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Resale Application, Documents and Fees
What both parties need for the HDB resale application
The short version
- Either party can submit first, but the second party must submit within 7 days or the first submission lapses.
- The resale case only counts as complete when the second party submits.
- Build your application file before or right after exercise. Don’t leave it to submission day.
- Budget separately for application fee, valuation fee, stamp duties, legal fees, registration/disbursement items, and insurance.
- HDB can take up to 28 working days to accept a complete resale application.
- Endorsement documents are usually available about 3 weeks after acceptance.
Who submits and when
Seller and buyer submit their portions separately. Either side can go first.
Once the first party submits, the second party has 7 days to follow. Miss that window and the first submission lapses. You’ll have to restart.
Information you’ll need
Core details
- Resale flat address
- OTP serial number
- Option date
- Purchase price
- Option fee
- Total option monies / exercise monies
- Acceptance / exercise date
- Manner of holding
- HFE reference number
- Grant type (if any)
- Extension of stay request (if any)
Using a private law firm?
Get the law firm’s acting letter early. Don’t wait until submission day.
Supporting documents to prepare early
| Document | When you’ll need it |
|---|---|
| NRIC / passport | Identity verification |
| Marriage certificate | Married applicants |
| Child’s birth certificate | Family scheme or related eligibility |
| Death certificate | Widow / estate cases |
| Divorce papers / court orders | Divorce or separated household |
| Power of attorney / lasting power of attorney | Authorised representative cases |
| Bank Letter of Offer | Buyer using bank loan |
| Law firm acting letter | Buyer using private conveyancing |
| Supporting grant documents | Where grant assessment requires them |
Fees to budget
1) Request for Value fee
Budget this if valuation is required.
2) Resale application fee
Each party pays their own application fee.
| Flat type | Buyer pays | Seller pays |
|---|---|---|
| 1- and 2-room | $40 | $40 |
| 3-room and bigger | $80 | $80 |
3) Buyer’s Stamp Duty (and ABSD if applicable)
Don’t treat stamp duty as a “remember later” item. Use the IRAS calculator and confirm:
- Higher of purchase price or market value basis
- BSD amount
- Whether ABSD applies to the buyer’s profile
4) Legal fees
Two paths here:
- HDB legal fee e-service if HDB is acting
- Live quotation from your private law firm if a private lawyer is acting
5) Registration and disbursement items
These cover transfer and caveat-related charges. Use the current HDB / lawyer statement, not an old template.
6) Insurance and lender requirements
Depending on the loan path, you may need HDB fire insurance or lender insurance sorted before completion.
Endorsement workflow after HDB accepts
Once HDB accepts the resale application:
- HDB prepares the endorsement documents.
- Buyer and seller get notified to log in and endorse.
- Each party should review the documents carefully before endorsing.
Every buyer should endorse individually. Don’t just follow another buyer’s confirmation blindly.
Common endorsement items
Depending on the case, these may include:
- Buyer’s financial plan
- CPF withdrawal forms
- Health declaration for HPS
- Resale-related legal documents
- Law-firm-specific documents (where private solicitors are involved)
After submission: what happens next
1) HDB reviews the complete application
HDB only starts assessing after both parties have submitted.
2) HDB acceptance
Can take up to 28 working days.
3) Endorsement documents
Typically available about 3 weeks after acceptance.
4) Approval and completion scheduling
After endorsements and fees are settled, HDB approves the resale. Completion planning moves into the final stage.
Build an application pack, not a loose folder
A clean transaction file should have:
- OTP full set
- Valuation PDF
- Buyer’s final financial worksheet
- HFE details
- Seller and buyer identity docs
- Grant-related docs
- Letter of Offer and acting letter (where relevant)
- Notes on extension of stay (if any)
- Target completion date and move plan
Common mistakes
- Waiting until the last minute to request the acting letter
- Forgetting the 7-day second-party submission rule
- Budgeting only for the application fee and ignoring stamp duty, legal, and insurance costs
- Endorsing documents without reviewing the financial plan and CPF implications
- Assuming the completion date is locked before HDB acceptance and processing