Gov't extends ABSD deadline for large en bloc sites

The goal is to incentivise private builders to rejuvenate ageing homes.

Singapore granted developers additional time under a fresh mandate encouraging denser land use across older residential plots.

Chee Hong Tat, National Development Minister, said during the Singapore Economic Review Conference that they will be increasing the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) remission timelines for large en bloc developers from six months to one year, giving them a total of six years to complete construction and to sell all units in the development.

These are sites where the new development yields at least 700 residential units, with at least 50% more units than before.  

Mega en bloc sites that yield 1,400 housing units with at least 50% more units than before will get a two-year extension on their ABSD remission timelines for a total of seven years to complete construction and sell all the units.

The developers, however, would have to sell a minimum of 50% of the residential units at the end of six years to qualify for the ABSD remission.  

Chee said they recognise that developers seeking to undertake redevelopment of large residential en bloc sites will require more time and may not be able to meet the regular ABSD remission timelines.

“We could end up with a lose-lose outcome for the society as a whole if developers are discouraged from rejuvenating large residential en bloc sites,” Chee said.

In March 2025, MND implemented a six-month extension to the ABSD remission timelines for en bloc developers where the new development yields at least 700 residential units, with at least 50% more units than before.

“These changes are intended to set the right incentives for developers to rejuvenate larger estates, so that we can encourage more land intensification and achieve an outcome which is good for society as a whole,” Chee said.