By The Address desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
Moving house in Singapore comes down to two deadlines. First, utilities: open an account with SP Group for electricity and water at your new home, allowing at least one week before your turn-on appointment, and close the old one. Second, your address: citizens and PRs must report a change of residential address to ICA within 28 days of moving. ICA’s online service is free, needs Singpass and a PIN mailed to your new home, and shares your address with many government agencies such as CPF, IRAS, HDB, LTA and MOM. Failing to report can lead to a fine of up to $5,000, and a jail term is also possible.
New keys, fresh start. A little list-making now means your first night in the new place has lights, water and hot showers.
Quick facts
- Open utilities: through the SP app, the Open Utilities Account Portal or an SP Customer Service Centre; applicants must be 18 or older.
- Lead time: at least one week before your turn-on appointment.
- Security deposit: charged on your first bill; smaller if you pay by GIRO.
- Close utilities: the deposit offsets your final bill; any balance is refunded within about 30 business days.
- Address change: report to ICA within 28 days; free online; an address sticker for your IC arrives by post.
- Piped gas: opened and closed separately with City Energy, which charges its own fees.
Utilities: opening, deposits and closing
SP Group bills electricity, water and (where you have it) piped gas usage on one utilities bill, and each property needs its own account. When you open one, SP charges a security deposit on your first bill. As listed by SP Group in October 2026:
| Premises type | Deposit with GIRO | Deposit without GIRO |
|---|---|---|
| HDB flat (BTO) | $20 | $25 |
| HDB flat (resale) | $30 | $35 |
| Private residential | $50 | $60 |
| Strata title (condo) | $60 | $70 |
Close your old account for the day you hand over the keys, and submit a final meter reading if asked, so you are not paying for the next occupant. If you buy electricity from a retailer on the Open Electricity Market, tell the retailer about your move as well; our guide to your electricity bill and the Open Electricity Market explains how contracts work. Broadband is a separate contract; check relocation fees in our home broadband guide.
Changing your address with ICA
- Log in to ICA’s change of address e-Service with Singpass after you have moved in.
- Add household members if they are moving with you; they get an SMS to give consent.
- Wait for the PIN, which ICA mails to your new address.
- Enter the PIN online to verify the address. Your address is then updated with participating government agencies.
- Stick the new address label from ICA’s second letter on the back of your IC. Not affixing it is an offence.
Reporting a false address is a separate offence, with a fine of up to $3,000, up to two years’ jail, or both.
The moving checklist
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 4 to 6 weeks before | Book movers and the lift if your building requires it; ask your condo management about deposits and moving hours; check broadband relocation lead times |
| 2 weeks before | Open your SP utilities account at the new home; arrange City Energy if you have piped gas |
| 1 week before | Book the closure of your old SP and gas accounts for handover day; consider SingPost’s paid mail redirection |
| Moving day | Photograph meters at both homes; check water and power at the new home |
| Within 28 days | Report your new address to ICA; then update banks, insurers, employer, schools, clinics, subscriptions and delivery apps, which government updates do not cover |
| After your first bill | Check the deposit and the start date of charges; confirm the old account’s refund |
The WahLiao Verdict
Open the new utilities account the moment you know your key date, and set GIRO at the same time for the smaller deposit and one less bill to chase. Do the ICA change in your first week rather than your fourth, then spend one evening with a list of every bank, insurer and app that posts you anything. It is the dull hour that saves you months of lost letters.
Questions people ask
Does the ICA update reach my bank?
No. It reaches participating government agencies. Banks, insurers, telcos and your employer need telling separately.
I am renting. Whose name goes on the SP account?
Whoever your tenancy agreement says pays the utilities. Many tenancies make the tenant open the account; some landlords keep it in their name and recharge you. Settle it in writing before you move.
Can I report my address before I move in?
Report it once you have moved. The PIN is mailed to the new address, so you need to be there to receive it.
Do foreigners use the same ICA service?
The ICA IC address change is for citizens and PRs. Pass holders should follow the address-update rules for their pass, such as MOM’s for work passes.
Sources: SP Group, opening and closing a residential utilities account, and deposits; ICA, online change of residential address and the 28-day rule and penalties. The Address explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Your Electricity Bill: SP’s Tariff and the Open Electricity Market · Home Broadband in Singapore · Back to The Address
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