HDB Optional Component Scheme: Should You Go for It or Not?

Having your first HDB flat is one of the major milestones of your adult life. If you’re unfamiliar with BTO flats, you may not know that after construction is finished and you’ve already got the keys in your hand, you can’t use your unit right away.

But why is this the case?

Think of newly constructed BTO flats as blank canvases – literally. No sink, no doors, no aesthetic flooring. In other words, it’s not livable (at least not yet).

Because of this state, new HDB flat owners need to take care of renovation work to finally make their unit feel like a home. But this isn’t always the case. For those who want their home ready for occupancy after getting their keys, HDB Optional Component Scheme is the answer. But what is HDB OCS, and most importantly, is this added expense worth it?

Here at OMY Singapore, you will discover the following:

What Is Optional Component Scheme?

As an HDB owner, you can include optional basic components such as bedroom doors, floor finishes, and sinks to get installed in your unit to help you settle in quicker.

As expected, these fixtures come with an additional cost. When you go for OCS HDB, you only need to take care of less renovation work after getting your keys to help you move in faster.

However, not all BTO owners can go for Optional Component Scheme HDB. For instance, BTO flats built with Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction of PPVC will already have their units equipped with sanitary fittings, full floor finishes, and internal doors. Therefore, owners have no choice but to pay for HDB OCS.

More From OMY: BTO vs Resale Flats: Which Is Better?

What Does Your Flat Already Have Before HDB OCS?

If you don’t opt for Optional Component Scheme, your flat will already come with flooring in your bathroom, kitchen, household shelter, and service yard.

You will also have a toilet seat in your bathroom, and wall tiles in your bathroom and kitchen. But in other areas of your home, expect raw concrete floors (including your bedroom and living areas). Rooms will also have no sink, shower, or even doors.

What’s Included in the Optional Component Scheme?

What you can get for Optional Component Scheme depends on your flat type, since there are different choices to fit your lifestyle. For instance, if you are buying an elderly-friendly Flexi-flat, you can choose to install kitchen cabinets lower so even those in a wheelchair have access to it.

Here are the choices of 2-room Flexi flats, as well as 3-room, 4-room, 5-room, and 3 Generation flats.

Optional Components Specifications
Sanitary Fittings and internal doors Shower set (with bath and shower mixer) Wash basin and tap mixer Doors for bathrooms and bedrooms
Floor finishes Bedrooms Living and dining room

Meanwhile, here are the options for short lease 2-room Flexi flats.

Optional Components Specifications
Sanitary Fittings and internal doors Shower set (with bath and shower mixer) Wash basin and tap mixer
Floor finishes Bedrooms Living and dining room
Elderly-friendly fittings Built-in wardrobe Built-in kitchen cabinets with cooker hood and induction hob, kitchen sink, and dish drying rack
Others Window grilles for the whole unit Water heater Lighting for the whole unit Toilet roll holder and mirror for the bathroom

It’s worth noting that these fittings included in HDB Optional Component Scheme are designed to be practical, and not for aesthetic purposes so do not expect fittings that look like they can be posted on Pinterest such as vinyl flooring, or brass fixtures.

While it doesn’t look the most exciting, Optional Component Scheme components are still functional, presentable, and neutral to complement a wide array of interior design concepts you want to apply to your home.

How Much Does The Optional Component Scheme Cost?

Because the prices of materials and sizes of homes vary, there is no consistent price for HDB OCS.

To give you an idea of how much you need to pay for Optional Component Scheme HDB depending on your unit and needs, let’s take a look at the prices for Kim Keat Heights in Toa Payoh (May 2022).

Two-room flat (type 1):

Optional Component Scheme Cost Description
Package 1: HDB OCS Flooring for Dining/Living, and Bedroom S$1,850 Vinyl strip flooring Three-panel sliding partition that will separate the living room and bedroom, regardless of the package 1 option they choose
Package 2: Sanitary Fittings S$530
  • Wash basin with tap mixer
  • Shower set with shower/bath mixer
Package 3 (for short lease 2-room flexi flats) S$6,120 Buyers who choose Package 3 must also choose Package 1 Lighting Window grilles Water heater Built-in wardrobe Mirror and toilet roll holder in bathroom Built-in kitchen cabinets (comes with induction hob and cooker hood, kitchen tap, sink, and dish drying rack) Buyers who are wheel-chair bound can opt for a lower kitchen countertop

Two-room (type 2:

Optional Component Scheme Cost Description
Package 1: HDB OCS Flooring for Dining/Living, and Bedroom S$2,320 Vinyl strip flooring Three-panel sliding partition that will separate the living room and bedroom, regardless of the package 1 option they choose
Package 2: Sanitary Fittings S$530 Wash basin with tap mixer Shower set with shower/bath mixer
Package 3 (for short lease 2-room flexi flats) S$7,380 Buyers who choose Package 3 must also choose Package 1 Lighting Window grilles Water heater Built-in wardrobe Mirror and toilet roll holder in bathroom Built-in kitchen cabinets (comes with induction hob and cooker hood, kitchen tap, sink, and dish drying rack) Buyers who are wheel-chair bound can opt for a lower kitchen countertop

Three-room:

Optional Component Scheme Cost Description
HDB OCS Flooring for Dining/Living, kitchen, and bedrooms S$3,340 Vinyl strip flooring for bedrooms Polished porcelain hdb ocs tiles for floors in the dining/living, dry kitchen
Internal Doors and Sanitary Fittings S$2,770 Two laminated UPVC folding bathroom doors Two laminated UPVC bedroom doors Shower set with shower/bath mixer Wash basin with tap mixer

Four-room:

Optional Component Scheme Cost Description
HDB OCS Flooring for Dining/Living, kitchen, and bedrooms S$4,970 Vinyl strip HDB OCS flooring for bedrooms Polished porcelain HDB OCS tiles for floors in the dining/living
Internal Doors and Sanitary Fittings S$3,180 Two laminated UPVC folding bathroom doors Two laminated UPVC bedroom doors Shower set with shower/bath mixer Wash basin with tap mixer

Is the HDB Optional Component Scheme Worth it?

When determining whether or not HDB OCS is worth it, there are a few factors to keep in mind. We’ll discuss them below.

Payment terms

When you choose Optional Component Scheme, the cost will be added to your loan, which means that your payable amount will be spread across the entire tenure of your loan, and can be payable with your CPF.

For instance, if you paid S$4,000 for your HDB OCS and you’re financing your flat with a 20-year tenure bank loan, you will pay S$4,000 over that period with a low-interest rate. But if you’re paying for a contractor for your home renovation instead of OCS, you’ll need to pay S$4,000 in cash. While you may take out a loan for it, the interest will be more expensive.

Discover more about the best renovation loans in Singapore.

Duration of lease

The next step you should take is to identify the purpose of your flat. Is it just meant to be your temporary home or do you see yourself living there for the majority of your entire adult life?

If it’s your forever home, consider if the HDB Optional Component Scheme outcome fits your image of what your home should look like. If you still don’t know how long you’ll use the flat or if you think your taste and needs will change in 5 years, then don’t go for OCS HDB. After all, there’s no additional cost should you change your mind. If you opt for it and end up not liking it, you’d have to shoulder the cost of hacking, as well as redesigning your home.

Inclusions of OCS

Take a look at what’s included in the HDB Optional Component Scheme and assess them. Keep in mind that these fixtures play an integral element in how your home looks. Don’t hesitate to research well and see what designs are available. See and feel them in person if you can.

For example, examine the HDB OCS flooring and assess if it’s something you’d be okay with. If you have your elderly parents living at home, then

you may need to ask a contractor to install non-slip HDB OCS flooring for their safety instead of going with the HDB OCS flooring inclusion.

It’s worth noting that fixtures that come with HDB OCS do not have inferior quality. However, that does not mean it’s the most high-quality fixture you will find today.

You should also note that most Optional Component Scheme features an open kitchen, which could be a deal-breaker for those who don’t cook all the time.

A Word from OMY

When determining whether the HDB Optional Component Scheme is worth it, the answer ultimately depends on your needs. If you want to move into your flat right away and don’t mind neutral fixtures, then go for it. But if you have a specific look for your home in mind, chances are, it won’t go with the fixtures included in the HDB Optional Component Scheme package. If this is the case, it’s better to work with a private contractor/interior designer.

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