HDB Fire Insurance: Who Must Buy It, Etiqa's 2026 Premiums by Flat Type and What It Covers

The short answer

HDB fire insurance is a cheap, compulsory policy for owners with an HDB loan. It pays to rebuild the inside of your flat as HDB handed it over, after a fire. Etiqa has been HDB’s appointed insurer since 16 August 2024, and a policy costs S$1.11 to S$6.68 for 5 years, including GST. It doesn’t pay for your renovation, furniture or belongings. We checked these figures with Etiqa and CPF Board on 18 October 2026. We are not an insurer or financial adviser, so check the policy wording before you rely on any cover.

Who must buy HDB fire insurance

You must hold it if you have an HDB loan. CPF Board says owners whose HDB loan started on or after 1 September 1994 must keep a valid policy for as long as the loan is outstanding, and renew it every 5 years. CPF also notes the premium is payable only in cash, so you can’t pay it from your CPF account.

The requirement is tied to the HDB loan. An owner who pays the loan off early can choose not to renew, while a resale buyer who takes a new HDB loan needs a valid policy for that loan. If you took a bank loan instead, the HDB scheme isn’t compulsory, but your bank will usually want fire cover. MoneySmart notes that banks may ask for a Mortgagee Interest Policy, which mainly protects the bank’s interest in the flat. If your loan is fully paid, Etiqa says buying a new policy is optional. Our HDB loan vs bank loan guide covers the other differences between the two loans.

Who HDB’s appointed insurer is now

Etiqa Insurance is the appointed insurer for every sold HDB flat from 16 August 2024. The contract has changed hands twice in seven years:

If you bought FWD fire insurance for your HDB flat before August 2024, it stays in force until it expires. Etiqa’s announcement says owners with a valid policy stay covered by their existing provider until then. You then renew with Etiqa when HDB’s notice arrives. Neither Etiqa nor HDB has published the end date of the current appointment.

HDB fire insurance price by flat type

The premium is for the full 5 years and includes 9% GST. The sum insured is fixed by flat type.

Source: Etiqa, rates effective from 16 August 2024, checked 18 October 2026. Even the executive flat works out to about S$1.34 a year.

What HDB fire insurance covers, and what it doesn’t

It covers the building only. Etiqa’s policy pays to reinstate the internal structure, fixtures and fittings provided by HDB or its approved developer after a fire. It also extends to damage caused by a fire in an adjoining flat and to water damage from burst pipes.

It does not cover:

• Renovation, such as new flooring, carpentry, false ceilings and built-in wardrobes
• Household contents: furniture, appliances, electronics
• Personal belongings and valuables
• Your liability if a fire that starts in your flat damages a neighbour’s home
• Emergency cash, 24-hour home assistance and worldwide liability, which Etiqa sells only with its Tiq add-on

MND explained in 2022 that leaving out contents and renovation keeps the premium low. The same answer gave a sense of scale: of 369 fires in HDB flats reported over the previous three years, 218, or 59%, were in flats with a valid HDB fire policy.

Renewing every 5 years

Renewal falls due every 5 years, and HDB sends a renewal notice. Etiqa lets you renew online, at AXS kiosks or in the AXS app, using your HDB reference number or flat address and your personal details. You can add Etiqa’s Tiq home insurance before you pay.

If the policy expires while your HDB loan is still outstanding, you must buy a new one. Set a reminder: the premium is under S$7, and a lapse leaves the flat without the cover your loan requires.

Why you still want home contents cover

A kitchen fire in a renovated 4-room flat can destroy far more than the S$117,000 shell the fire policy rebuilds. The renovation, the sofa, the fridge and the laptops are all yours to replace. A home contents policy fills that gap, and most add personal liability for damage to neighbours’ homes, which Income notes HDB fire insurance does not cover.

MoneySmart puts the typical cost of home insurance at S$50 to S$200 a year, which is many times the fire premium. The extras matter after a fire, too. Tiq’s homeowner plans pay an emergency cash allowance of up to S$5,000 if the flat becomes uninhabitable, and plans of 3 years or longer add emergency home assistance of up to S$200 a call, four times a year.

Tiq’s HDB plans offer S$20,000 to S$180,000 of renovation cover and S$15,000 to S$120,000 of contents cover. Buying it through Etiqa at renewal is one option: Etiqa lets you add Tiq before you pay for the fire policy. You can equally buy contents cover from any insurer, since HDB only dictates who sells the fire policy. Our home insurance guide compares 8 insurers’ plans side by side, and the home insurance calculator suggests a sum insured for your flat type.

If you rent out the flat, a standard owner-occupier plan may not fit: see our landlord insurance guide. And if you pay your HDB instalments from CPF, the fire policy is only one of two compulsory covers. The other is the Home Protection Scheme, which pays off the loan if you die or become disabled.

Read next

Guide

Home Insurance in Singapore: Fire vs Contents vs Building Cover, and 2026 Premiums Compared

How home insurance works in Singapore: fire vs contents vs building cover, what HDB, condo and landed owners need, and published premiums from 8 insurers.

Guide

Home Protection Scheme (HPS): Who Must Have It, Exemptions, Premiums and Claims

CPF's Home Protection Scheme pays off your HDB loan if you die or become disabled. Who must have HPS, exemptions, co-owner shares, premium examples and claims.

Guide

HDB Loan vs Bank Loan in 2026: Rates, LTV and the One-Way Switch

HDB loan vs bank loan in 2026 for buyers and upgraders: the 2.6% HDB rate against bank rates near 1.4% to 1.8%, LTV, MSR, TDSR and why you can't switch back.

Guide

Landlord Insurance in Singapore: Loss of Rent, Tenant Damage, Liability and Who Sells It

What landlord insurance covers in Singapore: loss of rent, tenant damage and liability. Who sells it, published prices, and HDB and condo rental rules.