SINGAPORE – New regulatory changes aimed at strengthening protection for private residential home buyers and helping them make more informed purchasing decisions will take effect in early 2026, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said on Nov 13. The measures are expected to raise transparency and overall industry standards.
Speaking at the 66th anniversary dinner of the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (Redas) at the Shangri-La hotel, Mr Chee also announced that the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme for the first half of 2026 will include about 4,500 additional private homes. This will bring the total private housing supply pipeline to more than 58,000 units.
Under the revised rules, developers will be required to disclose more detailed information in sales documents for new projects. This includes clearly marking structural walls and refuse chambers on site plans, to give buyers greater clarity on layouts and reduce potential disputes after purchase.
Currently, developers must provide scaled unit floor plans and site plans based on approved building plans at the point of sale. The new requirements build on this by enhancing upfront transparency.
Developers will also have to share information on their track records, including the Construction Quality Assessment System (Conquas) banding of their completed projects. Conquas is Singapore’s national standard for assessing construction workmanship quality in larger developments, covering internal finishes, installation methods and functional tests, as well as external finishes.
“This will allow buyers to better compare developers and identify those with a consistent track record of delivering quality projects,” Mr Chee said.
Another key change involves extending the timeline for defect inspections. The start of the one-year defects liability period and buyers’ responsibility for maintenance charges will be pushed to the 35th day after the progress payment notice is issued at the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) stage, up from the current 15 days.
This adjustment gives buyers more time to inspect their homes and report defects. Under the revised framework, these periods will begin either upon delivery of vacant possession or on the 35th day after the payment notice is issued, whichever comes earlier. The change better aligns buyers’ obligations with the actual handover timeline, as developers currently have up to 21 days to deliver possession after collecting payment.
“In addition to supporting buyers, these measures will also benefit developers by ensuring a level playing field,” Mr Chee added.
Sustained housing supply
Mr Chee said the Government will continue to maintain a high level of public and private housing supply to meet strong demand. From 2025 to 2027, about 55,000 Build-To-Order flats will be launched, up from an earlier target of 50,000. More than 25,000 private homes will also be released through the GLS programme over the same period.
While the confirmed GLS supply for private housing in the second half of 2025 fell 6.1 per cent to 4,725 units from 5,030 units in the first half, analysts noted that this remains well above supply levels seen between 2015 and 2023.
The minister said the Government will continue to monitor housing prices, which have shown signs of moderation amid easing interest rates. Analysts noted that lower borrowing costs could encourage buyers to enter the market, especially with several projects in prime locations expected to launch soon.
As at Nov 13, the three-month compounded Singapore Overnight Rate Average (Sora) had eased to about 1.25 per cent per annum, its lowest level in more than three years.
Private residential prices rose 3 per cent in the first three quarters of 2025, in line with gains recorded in 2024. Meanwhile, resale HDB flat prices posted their slowest quarterly increase in nearly five years, rising just 0.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, marking the fourth straight quarter of slowing growth.