The Lease Buyback Scheme: sell part of your lease, keep living in your flat
The Lease Buyback Scheme lets flat owners aged 65 and above sell the tail end of their lease to HDB and keep living in the flat. The proceeds top up each owner's CPF Retirement Account (to the Basic Retirement Sum each for two or more owners), buy a CPF LIFE plan, and earn a cash bonus of up to $30,000; up to $100,000 of what is left can be kept in cash.
The top-up you must make first
For applications from 1 January 2026:
| Owner's age | One owner (to the age-adjusted Full Retirement Sum) | Two or more owners, each (to the age-adjusted Basic Retirement Sum) |
|---|---|---|
| 65 to 69 | $220,400 | $110,200 |
| 70 to 79 | $210,400 | $105,200 |
| 80 and above | $200,400 | $100,200 |
The bonus
Up to $30,000 for a 3-room or smaller flat, $15,000 for a 4-room and $7,500 for a 5-room or bigger flat. The household gets the full bonus when the total top-up is $60,000 or more; below that it is pro-rated ($1 for every $2 topped up on a 3-room or smaller, $1 for every $4 on a 4-room, $1 for every $8 on a 5-room or bigger). There is no bonus if every owner already had the Full Retirement Sum and needs no top-up.
How much lease you keep
| Youngest owner | Minimum lease kept | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| 65 to 69 | 30 years | 35 |
| 70 to 74 | 25 years | 30, 35 |
| 75 to 79 | 20 years | 25, 30, 35 |
| 80 and above | 15 years | 20, 25, 30, 35 |
The shorter the lease you keep, the more you unlock. After the top-up, up to $100,000 per household can be kept in cash; anything beyond goes to the Retirement Accounts up to the Full Retirement Sum before more cash is released. With at least $60,000 in the Retirement Account after the top-up, the whole account buys a CPF LIFE plan (not available from age 80).
HDB's example
A couple, both 65, own a fully paid 4-room flat worth $450,000 with 65 years of lease left. They keep 30 years and sell the last 35 years to HDB for $190,000. Each has about $20,000 in the Retirement Account, so about $90,000 each goes to reach the Basic Retirement Sum before the rest is paid out.
Buyback, right-size or rent out?
The buyback keeps you at home and turns part of the flat into a CPF LIFE payout. Right-sizing releases more, and can earn the Silver Housing Bonus, but means moving. Renting out a room keeps the whole lease. Freedom Age compares these on your numbers and shows which one reaches your monthly income target, and when.
Find my Freedom Age
Questions people ask
- What is the minimum age for the Lease Buyback Scheme?
- The top-up requirements start at age 65, and the lease you keep is set by the age of the youngest owner, from 65.
- How much cash can I keep under the Lease Buyback Scheme?
- Up to $100,000 per household, after the Retirement Account top-up.
- What is the Lease Buyback bonus for a 4-room flat?
- Up to $15,000, in full when the household tops up $60,000 or more, pro-rated at $1 for every $4 below that.
- Do I have to move out under the Lease Buyback Scheme?
- No. You keep living in the flat for the lease you retain.