Summary
Singapore's Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) caps the share of flats in each HDB block and neighbourhood that households of each ethnic group may own: 87% of a block and 84% of a neighbourhood for Chinese households, 25% and 22% for Malay households, and 15% and 12% for Indian and Other households, according to the government's SG101 reference page (updated October 2025). A separate quota, set in March 2010, limits Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) households that are not Malaysian to 8% of a block and 5% of a neighbourhood.
Once a limit is reached, no further flats there can be sold to that group unless the seller belongs to the same group. Nearly one in three HDB blocks and 11% of neighbourhoods had reached their EIP limits, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said in August 2024.
What this means for HDB buyers and sellers
The limits at a glance
| Group | Neighbourhood limit | Block limit |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 84% | 87% |
| Malay | 22% | 25% |
| Indian and Others | 12% | 15% |
| Non-Malaysian SPR households | 5% | 8% |
Sources: SG101, HDB Ethnic Integration Policy (updated 6 Oct 2025); HDB, "Policy changes to support an inclusive and cohesive home" (5 Mar 2010).
The EIP dates from 1989 and was introduced to keep a balanced ethnic mix in HDB estates and prevent enclaves from forming, the government says. The limits for Indian and Other households were raised to their current levels in 2010.
Who can sell to whom
The test is whether a sale would raise the share of a group that has already reached its limit. A resale between two households of the same ethnic group leaves that share unchanged, so it is allowed even in a block at its limit. A sale that would add a household to a group at its limit is not.
Illustration only. In a block that has reached its Chinese limit, in a neighbourhood within all its limits, an Indian owner can sell to a Malay, Indian or Other buyer, but not to a Chinese buyer. A Chinese owner in the same block can sell to a Chinese buyer, or to a buyer from any group still within its limit.
The SPR quota works the same way and applies on top of the EIP, so a non-Malaysian SPR household buying a resale flat must satisfy both. A household counts as non-Malaysian SPR when none of its buyers is a Singapore Citizen or a Malaysian SPR; Malaysian SPRs are not subject to the SPR quota. Once a block or neighbourhood reaches the quota, a resale that would raise the SPR share is not allowed, but a non-Malaysian SPR seller can still sell to another non-Malaysian SPR household.
New flats too
The EIP applies in BTO and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises and open booking of flats in all estates, as well as at resale, MND says. For the June 2026 BTO exercise, HDB made flat booking subject to flat availability for each applicant's ethnic group.
When the quota is checked
HDB updates the EIP and SPR quotas on the first day of each month, according to its guidance for property agents, which asks agents to check compliance at several points in a sale. In a resale, the buyer must meet the monthly quota at the time of the resale application, HDB's resale seminar material says. Because the status can change on the first of a month, a sale that meets the quota when a price is agreed may not meet it when the application goes in.
Sellers see their flat's EIP and SPR quota status when they register an Intent to Sell on My Flat Dashboard. Buyers and agents can look up a block on HDB's EIP/SPR quota e-Service.
How common the limits are
Research by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), based on EIP portal data and published in February 2026, found that 30.8% of HDB blocks had at least one ethnic limit reached in 2025, against 24.4% in 1989. The share of blocks at the SPR quota fell from 5.18% in 2017 to 1.56% in 2025, concentrated in Jurong West, Marsiling, Woodlands and Sengkang/Punggol.
If you cannot find a buyer
MND lists three kinds of help for owners held back by the EIP:
- More time: owners who have bought another HDB flat but cannot sell their existing one may get more time to find a buyer, case by case.
- Waivers: HDB may waive the EIP limits in exceptional circumstances.
- Buyback: since 2022, HDB's EIP Buyback Assistance Scheme has let eligible owners sell to HDB at a fair price based on prevailing market conditions. Households need to have owned the flat for at least 10 years and marketed it at reasonable prices for at least six months, and HDB considers how long the flat has been constrained. Owners with extenuating circumstances can appeal for special consideration.
Under the buyback, HDB appoints a licensed valuer, and owners have up to three months to decide on the offer, during which they may still sell on the open market, the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) said when the scheme started. HDB then offers the flats for sale through SBF exercises or open booking.
FAQ
Do Malaysian PRs count towards the SPR quota? No. Malaysian SPRs are excluded from the SPR quota, but the EIP limit for their ethnic group still applies.
Can I check a block before I make an offer? Yes. HDB's EIP/SPR quota e-Service shows a block's status for the current month; check it again in the month the resale application will be filed.
Education only — not tax, legal or investment advice. Confirm the quota status of the specific block with HDB before you commit.
What to do next
- Look up the block's EIP and SPR quota status before you set an asking price or make an offer.
- Sellers: register an Intent to Sell on My Flat Dashboard to see your flat's status and when you may grant an option.
- Check the status again in the month the resale application will be filed.
- If the EIP narrows your buyers and you have bought another flat, ask HDB early about more time or the buyback scheme.
- List your HDB flat on ProprKey: https://proprkey.com/en/onboarding
- Find a verified property agency to help with your sale or purchase: https://proprkey.com/en/pros?segment=agencies