mandatory 5-year period (BTO and most resale HDB flats) during which owners must live in the flat before selling or renting out the whole unit.
The Minimum Occupation Period is the period during which you must physically reside in your HDB flat before you're allowed to sell it on the resale market or rent it out as a whole unit.
MOP is HDB's tool for ensuring subsidised public housing serves families rather than speculators.
BTO flats: 5 years from key collection.
Resale flats bought with grants: 5 years from purchase.
Resale flats bought without CPF Housing Grants: 5 years (raised from earlier 3-year rule).
Executive Condominiums: 5 years from key collection during which they're treated as HDB. Full privatisation only at year 11.
Cannot: sell the flat, rent out the whole unit, buy any private residential property (locally or overseas), or transfer ownership outside the immediate family.
Can: rent out individual rooms (with HDB approval), apply for renovation, upgrade your HDB loan to a bank loan, refinance the bank loan.
Special cases — early MOP termination: granted only in narrow circumstances like divorce, financial hardship, demise, or required relocation. Application is at HDB's discretion.
Day after MOP: you're free to list the flat on the resale market, rent out the whole unit, or buy private property as your next home (subject to ABSD if you keep the HDB).
If you sold the HDB and bought a condo within 6 months, you may qualify for ABSD remission on the condo.
Many BTO buyers time their next move precisely around MOP — the flat often appreciates 30%–60% over the 5 years, especially in mature estates.
A 5-year period during which HDB flat owners must physically reside in their flat before they're allowed to sell on the resale market or rent out the whole unit. MOP applies from key collection (BTO) or purchase date (most resale flats).
Yes — you can rent out individual rooms (with HDB approval) while you continue to live in the flat. Renting out the whole unit is prohibited until MOP is complete.
No. HDB owners during MOP cannot buy any local or overseas private residential property. After MOP, you can — but you'll pay ABSD if you keep the HDB flat as well (unless you qualify for matrimonial-home remission).
Only in narrow circumstances: divorce, financial hardship, demise of an owner, required relocation. Applications are at HDB's discretion and typically require strong documentation.