What is a jumbo flat and the HDB conversion scheme?

The review comes after a jumbo flat in Telok Blangah – created by merging two three-room flats – was put up for sale at $2.18 million on Sept 19.

Published Sep 25, 2026, 04:40 PM

Updated Sep 25, 2026, 04:40 PM

SINGAPORE - A scheme that allows three-room or smaller flats to be combined into a jumbo unit is being reviewed , the Housing Board said on Sept 25.

The review comes after a jumbo flat in Telok Blangah – created by merging two three-room flats – was put up for sale at $2.18 million on Sept 19 . People later raised their concerns about the listing to HDB.

The Straits Times takes a closer look at the conversion scheme and jumbo flats.

1. How did jumbo flats come about?

In the 1980s, there were three- and four-room flats that were left unsold after completion due to low demand. To deal with the oversupply, HDB in 1989 combined the flats into larger ones by knocking down the wall between them.

Woodlands was the first town to have such flats. The others are in towns like Yishun, Jurong East, Bedok and Tampines.

The units can range from 1,400 sq ft to over 2,000 sq ft.

2. What is the conversion scheme?

The conversion scheme was introduced in 1993 and allows eligible owners who require more living space to combine their flat with a next-door unit to form a larger flat.

They must also get HDB to make an assessment on the structural feasibility of combining the units before submitting their purchase application.

If approved, they can combine the two units into a single flat under one lease. The combined flat can be sold on the open market after meeting the five-year minimum occupation period.

The owner must engage a registered renovation contractor to knock at least one opening, at least 1m by 2m, between the units.

A licensed contractor also needs to be hired to remove PUB meters for electricity, water and gas supply for one of the two units.

3. What are the eligibility conditions to form a jumbo flat?

The household must be a married couple or a family of parents and children, to form a family nucleus.

Singles and joint singles are not eligible.

4. How long is the minimum occupation period (MOP)?

Owners can only sell their jumbo flat after fulfilling the five-year MOP from the date of the second flat’s purchase.

That means even if they have been staying in their HDB flat for 10 years before buying the neighbouring flat, they must fulfil another five years’ MOP before selling the converted flat.

5. Can a jumbo flat be split into two units?

No. Once HDB has given approval to combine the flats, the unit must remain as one converted flat.

6. How many jumbo flats are there?

There are an estimated 2,900 jumbo flats in Singapore, out of about 1.1 million HDB flats.

Isabelle Liew is a journalist at The Straits Times. She covers housing issues in Singapore, with a focus on public housing.

此次审查是在位于直落布兰雅的一套巨型组屋（由两套三房式组屋合并而成）于 9 月 19 日以 218 万新元的价格挂牌出售之后进行的。

发布于2026年9月25日下午4:40

更新于2026年9月25日下午4:40

新加坡——建屋发展局9月25日表示，一项允许将三房式或更小的组屋合并成一个超大组屋的计划正在接受审查。

此次审查源于9月19日，位于直落布兰雅的一套由两套三房式组屋合并而成的大型组屋以218万新元的价格挂牌出售。之后，民众向建屋发展局表达了对该组屋挂牌出售的担忧。

《海峡时报》深入调查了改建计划和巨型组屋。

1. 超大公寓是如何出现的？

上世纪80年代，由于需求低迷，一些三房式和四房式组屋建成后未能售出。为了解决供应过剩的问题，建屋发展局于1989年将这些组屋合并成更大的户型，方法是拆除组屋之间的隔墙。

兀兰是第一个拥有此类组屋的市镇。其他拥有此类组屋的市镇包括义顺、裕廊东、勿洛和淡滨尼。

这些单元的面积从 1400 平方英尺到 2000 平方英尺以上不等。

2. 转换方案是什么？

这项改建计划于 1993 年推出，允许符合条件的、需要更多居住空间的业主将自己的公寓与隔壁单元合并，形成更大的公寓。

他们还必须先让建屋发展局对合并房屋的结构可行性进行评估，然后再提交购买申请。

如果获得批准，他们可以将两套单元房合并成一套公寓，并签订同一份租赁合同。合并后的公寓在满足五年最低居住期限后，即可在公开市场上出售。

业主必须聘请注册装修承包商在单元之间至少开一个开口，开口尺寸至少为 1 米 x 2 米。

还需要聘请有资质的承包商拆除其中一套房屋的电力、水和燃气供应的公用事业计量表。

3. 组建巨型公寓的资格条件是什么？

家庭成员必须为已婚夫妇或父母子女组成的家庭，才能构成家庭核心。

单身人士和联名单身人士不符合资格。

4. 最短居住期限（MOP）是多久？

业主只有在第二套组屋购买之日起五年最低居住年限届满后，才能出售其超大型组屋。

这意味着，即使他们在购买隔壁组屋之前已经在自己的组屋里住了 10 年，他们也必须再满足 5 年的最低居住年限 (MOP) 才能出售改建后的组屋。

5. 超大公寓可以分成两个单元吗？

不。一旦建屋发展局批准合并组屋，合并后的组屋必须保持为一个改建后的组屋。

6. 有多少套巨型公寓？

据估计，新加坡约有 2900 套巨型组屋，而新加坡的组屋总数约为 110 万套。

Isabelle Liew是《海峡时报》的记者，主要报道新加坡的住房问题，尤其关注公共住房。