Does he need a solicitor to act for him to convert the joint name to his single name and carry on the loan?

In the event of the demise of a joint owner of an HDB flat, the surviving owner can retain the flat under their single name due to the rule of survivorship in joint tenancies. Here’s what the process entails:

- The surviving owner needs to lodge a Notice of Death with the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) or through HDB’s legal services. This involves submitting the necessary documents, including the death certificate and identity card.
- To formalize the transfer of ownership, the surviving owner will need to engage a solicitor. This can be either a private lawyer or one appointed by HDB. The solicitor will handle the conveyancing process, which includes discharging the existing mortgage loan and updating the ownership records.
- The application for the change in ownership must be submitted through the My HDBPage, and all relevant parties must give their consent to the change.
- The process typically takes around 2 to 6 weeks for HDB’s approval and an additional 2 to 3 months for the completion of the change in ownership.

Engaging a solicitor is necessary to ensure all legal requirements are met and the transfer is executed correctly.