Proximity Housing Grant (PHG): A Comprehensive Guide

Financially Reviewed by Edward Hee
By Firdaus Syazwani

Published: 6 February, 2026
Last Updated: 9 January, 2026

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Buying a resale flat near your parents sounds like a smart move until you realise there’s a Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) you could’ve applied for… but didn’t.

That’s why I’ve broken it all down for you based on real cases, conversations, and what actually matters when you’re applying.

In this post, you’ll learn:

What the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) is all about
How much can you get as a family or a single
Whether you’re eligible (and what counts as “near”)
The rules and conditions you don’t want to overlook
What to expect when it’s time to sell

If you’re planning your flat purchase, this is one grant you’ll want to get right. Let’s dive in.

What is the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG)?

It’s a housing grant offered by the Singapore government to help families and singles offset the cost of buying an HDB resale flat.

The PHG is part of the government’s broader push to strengthen intergenerational support and promote community bonds.

But here’s the catch (or rather, the benefit), you need to be staying either with or near your parents or children.

And by “near”, we’re not talking about the next block or neighbourhood, we’re talking within 4km.

How does it work?

The PHG is a one-time grant, and it’s open to both families and singles.

If you’re buying a resale flat to live with your parents or children, you’ll get $30,000 if you’re applying as a family, or $15,000 if you’re applying as a single.

If you’re planning to live nearby instead of within a 4km radius, you’ll receive $20,000 as a family or $10,000 as a single.

The grant amount is credited directly into your CPF Ordinary Account (OA).

You can use it to offset your down payment or reduce the amount you need to borrow for your housing loan.

Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) amounts

Living arrangement

Families

(Couples with parents/children)

Singles

(Aged 35 & above)

Living with parents/children

$30,000

$15,000

Living near parents/children (≤4km)

$20,000

$10,000

Who is eligible for the Proximity Housing Grant?

Families and couples

To qualify, you must be legally married at the time of application, and there has to be at least one Singapore Citizen (SC) included in your application.

If you’re planning to live with or near your parents or children, they must also be either Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR).

Additionally, you must not have received the Proximity Housing Grant before.

Singles

If you’re applying on your own, here’s what qualifies you must be at least 35 years old.

Your parents must also be Singapore Citizens (SC) or Permanent Residents (PR).

Like families and couples, you must not have received the PHG before.

If you’re planning to buy a resale flat near your parents or child,

Your resale flat must be a 2-room to 5-room flat, and have at least 20 years of lease remaining.

It also has to be located within 4km of your parents’ or child’s home.

Your parents’ or your child’s home can be a HDB flat or private property, and they must live on the property.

Additionally, the property must be owned by your parents, children, adopted children, parent(s)-in-law, or siblings.

How do I check for proximity distance?

Here’s how to do it:

Go to the HDB Distance Enquiry Tool.
Key in the postal code of the resale flat you’re intending to buy.
Enter the postal code of your parents’ or child’s home.
Click “Accept” and you’ll get an instant result showing whether the 2 addresses are within the 4km requirement.

How do I apply for PHG?

Step 1: Get your HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter

Before anything else, head over to the HDB Flat Portal and apply for the HFE letter.

This letter gives you a full overview of the types of housing grants you qualify for, whether you’re eligible for a housing loan from HDB, and whether you can proceed with a flat purchase.

Step 2: Apply for PHG with your resale flat application

Once your HFE letter gives you the green light, go ahead and submit your resale flat application.

You’ll be prompted to apply for any eligible grants; that’s where you select PHG.

Make sure all your documents are in order, especially those confirming your relationship to your parents/children and the addresses involved.

HDB will verify the distance as well.

Step 3: Get your grant

Once everything checks out, the grant will be credited directly into your CPF OA, and you can use the amount to offset the flat’s purchase price or reduce your housing loan amount.

What other grants am I eligible for other than the PHG?

1. CPF Housing Grant for Resale Flats (Families)

With this grant, you can get up to $80,000 in subsidies.

The actual amount depends on your flat type and household income.

For first-timer families buying a 2- to 4-room flat can get $80,000. On the other hand, for first-timers getting a 5-room or bigger flat, the grant is capped at $50,000

2. Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG)

On top of the PHG, eligible first-timer families can receive up to $120,000 with the EHG.

If you’re a couple where only one person is a first-timer, the other may qualify for the EHG (Singles), up to $60,000

Important considerations before you apply for PHG

You must keep to the 4km proximity rule for at least 5 years

The 4km proximity isn’t just a check at the point of application; it applies throughout the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), which is 5 years.

This means that your parents or children, whose address was used in your grant application, must continue to live at the same property (or within 4km of your flat) for the entire 5 years.

If they move away and their new place is outside the 4km range, you could breach the grant conditions, and that’s a headache you don’t want.

You must occupy the flat during the MOP

Another thing to note, and this is non-negotiable, is that you must live in the flat after buying it.

Once you’ve completed your resale purchase, the MOP begins.

That’s a 5-year stretch where you must physically occupy the flat.

It starts from the legal completion date, not the date you get your keys or start renovations.

Additionally, if you’re buying a resale flat under the Plus or Prime model, the rules are even stricter, and the MOP goes up to 10 years.

Do I have to return the PHG when I sell my flat?

Yes, the Proximity Housing Grant isn’t yours to keep forever.

When you eventually sell your flat, you’ll need to refund the full PHG amount back into your CPF OA.

This is part of CPF’s standard rules for housing grants.

You’ll have to return the principal grant amount you received, any CPF monies used for your flat, including your downpayment and monthly instalments, plus 2.5% accrued interest on all of the above.

The idea is that this money would’ve earned interest in your CPF account if you hadn’t used it for housing, so you’ll need to top it back up when you cash out.

If you’ve also received other CPF housing grants like the EHG, then only a maximum of $60,000 from all these grants combined (including PHG) will be returned to your CPF OA when you sell the flat.

Any amount above that $60,000 cap will be distributed into your CPF Special Account (SA), Retirement Account (RA), or Medisave Account (MA), depending on your age and circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for PHG more than once?

You can only apply for the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) once in your lifetime.

Once you’ve received the grant, whether it was for living with or near your parents or children, that’s it.

You won’t be eligible to apply for PHG again for future property purchases, even if your living arrangements change later on.

Can I get PHG if my parents live on private property?

Yes, you can get the Proximity Housing Grant even if your parents live on private property, as long as certain conditions are met.

The private property must be owned and occupied by your parents, adopted parents, or immediate family members, like siblings.

Most importantly, their home must be within 4km of the resale flat you’re buying.

Does PHG apply to BTO flats?

No, the Proximity Housing Grant does not apply to BTO flats.

PHG is strictly for those buying HDB resale flats either to live with or near their parents or children.

BTO flats are already subsidised by the government, so buyers of new flats aren’t eligible for this additional grant.

If you’re considering a BTO, you’ll need to look at other grants like the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant instead.

How to appeal if your PHG application is rejected?

If your Proximity Housing Grant application is rejected, you can still submit an appeal to HDB.

To do this, write in through the HDB e-Feedback portal and clearly explain your situation, especially if there were exceptional circumstances, like a change in family address or issues verifying proximity.

Make sure to include all supporting documents, such as proof of relationship, residency, or property ownership.

While appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, a well-documented request may give you a second chance, but there are no guarantees.

Conclusion

So there you have it, the Proximity Housing Grant in a nutshell.

We’ve covered what it is, how much you can get, who qualifies, how to apply, and the key rules you need to know before taking the plunge.

Whether you’re moving in with your parents or just looking to be nearby for convenience, PHG can give you a pretty decent financial head start, as long as you tick the right boxes.

And if you’re interested in finding a place to grow your savings while waiting for your home – with potentially better returns than what the banks offer – our financial advisors are able to help!

Click here for a chat.

References

Firdaus Syazwani

In 1999, Firdaus's mother bought an endowment plan from an insurance agent to gift him $20,000. However, after 20 years of paying premiums, Firdaus discovered that the policy was actually a whole life plan with a sum assured of $20,000, and they didn't receive any money back. This experience inspired Firdaus to create dollarbureau.com, so that others won't face the same problem of being misled or not understanding what they are purchasing – which he sees as a is a huge problem in the industry.

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