By The Address desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
Every HDB household pays a monthly service and conservancy charge (S&CC) to its town council. It’s the HDB equivalent of a condo’s maintenance fee, and it pays for lifts, cleaning, landscaping, repainting and repairs across the estate. Citizen households that qualify pay a reduced rate: in Chua Chu Kang, for example, S$71.10 a month for a 4-room flat, against a normal rate of S$85.70. Rates differ slightly between the 17 town councils, and the government pays several months of rebates each year.
Quick facts
- Paid monthly to your town council, due on the first of the month.
- Rates depend on flat type and town, and include GST.
- Qualifying citizen households pay a reduced rate.
- About a quarter of the money goes into the town council’s sinking fund.
- Rates rose in July 2023 and July 2024.
- Rebates in FY2026 cover 1.5 to 3.5 months, depending on flat type.
What does it pay for?
- Maintenance and repair of lifts, water pumps, switch rooms and lighting, and lift rescue.
- Cleaning, refuse collection and fumigation.
- Landscaping.
- Cyclical work such as repainting and re-roofing, and replacing water pipes and refuse-chute systems.
About 26 per cent goes into the town council’s sinking fund for big jobs like repainting blocks. At least 14 per cent goes into a fund for replacing lifts.
How much is it?
Here are Chua Chu Kang Town Council’s monthly rates from 1 July 2024, as an example:
| Flat type | Reduced rate (qualifying citizens) | Normal rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-room | S$22.50 | S$64.30 |
| 2-room | S$34.10 | S$67.10 |
| 3-room | S$52.60 | S$76.70 |
| 4-room | S$71.10 | S$85.70 |
| 5-room | S$90.50 | S$94.60 |
| Executive | S$113.30 | S$117.40 |
Other towns charge a little more or less, and some flat designs, such as DBSS flats, have their own rates. Check your town council’s website for yours.
Who gets the reduced rate?
Households with at least one Singapore citizen owner or occupier. The normal rate applies where none of the owners, tenants or occupiers is a citizen, and to households that don’t qualify for other reasons, such as owning private property.
What rebates are there in 2026?
For FY2026, the government is paying S&CC rebates in April, July and October 2026 and January 2027. Over the year, that’s 3.5 months for 1- and 2-room flats, 2.5 months for 3- and 4-room, 2 months for 5-room and 1.5 months for Executive and multi-generation flats. The October 2026 rebate is half a month for 3-room and bigger flats. To qualify, the household needs at least one citizen, no private property, and the whole flat must not be sublet.
The WahLiao Verdict
Put it on GIRO and forget it; at under S$100 a month for most flats, S&CC is the cheapest estate management in Singapore. If you’re renting out the whole flat, remember the rebates stop.
Questions people ask
Why is my bill different from my friend’s in another town?
Each town council sets its own rates.
Do tenants pay S&CC?
It’s charged to the flat’s lessees and tenants; who pays is set in the tenancy agreement.
What if I pay late?
Town councils charge a late payment penalty. Some allow a grace period to the end of the month.
Do I need to apply for the rebate?
No. Eligible households get it automatically.
Sources: Chua Chu Kang Town Council, S&CC rates and FY2026 rebates; Jurong-Clementi Town Council, S&CC; Sengkang Town Council, S&CC rates; Tanjong Pagar Town Council, S&CC; 99.co, S&CC guide; Home & Decor on the 2023 and 2024 increases.
Read next: What a 99-Year Lease Means · Back to The Address
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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