Investors who own HDB flats after MOP often consider renting out the whole flat (or selected rooms) for income. But HDB flat yields vary significantly by town, flat type, and floor, and are rarely calculated correctly due to the CPF accrued interest trap. A 4-room flat in Clementi generating $2,800/month gross rent on a $600,000 flat shows a 5.6% gross yield — but once property tax, maintenance, vacancy, and agent fees are deducted, net yield is typically 4.2–4.5%. Understanding the net yield is essential for HDB investment decisions.
The single most important number this calculator reveals is net rental yield — the actual return as a percentage of market value after all deductions. Net yield determines whether holding and renting the HDB flat is more or less attractive than selling and reinvesting the proceeds. A 4.2% net yield on a $600,000 HDB flat = $25,200/year income. The same $600,000 in a diversified portfolio at 5% = $30,000/year, with no management hassle. The calculator forces this honest comparison by showing net yield, not the misleading gross figure.
The most common mistake HDB flat owners make when calculating yield is using the original purchase price instead of current market value. If you bought a Clementi flat for $280,000 in 2010 and it is now worth $600,000, calculating yield on $280,000 gives a meaningless 12% gross — the relevant metric is yield on current market value ($600,000) since that is what you are choosing NOT to sell. A proper yield calculation uses current valuation as the denominator.
Use this calculator alongside the Cash Proceeds Calculator and the HDB Town Rental Data to benchmark your flat's rental potential against comparable units before deciding whether to rent or sell.