New tool for developers to estimate land betterment charge, SLA to pilot digital conveyancing portal

Ashley Lo

/ EdgeProp Singapore

February 27, 2026 4:41 PM SGT

ashley.lo@edgeprop.sg

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Edwin Tong, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, the guest of honour at the annual REDAS Spring Festival lunch on Feb 27 (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has launched a digital service for developers to estimate land betterment charges (LBC), and is also set to pilot a digital conveyancing portal. In tandem, the government is making more state properties available for unique developments, and exploring longer tenures to support innovative land use.

Accessible via SLA’s OneMap portal, the LBC estimator allows users to estimate upfront the amount of LBC payable for development proposals, said Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong in his address at the annual REDAS Spring Festival lunch on Feb 27.

The new digital service is meant to provide developers with greater certainty when calculating charges.

The LBC, introduced in August 2022, is a form of tax payable by developers when they enhance, add to or make alterations to a development, such as redeveloping en bloc sites or intensifying the use of an existing building. It replaced the development charge and differential premium systems overseen by URA and SLA, respectively.

“We understand that upfront certainty on the LBC amount is critical for business decisions,” adds Tong.

The LBC estimator is among recent enhancements to the LBC system. Other initiatives include the classification of solar deployments as utilities, which took effect from Sep 1, 2025. Aimed at providing solar operators with greater transparency and certainty, the initiative allows developers to calculate charges using the table of rates instead of spot valuations, notes Tong.

The government has also brought forward LBC valuation processes for spot valuation cases, addressing feedback about longer project timelines. Time savings of up to 6 months are estimated for developers, says Tong.

Further enhancements underway

Additionally, SLA will launch a pilot of its digital conveyancing portal this year, with plans to replace the current paper-based process with a fully integrated and paperless system for property transactions in Singapore.

“A digital conveyancing system will reduce administrative burden for the real estate industry, boosting productivity and allowing for better coordination between lawyers, banks, real estate professionals, and government agencies,” adds Tong.

Meanwhile, the government has stepped up efforts to use state properties to support “unique and differentiated offerings which add to the character and vibrancy of Singapore”, he says. New Bahru and The Foundry are examples of developments that demonstrate this new approach.

On Feb 3, SLA launched a concept and price revenue tender for a cluster of conservation heritage bungalows at Adam Park. Occupying a 12.8ha site, the site is available on a 30-year lease for serviced apartment use.

“This is a rare opportunity for real estate developers to test new living concepts in a unique and historically significant setting,” says Tong.

At the same time, SLA is also exploring longer tenures for state properties, especially where it can enable innovative development that adds to Singapore’s diverse offerings.

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New tool for developers to estimate land betterment charge, SLA to pilot digital conveyancing portal

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