Digitalising Singapore Property Transactions: Electronic Conveyancing and Other Matters Bill

On October 15 2025, the Electronic Conveyancing and Other Matters Bill 2025 was passed. The bill establishes a secure legal framework to modernise property transactions and further digitalise the execution of the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in Singapore.

Purpose of the Bill

The Electronic Conveyancing and Other Matters Bill 2025 serves two main purposes.

1. Digitalising Property Conveyancing

The Bill aims to modernise the largely manual conveyancing process. Previously, key documents such as the option to purchase, sale and purchase agreement and deeds for the transfer of interest in properties had to be in writing, and signed in wet-ink, requiring in-person meetings. Payments are also done via cheques or cashier’s orders. This resulted in a slow and resource-needy process.

To address this, the Bill will facilitate the use of Prescribed Electronic Transaction Systems (“PETS”) to streamline the conveyancing process.

Set to launch in early 2026, the Digital Conveyancing Portal (“DCP”) will serve as the PETS for commercial, industrial, and private residential property transactions, and the HDB Flat Portal will serve as the PETS for HDB property transactions.

2. Remote Execution of LPA

In the event a donor loses mental capacity, an LPA allows donees to make decisions on behalf of the donors regarding his property and affairs.

Following the 2021 amendments to the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), LPAs can be electronically executed and submitted via the Office of the Public Guardian Online (OPGO). However, witnessing of LPAs still had to be done in-person by a certificate issuer. Remote witnessing was limited to exceptional cases approved by the Public Guardian, such as for donors with physical disability.

The new Bill will avail remote witnessing by certificate issuers to a wider group of donors for low-risk applications that meet certain criteria, offering donors greater convenience.

Key Amendments

The Bill will make targeted reforms to several statues, including:

• Electronic Transactions Acts 2010 (“ETA”)
• Singapore Land Authority Act 2001 (“SLAA”)
• Housing & Development Act 1959 (“HDA”)
• Mental Capacity Act 2008 (“MCA”)

As at the date of this publication, the Bill has been passed, although the commencement date of the amendments has not been announced. Further implementation details are expected in due course.

These statutory updates will give effect to four key provisions that transform how parties carry out property transactions and make LPAs.

1. Electronic Execution of Conveyancing Documents

Upcoming amendments to the Electronic Transactions Act (“ETA”) will recognise conveyancing contracts for the sale or other disposition of immovable property, and deeds for the conveyance or transfer of any interest in immovable property executed through a PETS. These electronic documents carry the same legal effect as physical ones.

2. Remote Witnessing of the Execution of Any Document in a PETS

Previously, witnesses must be physically present to validate conveyancing documents, necessitating physical meetings. To address this, the ETA will permit remote witnessing of documents executed through a PETS.

Remote witnessing is allowed, where:

• Parties and witnesses are in Singapore; and
• A live two-way interactive audiovisual communication systems is used to enable the witness to maintain visual contact during the signing process.

3. Centralised Conveyancing Portals

Amendments to the Singapore Land Authority Act (SLAA) and the Housing & Development Act (HDA) will allow:

• The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to establish the new DCP for private properties transactions; and
• The Housing & Development Board (HDB) to operate its existing HDB Flat Portal platform for public housing transactions.

These centralised platforms will support electronic signatures, digital payments, and real-time tracking of transaction status. They also facilitate workflows processes for law firms, financial institutions, and developers, optimising the conveyancing process.

4. Remote Execution of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

The Bill amends the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) to allow donors to have their LPAs witnessed remotely by certificate issuers, applicable to low-risk LPA applications. To qualify:

• The donor must be under 75 years old;
• The donee must fall within a specified category of people whose relationship with the donor suggest they will act in the donor’s best interest; and
• The public guardian must also be satisfied that there is no fraud or undue pressure used to induce the donor into executing the LPA.

Digital Conveyancing Portal (DCP)

The Digital Conveyancing Portal (“DCP”) is a one-stop online platform that will progressively integrate all stages of property transactions.

Through the DCP, parties can:

• Sign and exchange conveyancing documents online; and
• Make secure digital payments; and
• Track transaction status in real-time.

Key Benefits of the DCP

Once fully implemented, the DCP is expected to deliver four key benefits:

1. Greater Efficiency and Productivity: Digital workflows reduce repetitive administrative tasks and shorten transaction timelines.
2. Stronger Transparency and Security: Real-time updates of transaction milestones and robust cybersecurity systems to protect confidential data.
3. Improved Coordination Among Stakeholders: Facilitate communication amongst lawyers, financial institution, real estate professionals and government agencies to reduce risk of errors.
4. Greater Convenience: Stakeholders will benefit from a streamlined, user-friendly process, with key milestones completed online and guided workflows to simplify each step.

Phased Implementation of DCP

The transition to digital conveyancing will take place in phases. The first phase of the DCP will launch in early 2026, covering the Option to Purchase stage for resale private properties. Subsequent phases will cover key transaction milestones across the full conveyancing journey and include commercial and industrial properties.

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) is currently piloting the DCP with 28 law firms.

Together, these measures support Singapore’s Smart Nation initiatives, enabling the shift to a digital landscape.

Reference Materials

For more information, you may find the:

• Media release on the SLA website; and
• Second reading speech on the MinLaw website.