The HDB Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is the mandatory lock-in period during which you cannot sell, rent out the entire flat, or purchase a private residential property in Singapore. For standard HDB flats, MOP is 5 years from key collection. For PLH (Prime Location Housing) flats, MOP is 10 years. Missing the MOP deadline — even by a day — can expose you to HDB penalties and void the sale. The MOP planner tells you the exact date you become free to sell or rent.
The single most important number this calculator reveals is your MOP expiry date — the exact day your flat is no longer subject to MOP restrictions. If you received your keys on 15 March 2021, your MOP expires on 15 March 2026 (for standard flats). Many flat owners estimate loosely ("around 2026") and either list prematurely (risking HDB action) or delay unnecessarily (missing prime selling windows). The calculator gives you the precise date and counts down the remaining days.
The most common mistake HDB owners make is confusing MOP start date. MOP begins from the date of key collection (which HDB defines as the date of first payment of possession), NOT from the date of BTO application, not from the date of ballot selection, and not from the date of S&P signing. A buyer who waits 4 years from BTO application assuming they are 80% through MOP may discover their keys were collected 1 year later — and their MOP has barely started.
Use this calculator alongside the HDB Resale Levy Calculator and the Cash Proceeds Calculator to plan your HDB exit strategy comprehensively.