By The Address desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
Every HDB block and neighbourhood has a cap on the share of flats each ethnic group may own. This is the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP). Non-Malaysian permanent resident households face a second cap, the SPR quota: 5 per cent of a neighbourhood and 8 per cent of a block. If a block has reached its limit for your group, you can buy there only from a seller of the same ethnic group and citizenship type. That can narrow the pool of buyers for some sellers, so check before you list or view.
Quick facts
- The EIP applies to all buyers of new and resale HDB flats.
- The SPR quota adds a limit for non-Malaysian PR households: 5% per neighbourhood, 8% per block.
- Buying from a seller of your own ethnic group and citizenship type always fits.
- The figures are updated on the first of every month.
- Check eligibility on HDB’s online enquiry service.
- A household’s ethnicity is fixed when it buys, and stays for the sale.
What are the limits?
| Group | Neighbourhood limit | Block limit |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 84% | 87% |
| Malay | 22% | 25% |
| Indian and Others | 12% | 15% |
| Non-Malaysian PR households (SPR quota) | 5% | 8% |
The EIP began on 1 March 1989 to prevent ethnic enclaves in HDB estates. The limits for Indian and Others were raised in 2010, when the SPR quota was also introduced. Malaysian PRs are left out of the SPR quota because of their close cultural and historical ties with Singapore.
Which rules apply to my household?
| Household | Rules to meet |
|---|---|
| At least one Singapore citizen buyer | EIP |
| At least one Malaysian PR buyer, no citizen | EIP |
| All buyers are non-Malaysian PRs | EIP and SPR quota |
How does it affect selling?
If your block or neighbourhood has hit the limit for an ethnic group, you can’t sell to a buyer from that group unless they’re from the same group as you. For some sellers, this shrinks the pool of eligible buyers and can affect price and time to sell. Because the figures change monthly, check before you list, and again before you sign.
How is a mixed household classified?
A household with members of different ethnic groups can choose the ethnicity of any owner or spouse, as shown on their NRIC, when it buys. That choice sticks: the same ethnicity applies when the flat is later sold.
The WahLiao Verdict
Run the HDB check before you fall for a flat, and before you set an asking price. For sellers, it tells you who can actually buy; for buyers, it tells you whether the viewing is worth the trip.
Questions people ask
Where do I check the limits?
On HDB’s EIP and SPR enquiry service, by entering the address, ethnic group and citizenship, and whether you’re buying or selling.
Does the EIP apply to new flats too?
Yes, to the sale and purchase of both new and resale flats.
Do Malaysian PRs face the SPR quota?
No, only the EIP.
Can I change my household’s ethnicity when I sell?
No. It’s fixed at purchase.
Sources: Dollars and Sense on the EIP and SPR quota; iCompareLoan on how the EIP and SPR work; 99.co on PRs buying resale flats; EdgeProp, guide to buying resale flats; SISV on the 2010 changes.
Read next: HDB Resale Levy · HDB Minimum Occupation Period Explained · Back to The Address
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