Ownership Guide
Adding or Removing an Occupier in Your HDB Flat: Who Qualifies
An HDB flat is for the household that qualified for it, so who lives there is regulated. You can add a relative as a registered occupier if they meet HDB's conditions, and you can remove an occupier who has moved out, unless doing so means you no longer qualify to keep the flat. Here are the rules.
Who can be added
Proposed occupiers must be related to you. HDB accepts:
- Your spouse
- Children or adopted children
- Parents or parents-in-law
- Siblings
- Other relatives, including grandparents, grandparents-in-law, grandchildren, grandchildren-in-law, uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces, and cousins
Citizenship conditions
- Occupiers can be Singapore Citizens, PRs or non-residents.
- Non-resident essential occupiers must hold a valid pass, such as a social visit pass or work pass, with at least 6 months' validity at the time of application.
- If all the flat's owners are PRs, a proposed occupier must have held PR status for at least 3 years.
Private property conditions
| Your situation | Proposed occupier's private property |
|---|---|
| MOP not yet completed | Must not own or have an interest in any private residential property, and no more than one non-residential property. Ex-owners of private property (including pre-war flats) are allowed |
| SC household (at least one SC owner), MOP completed | May own or have an interest in private property |
| SPR household (no SC owner), MOP completed | Must not own or have an interest in any local private property |
You can check whether you have met the MOP on MyHDB Page under My Flat. See MOP options.
Removing an occupier
You can remove an occupier's name if they no longer stay in the flat and it does not affect your eligibility to retain the flat under the scheme you qualified under. HDB's example: removal might mean you no longer meet the family-nucleus criteria, which would make you ineligible to keep the flat. Check before you remove anyone who helped you qualify.
Why it matters
- Essential occupiers share your obligations. An essential occupier, such as a spouse included as an occupier, must also complete the MOP before you can sell, rent out the whole flat or buy private property.
- Grants can be affected. Core members in a grant application must remain on the flat application during the MOP, and their names cannot be removed. See HDB resale grants.
- Occupiers are not owners. They cannot use CPF savings for the flat or the loan. To make a relative an owner, see changing flat ownership.
- Life events change the picture. See your flat after life events.
FAQ
Can I add a friend as an occupier of my HDB flat?
No. HDB requires proposed occupiers to be related to you, within the categories in its list.
Can my parents move in if they own a condo?
If your MOP is completed and you are an SC household, occupiers can own private property. If you have not completed the MOP, they must not own any private residential property.
Can I add a foreigner relative?
Yes, non-residents can be occupiers if they hold a valid pass with at least 6 months' validity when you apply.
Can I remove an occupier any time?
Only if they no longer stay and it does not make you ineligible to keep the flat under the scheme you qualified under.
Does an occupier have to complete MOP?
Essential occupiers, such as a spouse included as an occupier, must meet the MOP before the flat can be sold, rented out whole or you can buy private property.
Related guides
- Changing HDB Flat Ownership: Add or Remove a Co-Owner
- Keeping Your HDB Flat After Divorce, Death or Marriage
- HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) Letter: How It Works
Figures current as of October 2026, from HDB's pages. HDB assesses each application on the prevailing conditions and your household's details. This guide is general information only and is not legal advice.
Not sure how a change to your household affects your flat? Message us on WhatsApp and we will help you map it, and confirm with HDB.