The Lease Buyback Scheme lets HDB flat owners aged 65 and above sell the tail end of their lease back to HDB, stay in the same home, and have the proceeds topped up to their CPF Retirement Account to raise their CPF LIFE payouts. The Silver Housing Bonus does a similar job for owners aged 55 and above who move to a smaller flat instead.
Here are the 2026 rules and how the two compare.
How the Lease Buyback Scheme Works
Under the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS), you keep enough lease to live out your years and sell the rest to HDB.
The lease you keep depends on the age of the youngest owner.
| Age of youngest owner | Minimum lease retained | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| 65 to 69 | 30 years | 35 years |
| 70 to 74 | 25 years | 30 or 35 years |
| 75 to 79 | 20 years | 25, 30 or 35 years |
| 80 and above | 15 years | 20, 25, 30 or 35 years |
Eligibility
HDB’s conditions are:
- All owners are 65 or older.
- At least one owner is a Singapore Citizen.
- Gross monthly household income is S$16,000 or less.
- No concurrent ownership of private residential property.
- All owners have lived in the flat for at least five years, or ten years for Plus and Prime flats.
- There are at least 20 years of lease to sell to HDB.
Short-lease flats, HUDC flats and Executive Condominiums are excluded.
Where the proceeds go
The proceeds are not paid out as a lump sum. They first top up each owner’s Retirement Account (RA). For applications in 2026, the required top-up levels are:
| Owner’s age | One owner: top up RA to | Two or more owners: each tops up RA to |
|---|---|---|
| 65 to 69 | $220,400 | $110,200 |
| 70 to 79 | $210,400 | $105,200 |
| 80 and above | $200,400 | $100,200 |
After that, the household may keep up to $100,000 of the remaining proceeds in cash. Anything beyond $100,000 goes to top up each owner’s RA to the current Full Retirement Sum before any more can be taken in cash.
If you have at least $60,000 in your RA after the top-up and are below 80, your RA savings are used to join CPF LIFE, which pays you monthly for life. Owners aged 80 and above receive payouts under the Retirement Sum Scheme instead.
The LBS bonus
On top of the proceeds, the household receives a cash bonus:
- up to $30,000 for 3-room or smaller flats;
- up to $15,000 for 4-room flats;
- up to $7,500 for 5-room or bigger flats.
The full bonus is paid when the household’s total RA top-up is $60,000 or more. Below that, it is pro-rated: $1 for every $2 topped up for 3-room or smaller flats, $1 for every $4 for 4-room flats, and $1 for every $8 for 5-room or bigger flats.
There is no bonus if every owner has already reached the Full Retirement Sum and needs no top-up.
An illustration
Take an illustrative couple, both 67, who are joint owners of a 4-room flat. Each has $60,000 in their RA. Suppose the lease they sell brings net proceeds of $200,000. The actual figure depends on HDB’s valuation.
- Each owner’s share is $100,000.
- Each tops up their RA from $60,000 to $110,200, using $50,200.
- Total top-up: $100,400. The remaining $99,600 is under the $100,000 limit, so they keep it in cash.
- Because the top-up exceeds $60,000, they receive the full 4-room bonus of $15,000.
Each now has $110,200 in the RA instead of $60,000, and a higher CPF LIFE payout to match. Illustration only, not a guarantee.
The short version: The Lease Buyback Scheme lets you stay in your flat, sell the lease you are unlikely to need, and convert the proceeds into CPF LIFE income, with a bonus of up to $30,000. The decision cannot be reversed, and the flat can no longer be sold on the open market.
The Restrictions That Come With LBS
HDB’s terms and conditions are firm on several points.
- It is irrevocable once the legal documents are signed.
- No open-market sale. You may return the flat to HDB and receive the residual value of the lease on a straight-line basis. Your CPF LIFE payouts continue.
- No renting out the whole flat. Spare bedrooms may be rented out, except in 1- and 2-room flats.
- Less to pass on. If you die, a spouse or child living there may stay for the balance of the lease if eligible, or return the flat for a pro-rated refund.
- Outliving the lease. HDB says you will not be left homeless and will work out an arrangement with your family.
Talk to your children before applying. The flat is often the largest thing a family expects to inherit.
How the Silver Housing Bonus Works
The Silver Housing Bonus (SHB) is for seniors who right-size: sell their current home and buy a 3-room or smaller HDB flat.
It was enhanced from 1 December 2025. HDB’s main conditions:
- At least one owner is a Singapore Citizen aged 55 or above.
- Gross monthly household income is $16,000 or less.
- The home sold is an HDB flat, or a private property with an annual value of up to $31,000.
- You have positive net sale proceeds, and apply within one year of completing the second transaction.
To qualify, you commit a net increase of up to $60,000 in your RA, which then goes towards CPF LIFE payouts. HDB says this can come from your CPF housing refund, so you may not need to add cash.
The bonus is $30,000 per household for a $60,000 commitment, pro-rated at $1 for every $2 if you commit less. Moving to a 2-room or smaller flat, including a Community Care Apartment, adds $10,000 regardless of the amount committed. The maximum is $40,000. Owners of private property with an annual value between $21,000 and $31,000 receive a lower base bonus of up to $10,000.
Lease Buyback Scheme vs Silver Housing Bonus
| Lease Buyback Scheme | Silver Housing Bonus | |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Stay, and sell the tail end of the lease to HDB | Sell and move to a 3-room or smaller flat |
| Minimum age | All owners 65 or older | At least one citizen owner 55 or older |
| Income ceiling | $16,000 a month | $16,000 a month |
| Maximum bonus | $30,000, $15,000 or $7,500 by flat type | $40,000 |
| RA requirement | Top up to the age-based level | Commit a net increase of up to $60,000 |
| Main cost | Shorter lease, no open-market sale | Moving home; smaller flat |
The choice turns on one question: do you want to stay? LBS is for ageing in place. Right-sizing means leaving your home, and often your neighbourhood. When you sell, CPF used for the flat is refunded with accrued interest; see how accrued interest works on a sale.
What To Do Next
- Use HDB’s e-Service for housing monetisation options to see estimated LBS proceeds for your flat.
- Check your RA balance on the CPF website and see what a higher balance means for payouts in our CPF retirement sum planner and CPF LIFE payout table.
- Test your overall plan with the retirement timeline calculator.
- Discuss the plan with your spouse and children, since it changes what the flat will be worth later.
- Lower-income seniors may also qualify for Silver Support and other payouts.
