Indranee Rajah on essential occupiers of HDB flats

While essential occupiers are not flat owners, they form part of the core family nucleus that determines the household’s eligibility to own an HDB flat. Hence, essential occupiers are required to fulfil the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) before they can purchase a private residential property. As essential occupiers do not own their HDB flat, it is not included in their residential property count. Hence, they do not incur Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty if they are Singapore Citizens buying their first private residential property after the MOP. Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah said this in parliament on Monday (Mar 3) in reply to an MP’s questions. She also said that the vast majority of married couples buy HDB flats as co-owners and only a small number list a spouse as an occupier, often for practical reasons, with no intention to invest in a private residential property after fulfilling the MOP.