MOP (Minimum Occupation Period)

Explain Like I’m Five

The key word is “occupation”: actually living in the flat. Having your name on the ownership documents is not the same thing. MOP is one of the conditions HDB checks when an owner wants to sell.

Where You’ll Run Into It

When homeowners discuss moving, selling their flat or planning their next home purchase. You might hear someone say their flat has “reached MOP”, meaning they have completed the required occupation period.

A BTO describes a new-flat sales route; a resale flat describes an existing home sold by its owner. MOP is an occupation condition that is distinct from either label.

Example

“Before we plan to sell this flat, let’s check whether we’ve met the MOP.”

A household is checking an important sale condition before making plans around a move.

The Part People Get Wrong

Completing MOP does not automatically satisfy every requirement for a sale. HDB also applies other conditions, including relevant ethnic and permanent-resident quotas. The required occupation period can differ, so another owner’s timeline is not necessarily yours; HDB’s eligibility information is the reference.