In Singapore, immovable property or real estate transactions are handled by Singapore Property Lawyers (also called Conveyancing Lawyers or Conveyancers). The Property Lawyers will usually conduct requisite searches, draft contracts or option to purchase, liaise with the other party’s solicitors, etc.

Where a Property Owner already owns a partial interest in a property (either as joint tenant or tenancy in common), the Additional Buyer Stamp Duty (ABSD) rate [based on 6 Jul 2018 Adjusted Rate] applicable for the acquisition (eg. purchase) of additional interest in the same property will depend on the number of residential properties he already owns at the time of the acquisition.

Therefore, if a Singapore Citizen only owns a partial interest in 1 property, his acquisition of additional share in the same property would not be subject to ABSD. But if he already owns partial interests in both properties A and B, his acquisition of additional share in property A or B or both would be subject to ABSD at the relevant rate as he owns 2 properties at the time of the acquisition of additional interest.

If a Singapore Permanent Resident only owns a partial interest in one property, his acquisition of additional interest in the same property would be subject to ABSD at the relevant rate. But if he already owns partial interests in both properties A and B, his acquisition of additional share in property A or B or both would be subject to ABSD at the relevant rate as he owns 2 properties at the time of the acquisition of additional interest.

[Caution Note: the above may be inaccurate and/or contains errors, and kindly do not rely on the same without obtaining proper legal advice based on your scenario. Please note that government policies and laws change from time to time. If you chose to rely on the above information, you are doing so at your own risk.]

Apart from acting in the sale, purchase or mortgage of a property, there are other various Conveyancing services relating to your property, such as (not exhaustive):

1. Application to Note Change of Name – where an owner has changed his name and wish to update his name in the title deed, ie.
2. Notice of Death filing – where a joint tenant has passed away
3. Replacement of title deed – where the original title deed is lost
4. Severance of Joint Tenancy – to sever the joint tenancy of a property between the joint tenants
5. Tenancy in Common to hold as joint tenants – convert tenancy in common to joint tenancy
6. Transfer of Property to beneficiaries of a deceased’s estate in accordance with testate or intestate succession
7. Transmission Application on Death of Registered Property (TAD) – to transfer the property of a deceased to the executor(s) or administrator(s) of the estate