The Minister for National Development, Lawrence Wong, announced today that the Government’s Lease Buyback Scheme will be extended to all HDB flats, including 5-room and larger flats. Writing in his blog, the Minister said that the Lease Buyback Scheme “is a good scheme but it only applies to those living in 4-room or smaller HDB flats” at the moment.
Mr Wong said: “The original thinking was that it would make more sense for those living in bigger flats to right-size. But there are seniors who prefer to age in place. Some also have grandchildren who come over to visit regularly, and would like a bigger space for the extended family.”
Adding: “After considering the matter carefully, I have decided to extend the LBS to all HDB flats, including 5-room and larger flats. This will enable many more Singaporeans to benefit from the scheme.”
At the moment, you are eligible for the Lease Buyback Scheme or LBS as an additional monetisation option if you are from an elderly household living in a 4-room or smaller flat. Through this scheme, you will be able to tap on your flat to receive a stream of income in your retirement years, while continuing to live in it.
You can sell part of your flat’s lease to HDB and choose to retain the length of lease based on the age of the youngest owner. The proceeds from selling part of your flat’s lease will be used to top up your CPF Retirement Account (RA). You can then use your CPF RA savings to purchase a CPF LIFE plan, which will provide you with a monthly income for life.
In order for your household to qualify for the LBS, the following conditions must be met:
How the Lease Buyback Scheme Works as illustrated by HDB:
If your household is eligible for the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS), you will be able to:
- Sell the tail-end lease of your 3-room or smaller flat, or 4-room flat to HDB, and receive up to $20,000 or $10,000 of LBS bonus, respectively
- Use the net proceeds to top-up your CPF Retirement Account (RA) to the specified requirements as shown:
For households with 1 owner, he or she will have to use the proceeds to top-up the RA to the current age-adjusted Full Retirement Sum (FRS).
For households with 2 or more owners, each owner will have to use their share of the proceeds to top-up their RA to the current age-adjusted Basic Retirement Sum (BRS).
Determining the Lease Buyback Scheme bonus
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 $3 CPF top-up for 3-room or smaller flats; or
- $1 for every $6 CPF top-up for 4-room flats
Amounts in excess
After you have topped-up the RA to the requirements stated above, any excess proceeds can be withdrawn in cash, up to a maximum of $100,000. If your household has more than $100,000 of proceeds after the top-ups, owners will have to use their share of the proceeds to further top-up their respective RAs to the current FRS after your household has retained $100,000 in cash.
CPF LIFE
Your full RA savings will be used to buy a CPF LIFE plan if you have at least $60,000 in your RA after the top-up. You will not be eligible to join CPF LIFE if you are aged 80 and above.
Options for lease period
Your household will have the flexibility to choose the length of lease to be retained, based on the age of the youngest owner. The duration of the lease retained determines the amount of net proceeds unlocked.
Illustrating an example
Joint Singapore Citizen (SC) Owners aged 65 years old
Assumptions:
- 4-room flat held under joint tenancy
- No outstanding loan
- Balance lease: 65 years
- Market value: $450,000
- Choose to keep a 30-year lease
- Sell the tail-end 35-year lease to HDB for $190,000
 |
Husband
|
Wife
|
|---|---|---|
|
Citizenship
|
SC
|
SC
|
|
Age
|
65
|
65
|
|
Initial Retirement Account (RA) Balance
|
$20,000
|
$5,000
|
|
Current Age-Adjusted Basic Retirement Sum (BRS)
|
$83,000
|
$83,000
|
In his blog entry, the Minister said that he is looking at ways to improve the liquidity of the resale market for older flats in order to facilitate “right-sizing”. “Currently, CPF can be used for the purchase of older HDB flats but subject to certain restrictions,” he said.
Adding: “These rules are meant to ensure that buyers purchase a home for life, without compromising their retirement savings.
Mr Wong said his ministry is working with the CPF Board to review and update rules to provide more flexibility for buyers of shorter-lease flats while safeguarding their retirement adequacy.
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