Fires can break out in the most unexpected ways, and recent cases in HDB estates are a reminder of how quickly a home can be damaged. Beyond fireproofing your home, it’s equally important to maintain fire insurance as a safety net against costly repair bills.
HDB fire insurance coverage
Image credit: Tom Goh
If you’re servicing an HDB loan, fire insurance isn’t optional…it’s compulsory. Since 1 September 1994, all flat owners with an outstanding HDB loan have been required to take up the scheme and keep it active until the loan is fully repaid. Coverage is sold in fixed 5-year blocks, and here’s where many owners slip up: the policy does not renew automatically. If you miss the renewal window, your flat is left without protection, which means that in the event of a fire, you’ll be footing the repair bill yourself—a costly lesson one Jurong flat owner learned the hard way when his uninsured 5-room unit was destroyed.
What the scheme does provide is essential, structural protection. It pays for reinstating internal fixtures and fittings that HDB originally supplied with the flat, such as electrical wiring, water pipes, doors, windows, and walls damaged by fire.
But that’s where the coverage ends. Your personal belongings—furniture, appliances, electronics, renovations, or even that custom-built $3,000 gaming PC—aren’t covered under this policy. For those, you’ll need to purchase a separate home contents or comprehensive home insurance plan.
HDB’s affordable 5-year premiums
The good news is that the premiums remain extremely affordable because of HDB’s bulk arrangement with insurers. For example, a 3-room flat costs just $3.27 for 5 years of cover, which is barely the price of one bubble tea a year. From 16 August 2024 to 15 August 2029, the scheme is underwritten by Etiqa Insurance, while homeowners who started their policies between 2019 and 2024 would have been covered by FWD Singapore.
Purchasing & renewing fire insurance
For new & existing homeowners with an HDB loan
For new or existing homeowners with an HDB loan, buying or renewing your fire insurance is pretty fuss-free. You’ll be required to buy it at key collection, and to keep it active until the loan is fully repaid.:
- Online on Etiqa’s website (the quickest option)
- Any AXS kiosk or the AXS app
- Etiqa’s Customer Service Centre (by appointment only)
When applying for a new policy, you’ll need your HDB scheme account number or simply your flat’s postal code and unit number. For renewals, HDB will also send you a Renewal Notice ahead of expiry, which includes your 11-digit HDB reference number for easy processing.
Image credit: @angsty.alex on Lemon8
For new homeowners, fire insurance is one of those hidden costs that can easily slip your mind when you’re busy budgeting for your flat. But it’s actually a must-have. You’ll need to purchase fire insurance before heading down to HDB Hub for your BTO or resale key collection appointment.
Do note that the policy should kick in from your unit’s completion date, and you’ll have to keep renewing it for as long as you’re servicing your HDB loan.
For existing homeowners without an HDB loan
Once your HDB loan is fully repaid, the mandatory requirement for HDB Fire Insurance no longer applies. You’re free to let the policy lapse. But going without any coverage is risky. Fires can occur regardless of loan status, and if your flat suffers damage after the policy ends, all reinstatement and repair costs will fall entirely on you. Even though the premiums are only a few dollars for five years of coverage, many homeowners choose to maintain it voluntarily for that basic layer of protection.
That said, HDB’s fire insurance only covers the structural “skeleton” of your flat. To safeguard your renovations, furniture, appliances, and personal belongings—as well as provide coverage for alternative accommodation or third-party liability—you’ll need a separate home contents or comprehensive home insurance plan from a private insurer. This way, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that both the bones and the belongings of your home are well protected.
Making fire insurance claims
Image adapted from: Etiqa
If your flat is damaged by fire, you’ll need to file a claim as soon as possible and no later than 30 days after the incident. Claims under the HDB Fire Insurance Scheme are handled by Etiqa, the current appointed insurer. You can reach them through their 24-hour helplines at 9695 1338 or 8218 8521, or by submitting a claim form directly on Etiqa’s website.
To avoid delays, prepare all supporting documents before making your claim. These include:
- A repair quotation and invoice for reinstatement works
- Detailed photographs of the fire scene and damaged structures or fixtures
- Receipts, reports, or other evidence that supports the extent of the damage
HDB fire insurance
Think of HDB Fire Insurance as the foundation policy—it’s mandatory for as long as you have an outstanding HDB loan and must be renewed every 5 years. Once your loan is fully paid off, the requirement ends, but you may still want to keep some form of fire cover given the low premiums.
That said, HDB’s scheme is deliberately basic. For full protection, most homeowners top up with a comprehensive home insurance policy from a private insurer. These plans go much further, covering your renovations, appliances, furniture, and personal belongings, as well as providing liability protection if a fire spreads to your neighbours’ flats. Some even include compensation for temporary accommodation if your unit becomes uninhabitable.
For more ways to protect your HDB:
- 13 practical tips to fireproof your home & protect against fire hazards
- Our 5-room HDB flat in Jurong burned down, leaving us with $60k in damages
- 6 best home insurance packages to buy in Singapore
Cover image adapted from: @sgxiaohujun, Tom Goh
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