HDB: RES exam practice questions

HDB was set up on 1 February 1960 to take over the building of public housing from __________.

1. Athe Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT)
2. Bthe Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
3. Cthe Jurong Town Corporation (JTC)
4. Dthe Singapore Land Authority (SLA)

What is the minimum occupation period (MOP) for a Plus flat bought from HDB?

1. A10 years
2. B5 years
3. C3 years
4. D7 years

For HFE letters applied for from 24 August 2026, the income ceiling for a family buying a new HDB flat is __________ a month.

1. A$16,000
2. B$14,000
3. C$18,000
4. D$21,000

A household made up only of Singapore Permanent Residents may buy a resale flat if __________.

1. Aeach of them has held PR status for at least 3 years
2. Bone of them has held PR status for at least 5 years
3. Cthey apply for a new flat from HDB at the same time
4. Dthey take an HDB housing loan to finance the purchase

A seller may grant an HDB Option to Purchase only after his Intent to Sell has been registered for at least __________.

1. A7 days
2. B21 days
3. C3 working days
4. D1 month

Resale completion usually takes place about __________ after HDB accepts the resale application.

1. A8 weeks
2. B2 weeks
3. C4 weeks
4. D12 weeks

Mr Desmond Lee, 48, and his wife, Mdm Chong Siew Ling, 46, are Singapore Citizens with two teenage sons. They bought their first home, a subsidised 4-room flat in Tampines, from HDB in 2004, sold it in 2015 and moved into a condominium unit in Bedok that they still own jointly. Mr Lee’s widowed mother lives alone in Hougang, and in September 2026 the couple find a 4-room resale flat two blocks from her. They will pay with cash and a bank loan and do not intend to apply for any CPF housing grant. Their previous agent had told them in May that they must sell the condominium first and then wait out 15 months before buying any HDB flat.

Which of the following BEST describes what the salesperson should advise Mr and Mrs Lee?

1. AThey may buy the Hougang flat now without any wait-out, but must dispose of the Bedok condominium within 6 months of completing the purchase
2. BThey must first sell the Bedok condominium and then wait out 15 months, as the wait-out still applies to owners below 55 using a bank loan
3. CThey may buy the Hougang flat now and keep the Bedok condominium for as long as they live in the flat and do not rent any part of it out
4. DThey may buy the Hougang flat now without any wait-out, but must dispose of the Bedok condominium within 30 months of completing the purchase

Joanne Tan Hui Min, 36, is a single Singapore Citizen who has never married and never owned property. She works as a compliance analyst in Raffles Place and earns $6,500 a month, within the $8,000 ceiling for singles. Her married sister owns a 5-room flat in Bishan, and her parents live in a private terrace house in Serangoon. Joanne wants to apply for a flat in an upcoming BTO project in a Prime location a short walk from Outram Park MRT station, so that she can cut her commute. A colleague who bought a Standard flat in 2025 tells her that singles may apply only in Standard projects and that Prime projects are reserved for families.

Which of the following BEST describes the flats that Joanne may apply for in the Prime project?

1. AOnly a 2-room Flexi flat, as first-timer singles aged 35 and above may apply for 2-room Flexi flats in Standard, Plus and Prime projects
2. BA 2-room Flexi or a 3-room flat, as first-timer singles aged 35 and above may apply for either type in Standard, Plus and Prime projects
3. CNone, as first-timer singles may apply only for 2-room Flexi flats in Standard projects, while Plus and Prime projects are kept for families
4. DOnly a 2-room Flexi flat, and only after she turns 40, as the minimum age for singles applying in Prime projects is higher than elsewhere

Mdm Ong Bee Hoon, 67, is selling her 4-room flat in Hougang so that she can move in with her son. On Friday, 2 October 2026, she grants Mr Lau Chee Keong, 34, an option to purchase at $598,000, and he pays an option fee of $1,000. Mr Lau’s HFE letter was issued in June 2026, and he will pay with his CPF savings and an HDB loan. He hopes to move in before Chinese New Year and asks his salesperson about the next step. Mdm Ong’s agent remarks that Mr Lau can ask for HDB’s valuation at any time before the option period ends, so there is no hurry.

By when must Mr Lau submit the Request for Value?

1. ABy Monday, 5 October 2026, the next working day after the option was granted to him
2. BBy Saturday, 3 October 2026, the next calendar day after the option was granted to him
3. CBy 4 pm on Friday, 23 October 2026, when the 21-day option period comes to its end
4. DWithin 7 days after he exercises the option, together with the resale application

Mr Chua Boon Heng, 33, and Mrs Chua Li Ting, 32, both Singapore Citizens, bought a 4-room flat in Punggol from HDB in a 2018 BTO exercise and collected the keys in March 2023. In October 2026 they are both offered two-year postings to Hong Kong by their employers, with housing provided. Mr Chua’s parents live three blocks away and could keep an eye on the flat. A friend who rents out his condominium unit tells them that renting out is simple and that any home can be let once the owners move away. They ask their salesperson whether they can rent out the whole flat while they are overseas.

Which of the following statements by the salesperson is NOT correct?

1. AOnce the MOP is met, the whole flat may be rented out for a minimum period of 3 months at a time, with HDB’s approval
2. BThey cannot rent out the whole flat in October 2026, as its 5-year MOP, counted from key collection, ends only in March 2028
3. CThey could rent out bedrooms without first meeting the MOP, but only while they themselves continue to live in the flat
4. DOnce the MOP is met, the whole flat may be rented out with HDB’s prior approval, as it is neither a Plus nor a Prime flat