The income ceiling for Singaporeans buying new BTO flats will be raised from S$14,000 to S$16,000 a month, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced during the National Day Rally 2026.
The increase will also apply to buyers of new Executive Condominiums (ECs), with the household income ceiling rising from S$16,000 to S$18,000.
The changes will allow more Singaporean couples to qualify for subsidised public housing, particularly those who may have crossed the existing income limits as their careers and salaries progressed.
First Income Ceiling Increase Since 2019
The latest adjustment marks the first increase in the income ceilings in seven years. The previous revision took place in 2019, when the BTO income ceiling was increased from S$12,000 to S$14,000.
For new ECs, the ceiling was raised from S$14,000 to S$16,000 at the same time.
Before that, the limits had been increased in 2015 as household incomes rose. The BTO ceiling went from S$10,000 to S$12,000, while the EC ceiling increased from S$12,000 to S$14,000.
The latest increase is intended to keep public housing eligibility aligned with changing income levels in Singapore.
More Couples Can Qualify For Subsidised Housing
PM Wong noted that Singaporeans are getting married later, meaning many couples have reached a more advanced stage in their careers by the time they settle down and begin looking for a home.
As a result, some young couples may find that their combined income exceeds the existing BTO threshold even though they are still looking to purchase their first home.
Raising the ceiling to S$16,000 will allow more households to remain eligible for new subsidised flats.
The EC income ceiling will similarly rise to S$18,000, giving more middle-income families access to this segment of public-private housing.
Families With Children To Get More BTO Priority
The Government is also introducing additional support for first-timer families with children.
For every child a first-timer family has or is expecting, the family will receive one additional ballot chance when applying for a new flat.
This means a family with more children will receive more ballot chances, potentially improving its prospects of securing a BTO flat in a competitive launch.
Currently, couples who are engaged or married already receive priority as first-timer applicants. The new measure will provide an additional advantage to families with children.
Together, the higher income ceilings and increased BTO ballot priority are designed to ensure that more Singaporean families can access subsidised housing.
The changes could be particularly significant for couples whose household incomes have risen above the previous S$14,000 BTO threshold but remain within the new S$16,000 limit.