Property
Torrens title, 99-year leases and Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty on foreigners
Most land is registered under the Land Titles Act, and the state is the dominant landowner. Foreigners face a 60 percent Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty on residential purchases and need approval to buy landed property.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — The Singapore Land Authority maintains the register. HDB flats are governed separately by the Housing and Development Act with their own eligibility rules.
Governing law
- Land Titles Act 1993
- Residential Property Act 1976
- Stamp Duties Act 1929
In practice
Registered title under the Torrens system is guaranteed by the state, so the register is conclusive subject to fraud and statutory exceptions. Private residential leases are commonly 99 years, and freehold is a minority of stock. The Residential Property Act bars foreigners from buying landed residential property or vacant land without Land Dealings Approval Unit consent; apartments and condominium units are generally open. ABSD for foreign buyers reached 60 percent in April 2023, on top of Buyer's Stamp Duty, and Seller's Stamp Duty applies to disposals within three years. HDB flats are effectively closed to foreigners other than as tenants.