For HDB, does the lease term start after completion?

For HDB flats in Singapore, the 99-year lease term generally begins when the first occupiers take possession of their keys, not necessarily after the physical completion of the building. This date is officially known as the Lease Commencement Date and is different from construction completion or the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) date.

- The lease start date is usually when residents first get their keys, which marks when the 99-year lease period officially begins for the whole block.
- This means the lease does not necessarily start only after full completion, but is based on when units are handed over to the first occupiers.
- The remaining lease for individual units might differ slightly, depending on when each resident takes possession, but officially the lease countdown for the block starts at the lease commencement date.

This is different from private properties, where the lease could start from when the developer acquires the land, regardless of when buyers collect their keys.