Living in an HDB flat comes with more than just affordable housing grants. Beyond resale rules and MOP timelines, many residents don’t realise there are perks, rebates and subsidies quietly built into daily HDB living.
These aren’t one-off handouts, but long-term support systems designed to keep public housing affordable, functional and liveable over decades. So the next time you feel like griping about HDB living, recall these 8 HDB resident perks and Town Council subsidies that are quietly making your life better.
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1. Service & Conservancy Charges rebates (S&CC)
Image credit: Tampines Town Council
Every HDB household pays Service & Conservancy Charges, better known as S&CC. This monthly fee goes towards maintaining the parts of the estate everyone shares, such as lifts, corridors, lighting, refuse chutes, pest control and landscaping. It also covers works such as repainting blocks, replacing pipes and repairing roofs.
To help reduce this cost, the government periodically provides S&CC rebates, which are credited directly into residents’ accounts. There’s no need to apply for them because they are automatically distributed, usually after Budget announcements or broader cost-of-living support packages.
The amount residents pay varies by flat type. Smaller flats such as 1- and 2-room units have the lowest monthly charges, followed by 3-room flats, while 4-room, 5-room and Executive flats sit at the higher end of the range. So it is important to consult your own Town Council’s website to see what your fee is.
The rebates that are given are scaled accordingly, meaning households in smaller flats often see more meaningful relief relative to what they pay. Simply put, S&CC rebates are one of the more visible ways in which the government helps to soften the ongoing costs of HDB living.
2. Town Council-subsidised estate maintenance
This is where many residents get confused, because Town Council-subsidised estate maintenance sounds similar to S&CC. However, it’s actually a different layer of support.
S&CC is what residents contribute each month to estate maintenance. Town Council–subsidised estate maintenance is something that residents never had to pay in the first place. The true cost of running an HDB estate is far higher than what households collectively pay through S&CC alone. If you think about it, cleaning schedules, lift servicing, corridor lighting, electrical systems and pest control all cost money━a lot of it.
In short, Town Council-subsidised estate maintenance is the difference between what residents pay through S&CC, and the actual cost of estate maintenance. The funds for these come from government funding and grants to Town Councils, allowing estates to be maintained at a high standard without monthly S&CC charges spiralling out of control.
Thanks to all of the above, our HDB common areas get cleaned regularly, the lifts are serviced on schedule, and the lights stay on, even in older estates.
3. Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) & lift enhancement
Image credit: mailer_diablo.
The Lift Upgrading Programme and subsequent lift enhancement works were introduced in 2001 to improve accessibility and safety in HDB buildings, particularly for elderly residents. These upgrades modernise ageing lift systems, like adding access to every floor, along with improved reliability.
The costs are shared between the government, Town Councils and residents. While residents do contribute, their share is heavily subsidised and significantly lower than the price of a private upgrade. While the amount that residents pay depends on flat type and block configuration, HDB has stated that flat owners only have to pay up to $3,000 per household.
These payments are typically spread out too, making the fees manageable, and preventing residents from incurring large one-time expenses.
4. Home Improvement Programme (HIP)
Image credit: Pizzatomatojellycattttt
Apart from the external upgrades, HDB’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP) focuses on essential upgrades inside older HDB flats, especially those built decades ago, to ensure they remain safe and liveable over the long term. Under HIP, HDB identifies selected blocks and carries out improvement works, ranging from repairing spalling concrete and replacing ageing pipes, to upgrading toilets and improving electrical safety.
For Singapore Citizen households, all essential works like broken floor tiles are fully funded by the government, meaning residents don’t pay anything for these critical fixes.
Beyond that, homeowners can opt for additional improvements such as upgraded toilet fittings and new entrance doors or gates. These are heavily subsidised, and residents typically pay about 5-12.5% of the total cost, depending on flat type, with the government covering the rest.
Seniors are eligible to receive even greater support through the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) component, which is built into HIP and focuses on ageing-friendly features like grab bars, ramps and slip-resistant bathroom tiles.
These senior-friendly upgrades are subsidised up to 95%, meaning elderly households are often only charged just a few hundred dollars for modifications that would otherwise cost several times more if privately installed.
For many residents, HIP is one of the clearest examples of how the government and HDB quietly absorb big, necessary costs long before they become a personal financial burden.
5. Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP)
Image credit: HDB
Introduced in 2007, the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) takes a broader approach by focusing on estate-wide improvements that are more large-scale than simple maintenance.
NRP upgrades are fully or largely government-funded, depending on the scope and nature of the works. More essential, infrastructure-related improvements like sheltered walkways typically receive higher levels of funding. The programme is often prioritised for older estates to refresh shared spaces and improve overall liveability.
Apart from sheltered walkways, estates that undergo the NRP typically get new playgrounds, fitness corners, improved seating areas, or upgraded communal facilities. These changes enhance residents’ day-to-day comfort and community use, all without individual homeowners needing to foot the bill.
6. Utilities rebates (U-Save) for HDB households
Image credit: Traveloka
Utilities rebates, commonly known as U-Save, help HDB households offset electricity, water and gas bills. These rebates are credited quarterly, automatically applied to residents’ utility accounts as part of the broader GST Voucher scheme.
Smaller flat types and lower-income households typically receive higher rebate amounts, which are meant to help keep basic living costs manageable. Like many other HDB-related benefits, U-Save is an unsung hero which you won’t notice at first glance.
7. Community improvement & greening initiatives
Image credit: MyNiceHome
Greening upgrades aren’t usually labelled as a “subsidy”, which is why many residents overlook them. Improvements like tree maintenance, landscaping, adding planter boxes and building shaded seating areas are all funded through Town Council budgets and government-supported estate programmes.
They’re often bundled under routine maintenance or broader renewal works, rather than rolled out as standalone projects. So, depending on which estate you live in, each Town Council will have different priorities. Check out their website for a better idea of what your Town Council is focusing on.
While they may seem minor, these initiatives play a big role in improving residents’ comfort, as well as the estate’s appearance. Over time, they also contribute to property value and the overall feel of a neighbourhood, all without residents having to pay extra, unlike their condo-living peers.
8. Senior-focused subsidies & priority schemes
Image credit: MyNiceHome
Singapore’s public housing system places a strong emphasis on helping seniors age safely, independently and close to family. Instead of a single scheme, support comes through a range of targeted programmes that address housing access, affordability and daily safety.
- Senior Priority Scheme (SPS): Helps seniors aged 55 and above secure 2-room Flexi flats, with priority given to those applying to live near their existing home or their children. This makes it easier for seniors to right-size without leaving familiar surroundings.
- Family Care Scheme (FCS): Introduced in 2025, this scheme combines proximity housing and joint balloting, allowing seniors and their families to apply together for flats within 4km of each other.
- Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS): Allows seniors to sell the tail-end of their HDB lease back to HDB while continuing to live in their flat. The proceeds are credited to their CPF Retirement Account, helping to increase monthly CPF LIFE payouts without having to move.
- Silver Housing Bonus (SHB): Provides a cash bonus of up to $40,000 for seniors who right-size to a 3-room or smaller flat, encouraging downsizing while freeing up larger flats for younger families.
- Community Care Apartments (CCAs): Purpose-built senior housing that combines age-friendly design with access to care services, designed for residents aged 65 and above who want independent living with additional support close at hand.
- Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE): As mentioned under HIP, EASE offers subsidies of up to 95% for home improvements such as grab bars, ramps and slip-resistant flooring in HDB flats, making everyday movement safer and reducing fall risks at home.
Together, these schemes reflect a clear policy direction: helping seniors stay independent, stay safe, and stay connected without forcing drastic lifestyle changes or financial strain.
Ongoing HDB perks & Town Council subsidies
One of the biggest advantages of HDB living is scale. Maintenance costs are spread across thousands of households, which means residents avoid sudden sinking fund shocks and enjoy more predictable monthly expenses.
With government backing, long-term costs are stabilised, estates remain liveable, and upgrades happen gradually rather than only when something breaks. These perks may not always be obvious, but over time, they add up to real savings and better quality of life.
For more housing articles, check these out:
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Cover image adapted from: mailer_diablo., MyNiceHome
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