| Applying For A Housing Developer's Licence |
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| Q1: |
Who needs to apply for a Housing Developer's Licence?
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| Q2: |
When do I need to apply for a Housing Developer's Licence?
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| Q3: |
What are the requirements for a Housing Developer's Licence?
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| Q4: |
What is a Sale Licence?
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| Q5: |
What is a No-Sale Licence?
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| Q6: |
What track record is acceptable by the Controller for the issue of a Sale Licence?
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| Q7: |
How much is the Licence Fee?
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| Q8: |
What if I am not the legal owner of the land under development?
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| Q9: |
Can I obtain separate licences for each phase of a phased development?
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| Process Of Applying For A Housing Developer’s Licence |
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| Q10: |
How do I apply for a Licence?
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| Q11: |
After I have submitted the form, what are the documents required to be submitted?
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| Q12: |
How long does it take for a licence application to be processed?
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| Complying With Licence Conditions |
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| Q13: |
When can I start to sell the units?
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| Q14: |
When does a Housing Developer's Licence cease to be in force?
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| Q15: |
What does it mean when I do a search for details of Developer's Licence but the search shows that there is no record?
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| Q16: |
What is the difference between a Housing Developer's Sale Licence and a No-Sale Licence?
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| Q17: |
What does it mean that a developer is delicensed?
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Applying For A Housing Developer's Licence |
Q1: |
Who needs to apply for a Housing Developer's Licence?
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A: |
You will need a Housing Developer's Licence if you are developing a development with more than 4 units of housing accommodation or if you are a housing developer within the definition of the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Act.
Housing accommodation includes a building intended for human habitation or for human habitation and as business premises. A mixed development which comprises more than 4 units of housing accommodation, for example 3 shops and 4 flats, is required to be licensed. Developers of Executive Condominiums and public housing flats under the Design, Build and Sell Scheme are also required to obtain a Housing Developer's Licence.
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Q2: |
When do I need to apply for a Housing Developer's Licence?
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A: |
You will need to obtain a licence before you commence construction. You can apply for a licence once you have obtained provisional or written permission under the Planning Act (Cap. 232) for the housing project.
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Q3: |
What are the requirements for a Housing Developer's Licence?
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A: |
The requirements for a "Sale Licence" or a "No-Sale Licence" are as follows:
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| Type of Applicant |
Sale Licence |
No-Sale Licence |
| Company |
Minimum paid-up capital of $1 million
Track record as a developer
A valid provisional permission / written permission
Directors are not undischarged bankrupts A letter from a financial institution confirming that a Project Account has been opened
A copy of the latest audited accounts, verified by a statutory declaration
(a) A copy of the certificate of incorporation of the company, verified by a statutory declaration or
(b) A copy of Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)'s Business Profile, verified by a statutory declaration; or
(c) A copy of ACRA's Business Profile with Certificate of Production.
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Minimum paid-up capital of $100,000
A valid provisional permission / written permission
Directors are not undischarged bankrupts
(a) A copy of the certificate of incorporation of the company, verified by a statutory declaration or
(b) A copy of Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)'s Business Profile, verified by a statutory declaration; or
(c) A copy of ACRA's Business Profile with Certificate of Production.
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| Individual/Group of Persons/Limited Liability Partnership/Society |
Deposit of $1 million either in cash or Banker's Guarantee
Track record as a developer
A valid provisional permission / written permission
Person(s) whose name(s) appear in application form are not undischarged bankrupts
A letter from a financial institution confirming that a Project Account has been opened
A copy of the latest audited accounts, verified by a statutory declaration
A copy of the Agreement (if any) made between the group of persons, a copy of the Partnership Agreement (for a partnership) or a copy of the Limited Liability Agreement (for a Limited Liability Partnership), duly verified by a statutory declaration
A copy of the rules or by-laws of the society, verified by a statutory declaration (for a society)
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No deposit required
A valid provisional permission / written permission
Person(s) whose name(s) appear in application form are not undischarged bankrupts
A copy of the Agreement (if any) made between the group of persons, a copy of the Partnership Agreement (for a partnership) or a copy of the Limited Liability Agreement (for a Limited Liability Partnership), duly verified by a statutory declaration
A copy of the rules or by-laws of the society, verified by a statutory declaration (for a society)
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Q4: |
What is a Sale Licence?
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A: |
A Sale Licence allows the developer to commence construction and start selling the housing units once building plan approval for the housing project has been obtained.
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Q5: |
What is a No-Sale Licence?
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A: |
A No-Sale Licence only allows the developer to commence construction. He is not allowed to sell any units until after Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) for the housing project and the written approval from the Controller of Housing (COH) is obtained. The developer must apply to the COH to convert the No-Sale Licence into a Sale Licence before he can sell any unit provided he has obtained TOP for the development or is able to satisfy the criteria for obtaining a Sale Licence.
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Q6: |
What track record is acceptable by the Controller for the issue of a Sale Licence?
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A: |
Applicants must have completed satisfactorily to TOP a licensed residential project (5 units and above) within the last 5 years as a developer, or
Applicants must have completed satisfactorily to TOP a reasonably sized non-residential project within the last 5 years as a developer, or
Applicants with overseas experience must show satisfactory proof of overseas involvement as a developer in a reasonably sized residential or non-residential project within the last 5 years, or
Applicants with experience and involvement as builder/architect must show satisfactory proof of involvement as a builder/architect in licensed residential projects or reasonably sized non-residential projects within the last 5 years.
Acceptability of the non-residential, overseas projects or non-developer's experience as track records is at the discretion of the Controller.
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Q7: |
How much is the Licence Fee?
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A: |
Fee payable is based on the size of the housing development :
| Number of housing units | Fee Payable |
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Not More Than 10 Units
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$2,000 |
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11 - 50 Units
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$4,500 |
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51 - 100 Units
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$7,500 |
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101 – 200 Units
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$11,000 |
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201 – 400 Units
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$14,000 |
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More Than 400 Units
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$17,000 |
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Q8: |
What if I am not the legal owner of the land under development?
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A: |
The landowner and developer are required to apply for the housing developer's licence jointly.
If the landowner does not want to be licensed, the developer is required to submit the following documents together with the application:
i) the executed Power of Attorney in which the landowner appoints the developer as the landowner's attorney to develop the land and sell units in the housing project; and
ii) the executed Deed of Confirmation in which the two parties confirms that the developer is entitled to carry out the construction of the housing project and the landowner declares that the landowner will, if the developer has sold units in the housing project, transfer the titles in the units sold to the purchasers.
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Q9: |
Can I obtain separate licences for each phase of a phased development ?
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A: |
The developer can apply for separate licences for each phase of the development provided the development has been approved by the relevant authorities to be developed in phases. The developer is required to submit the supporting documents in the application.
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Process Of Applying For A Housing Developer’s Licence |
Q10: |
How do I apply for a Licence?
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A: |
To find out how to apply for a licence, click on Apply for a Housing Developer's Licence.
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Q11: |
After I have submitted the form, what are the documents required to be submitted?
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A: |
You must submit the following documents to the Controller either by post or by hand before your application can be processed.
Documents To Be Submitted :
1. Cheque for the licence fee (made payable to Urban Redevelopment Authority)
2. Applicant's Information
For a company
| (a) |
A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation duly verified by a Statutory Declaration by a director or secretary of the company; or |
| (b) |
A copy of Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)'s Business Profile duly verified by a Statutory Declaration by a director or secretary of the company; or |
| (c) |
A copy of ACRA's Business Profile with Certificate of Production. |
Partnership firm
A copy of the Partnership Agreement duly verified by a Statutory Declaration by a partner of the partnership; or
Limited Liability Partnership
A copy of the Limited Partnership Agreement duly verified by a Statutory Declaration by a manager of the limited liability partnership; or
Society
A copy of the rules or by-laws duly verified by a Statutory Declaration by a president or secretary of the society; or
Others
A copy of the Agreement, if any, made between the group of persons duly verified by a Statutory Declaration by a person in the group of persons.
3. Audited Accounts
A copy of the latest audited accounts duly verified by a Statutory Declaration. The latest audited account refers to the audited accounts prepared for the immediate past financial year which had just ended.
4. Project Account and Banker's Guarantee
For an application for a sale licence, confirmation letter from the Project Account Bank that a project account has been opened. In lieu of opening of a project account, you can provide a Banker's Guarantee of an amount equivalent to not less than 140% of the total cost of construction of the project together with a certification of the total cost of construction by the architect in charge of the project.
For a person / group of persons / society / partnership / limited liability partnership applying for a sale licence, a Banker's Guarantee of S$1 million.
5. If the developer is not the landowner, the following documents are required:
a. Power of Attorney
The Power of Attorney shall specify that the landowner appoints the developer as the landowner's attorney to develop the land and sell units in the development, and that the appointment shall be irrevocable until the sale and purchase of all units for the housing development is completed.
b. Deed of Confirmation
The Deed of Confirmation shall specify that the land owner and developer confirm that the developer is entitled to carry out the construction of the housing project. The landowner would also declare that he shall, if the developer has sold units in the housing project, transfer the titles in the units sold to the purchasers.
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Q12: |
How long does it take for a licence application to be processed?
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A: |
Once we receive all the required documents and licence fees, you can expect a reply from us within 5 working days via email. If we need more time due to the special circumstances of the case, we will inform you accordingly.
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Complying With Licence Conditions |
Q13: |
When can I start to sell the units?
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A: |
You can only sell the residential units in the development if you have obtained the following documents from the relevant authorities:
(a) a Housing Developer's Sale Licence from the Controller of Housing. The housing developer's licence has to be obtained prior to commencing construction of the development; and
(b) building plans approval for the development from the Commissioner of Building Control under the Building Control Act (Cap.29).
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Q14: |
When does a Housing Developer's Licence cease to be in force?
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A: |
For private housing developments and Executive Condominiums, a Housing Developer's Licence ceases to be in force when the Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) and the Subsidiary Strata Certificates of Title or Certificates of Title for all the units of the housing development have been issued.
For public housing flats under the Design, Build and Sell Scheme, the Housing Developer's Licence ceases to be in force when the Certificate of Statutory Completion is issued for the whole development and the strata lease plan is approved by the Chief Surveyor for each and every of the units in the development.
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Check validity of Housing Developer's Licence |
Q15: |
What does it mean when I do a search for details of Developer's Licence but the search shows that there is no record?
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A: |
First, check whether you have selected the search criteria properly. If you are sure the details you selected are correct, then it means that the project or developer that you are searching for does not have a valid Housing Developer's Licence. This could be because:
a) The developer is undertaking a project with 4 units of housing accommodation or less and therefore is not required to be licensed; or
b) The Housing Developer's Licence has ceased to be in force as the developer has already obtained a Certificate of Statutory Completion and individual titles for all housing units in the project.
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Q16: |
What is the difference between a Housing Developer's Sale Licence and a No-Sale Licence?
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A: |
A Sale Licence allows the developer to sell the units before obtaining a Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) once Building Plan Approval is obtained for the housing project.
Developers with No-sale Licence can only commence construction but are not allowed to sell any units before TOP is obtained for the project. A developer with a No-sale Licence will need to apply to the Controller to convert the licence into a Sale Licence before he can sell any unit after he has obtained TOP for the project. He can also convert to a Sale Licence prior to obtaining TOP for the project if he is able to satisfy the criteria to qualify for a Sale Licence.
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Q17: |
What does it mean that a developer is delicensed?
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A: |
For private housing developments and Executive Condominiums, a Housing Developer's Licence will cease to be in force once the developer has obtained the Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) and Subsidiary Strata Certificate of Titles or Certificates of Titles for all the units in his project.
For public housing flats under the Design, Build and Sell Scheme, the Housing Developer's Licence ceases to be in force when the Certificate of Statutory Completion is issued for the whole development and the strata lease plan is approved by the Chief Surveyor for each and every of the units in the development.
When a Housing Developer's Licence ceases to be in force, the developer will no longer be under the ambit of the Housing Developers (Control & Licensing) Act and its rules for that particular project.
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FAQs on Housing Developer's Licence