Proximity Housing Grant Distance Check: How to Confirm the 4km Rule

Last reviewed: 25 Sep 2026

Quick Answer

Use HDB's official distance-check e-Service before you assume a resale flat qualifies for the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG).

If you are buying a resale HDB flat to live near your parents or child, the qualifying family member must live in an HDB flat or private residential property that is within 4km of the resale flat you intend to buy.

For eligible buyers, PHG can currently provide:

Buyer type	Live with parents/ child	Live near parents/ child within 4km
Couples and families	$30,000	$20,000
Singles	$15,000	$10,000

The key practical rule is simple: do not rely on Google Maps, agent estimates, or "it feels nearby". Use HDB's checker and save the result before committing money.

Why The 4km Check Matters

PHG is useful because it reduces the effective cost of a resale flat, but it is also easy to misunderstand.

Many buyers think the 4km rule is just a broad location idea. In reality, it is a grant condition tied to the address of the resale flat and the address of the parents or child helping the buyer qualify.

That means a flat can feel close in real life but still fail the formal distance test. It also means a flat in the same town is not automatically safe, while a flat in a neighbouring town may still qualify if it falls within the official 4km radius.

This matters most before three moments:

shortlisting resale flats,
negotiating the price and Cash Over Valuation risk,
exercising the Option to Purchase.

Once the buyer has paid option money, valuation fees, legal fees or renovation deposits, discovering that the flat does not qualify for PHG becomes much more painful.

For a young family, a missing $20,000 grant can change the renovation buffer. For a single buyer, a missing $10,000 grant can change the cash comfort level after completion. For a household already stretching under MSR or TDSR limits, it may change the whole buying decision.

PHG Amounts In 2026

PHG applies to resale-flat purchases, not normal BTO purchases.

For eligible couples and families buying a resale flat:

$30,000 if the buyer will live with the parents or child.
$20,000 if the buyer will live near the parents or child, within 4km.

For eligible singles buying a resale flat:

$15,000 if the buyer will live with the parents or child.
$10,000 if the buyer will live near the parents or child, within 4km.

PHG has no income ceiling, but that does not mean it is automatic. HDB still assesses the full resale application, the family relationship, the address, the core family nucleus, whether the qualifying person is listed correctly where needed, and whether the household meets the prevailing grant conditions.

The grant also does not arrive as cash in your bank account. Like other CPF housing grants, it is credited and used under HDB/CPF housing-payment rules. Treat it as support for the flat purchase, not as spare renovation cash.

If you are comparing PHG with the wider grant stack, read this together with the HDB grants eligibility guide and the BTO-to-resale pivot guide.

How To Use HDB's Distance Checker

Use HDB's distance checker early, ideally before you arrange second viewings for flats that depend on PHG.

The practical workflow:

Get the exact address of the parents' or child's residential property.
Get the exact block and street, or postal code, of the resale flat you intend to buy.
Enter the details into HDB's distance-check e-Service.
Confirm whether the resale flat is within 4km.
Keep a screenshot or note of the result for your own planning.
Still request PHG properly in the HDB resale application.

HDB's help page says the e-Service lets a resale flat buyer check whether the resale flat is within 4km of the parents' or child's HDB or private residential property. The service can be used with a postal code or the block/house number and street name.

The checker itself also warns that the result is for general information and enquiry purposes, and that the resale-flat purchase and PHG application remain subject to HDB's approval. In other words, a positive distance result is a strong planning signal, but not a standalone grant approval.

The safest sequence is:

check distance before committing,
apply for or update your HFE letter where relevant,
make sure the resale application includes the PHG request,
keep the qualifying family address stable and accurate.

What Counts As Living Near Parents Or Children

For PHG, "near" means within 4km of the qualifying parents' or child's residential property.

That family member can live in:

an HDB flat, or
a private residential property.

The important point is not whether the address is public or private housing. The important point is whether the qualifying person actually lives there and whether the resale flat falls within the official 4km distance condition.

Buyers should be careful with these situations:

the parents own one address but live at another,
the child has a registered address that is no longer the real living arrangement,
the family member is planning to move soon,
the buyer is relying on an address that may change before or during the MOP,
the resale flat is close by car but not within the official radius.

If the qualifying family member is going to live with you in the resale flat, the logic is different from the "nearby" route. The same-roof PHG amount is higher, but the person helping you qualify must be part of the arrangement and continue to live with you during the required period.

Common Mistakes Before Exercising OTP

Mistake 1: Using Google Maps As The Final Answer

Google Maps is useful for travel time, but it is not the grant authority. Walking distance, driving route and straight-line impressions can all differ from HDB's official treatment.

Use Google Maps to understand daily convenience. Use HDB's checker to decide whether the 4km PHG condition is likely satisfied.

Mistake 2: Assuming Same Town Means Eligible

Same town is not the rule for PHG distance checking. The grant condition is tied to the 4km requirement for living near parents or children.

Some homes in the same town may fail. Some homes in another estate may pass.

Mistake 3: Forgetting The MOP Commitment

PHG is not just a completion-day checkbox.

HDB's conditions page states that if you took PHG to live near parents or a child, the person who helped you qualify must continue to live within 4km of your flat during the MOP. If you took PHG to live with them, they must continue to live with you in the flat during the MOP.

This is why buyers should not treat a temporary family address as a casual workaround.

Mistake 4: Not Requesting PHG In The Resale Application

After confirming the distance condition, you still need to request PHG through the online resale application. HDB's help page says that if you did not indicate the request in the online resale application, you need to send the request through MyRequest@HDB.

Do not assume HDB will automatically add PHG because the flat is near family.

Mistake 5: Overpaying Because The Grant Feels Like Free Money

PHG can help, but it should not justify overpaying for a flat.

A $20,000 grant can disappear quickly if the buyer accepts a much higher asking price, pays unexpected COV, or buys a flat that needs heavy renovation. Treat PHG as one line in the affordability model, not a reason to ignore price discipline.

For resale budgeting, compare this with the COV budgeting framework and the HDB resale timeline checklist.

Same Roof Versus Nearby

PHG gives a higher amount for living with parents or a child than for living near them.

But the larger grant is not automatically the better choice.

Living together may work well when the family genuinely wants a multi-generation arrangement, the home has enough space, and caregiving support is part of the plan. It can also reduce daily childcare pressure and transport friction.

Living nearby may be better when the family wants support without constant shared space. The grant is lower, but the arrangement may be more sustainable if privacy, work routines and parenting boundaries matter.

The real decision is not just "$30,000 versus $20,000". It is whether the family can sustain the living arrangement during the MOP and beyond.

For lifestyle trade-offs, see the parents nearby vs parents same roof guide. For new-flat priority routes, compare PHG with the Family Care Scheme guide.

Final Checklist

Before you rely on PHG, check these items:

You are buying a resale HDB flat, not relying on PHG for a normal BTO purchase.
You know whether you are applying under the "live with" route or "live near" route.
The parents' or child's actual residential address is accurate.
The resale flat is within 4km according to HDB's distance checker.
You have checked whether the qualifying person can remain at the required address during the MOP.
You have included the PHG request in the resale application.
You have not used the grant to justify an inflated resale price.
You have allowed for COV, renovation, stamp duty, legal fees and moving cost.

If the purchase only works because PHG is assumed, slow down and verify before exercising OTP.

FAQ

Is PHG available for BTO flats?
PHG is a resale-flat grant. BTO buyers should look at EHG and any applicable priority schemes instead.

Is the 4km rule based on walking distance or driving distance?
Use HDB's official distance checker. Do not rely on walking, driving or MRT travel distance as the grant test.

Can singles get PHG?
Yes, eligible singles buying resale flats can receive PHG. The current amount is $15,000 for living with parents or a child, and $10,000 for living near parents or a child within 4km.

Can families get PHG if they already qualify for other grants?
PHG can potentially be used together with other eligible resale grants, subject to HDB's assessment and prevailing rules.

What happens if parents move after the purchase?
If PHG was taken for living near parents or a child, the qualifying person must continue to live within 4km of the buyer's flat during the MOP. If the arrangement changes, check with HDB before assuming it is harmless.

Should I check PHG before or after OTP?
Check before OTP. The resale application happens later, but the financial decision starts before you commit meaningful money.

Official Sources

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and should not be treated as financial, legal or HDB eligibility advice. Grant rules can change, and HDB's assessment controls the final outcome. Verify the official HDB pages and your own HFE/resale application before committing to a purchase.