Disclaimer (Block 1): This article is for educational purposes only and is intended to assist CEA-registered property agents in understanding regulatory frameworks. It does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. LEVR's calculations are indicative only. Always verify rates and eligibility with your bank, HDB, CPF Board, or a licensed financial advisor before advising clients.
What Is the Proximity Housing Grant?
The Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) is a CPF housing grant for buyers purchasing an HDB resale flat. It is designed to encourage families to live near one another — either by the buyer purchasing near their parents or children, or by a parent or child purchasing near an adult child or parent who already owns an HDB flat.
Unlike the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) which is income-tested, the PHG is proximity-tested — it rewards location rather than income. It is available to a wider range of buyers including those with higher incomes who may not qualify for the EHG.
PHG Grant Amounts
| Applicant Type | Living Together with Parents/Children | Living Within 4 km of Parents/Children |
|---|---|---|
| Families (married couples, family nucleus) | S$30,000 | S$20,000 |
| Singles (Joint Singles Scheme or Single Singapore Citizen Scheme) | S$15,000 | S$10,000 |
"Living together" means the buyer and the parents or children will be listed on the same flat's application as occupants. "Within 4 km" means the resale flat being purchased is within 4 km of the HDB flat or private residential address where the parents or children reside.
Who Can Apply for the PHG?
The PHG is available to buyers purchasing an HDB resale flat who meet all of the following conditions:
| Condition | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | At least one applicant must be a Singapore Citizen | SC/SPR couples qualify; pure SPR households do not |
| Property ownership | Buyer must not own or have an interest in any private residential property locally or overseas | Includes properties owned within the 30 months before the resale application |
| Previous grants | Buyer must not have previously received the PHG | PHG can only be received once per buyer; applies even if the earlier flat was subsequently sold |
| Proximity requirement | Either: (a) parents or children will live in the flat with the buyer; or (b) the flat is within 4 km of the parents' or children's existing residence | The proximity is measured from the resale flat purchased to the existing residence of the qualifying family member |
| Income ceiling | No income ceiling for PHG | Unlike EHG, PHG has no income ceiling — higher-income buyers can still qualify |
Defining the Qualifying Family Member
The PHG requires proximity to a parent or child. For this purpose:
- Parents: biological parents, step-parents, or parents-in-law of any applicant.
- Children: biological children or legally adopted children of any applicant.
- The qualifying family member must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident residing in Singapore at the time of application.
- For the "living together" tier, the qualifying family member must be listed as an occupant on the resale flat's application and must remain a registered occupant for the applicable occupation period.
How the 4 km Proximity Is Assessed
HDB measures the 4 km distance using a straight-line (as-the-crow-flies) measurement between the postal address of the resale flat being purchased and the postal address of the qualifying family member's existing residence. The measurement is not based on road distance or walking distance.
Buyers can check whether a specific resale flat qualifies under the 4 km criterion using HDB's online proximity checker before submitting the resale application. Agents should direct clients to verify this before selecting a flat — not after — to avoid disappointment if the chosen flat falls just outside the radius.
PHG Combined with Other Grants
The PHG can be combined with the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) and the CPF Housing Grant for resale flats (previously the Family Grant). The maximum grant stacking for a first-timer family buying a resale flat is:
| Grant | Maximum Amount (Family) | Income Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) | S$80,000 | S$9,000/month household |
| CPF Housing Grant (Resale) | S$50,000 (4-room or smaller) / S$40,000 (5-room or larger) | S$14,000/month household |
| Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) — living together | S$30,000 | No income ceiling |
| Total (EHG + CPF Housing Grant + PHG — maximum stacking) | Up to S$160,000 | Requires qualifying for all three; income below S$9K for full EHG |
The grants are credited to the buyer's CPF Ordinary Account and used to offset the purchase price — they reduce the cash and CPF needed at purchase but do not change the total purchase price for stamp duty purposes.
Occupation Requirement After PHG
Buyers who receive the PHG for the "living together" tier must fulfil the occupation requirement: the qualifying family member listed as an occupant must continue to reside in the flat for a minimum period. If the occupant moves out within this period, HDB may require repayment of the grant. For the "within 4 km" tier, the requirement is that the buyer occupies the flat for the standard minimum occupation period (MOP).
PHG for Second-Timers
The PHG is generally a first-timer grant — buyers who have previously received a housing subsidy (BTO flat, PHG, or other HDB grant) are treated as second-timers and are not eligible for the PHG on a subsequent purchase. However, second-timers may be eligible for a reduced Step-Up CPF Housing Grant under certain conditions. Agents should check the buyer's grant history at the initial consultation.
Agent Advisory Checklist for PHG
| Advisory Point | Question to Ask Client |
|---|---|
| PHG awareness | Are your parents or children living somewhere specific? We should check if the PHG applies to flats in that area. |
| Living-together vs 4 km | Are your parents or children planning to move in with you, or will they stay in their own home? |
| Prior PHG receipt | Have you received the Proximity Housing Grant before? |
| Proximity check | Before shortlisting flats, run the HDB proximity checker to confirm which estates and blocks fall within 4 km. |
| Grant stacking | Check combined grant eligibility (EHG + CPF Housing Grant + PHG) to determine maximum purchase budget and CPF funding available. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can a buyer receive the PHG if their parents live in a private condominium, not an HDB flat?
A: Yes. The PHG is based on proximity to the parents' or children's residential address — it does not require the family member to live in an HDB flat. Parents living in a private condominium, landed property, or any other residential address qualify as the reference point for the 4 km measurement.
Q: Does the PHG apply to BTO flat purchases?
A: No. The PHG applies to HDB resale flat purchases only. BTO flat buyers have access to a different proximity-related component within the EHG framework but the PHG as a distinct grant is specific to resale flat purchases.
Q: Can a buyer receive both the PHG living-together grant (S$30,000) and the within-4-km grant (S$20,000) if their parents are moving in?
A: No. The PHG is S$30,000 for living together or S$20,000 for within 4 km — not both. The higher living-together rate applies when the qualifying family member is listed as an occupant. Buyers choose the applicable tier based on their circumstances.
Q: If parents are moving in, must they be listed permanently or can they register temporarily?
A: The qualifying family member must genuinely reside in the flat and be listed as an occupant on the resale application. HDB may verify occupancy. Registering a family member as an occupant purely to claim the higher grant amount without genuine occupancy is a misrepresentation and may result in grant repayment and other consequences.
Q: The buyer's parents live overseas — do they qualify for PHG?
A: No. The qualifying family member must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident residing in Singapore at the time of application. Parents or children based overseas do not qualify as the reference point for PHG eligibility.
Disclaimer (Block 3): LEVR's calculator outputs are estimates based on inputs provided and current regulatory parameters as known at time of publication. They are not a guarantee of borrowing capacity, stamp duty liability, or CPF eligibility. Regulatory thresholds and rates may change. Always verify with IRAS, your bank, or a licensed financial advisor before making financial decisions.