HDB Renovation: questions to ask before you sign

HDB Renovation in Singapore runs on paperwork as much as on power tools, and the single best thing you can do before signing is to ask the right questions up front. Get clear answers in writing and you avoid most of the heartache that trips up first-time owners. Below is the checklist we wish every neighbour had before they put pen to paper.

1. Are you on the HDB Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC)?

This is the gatekeeper question, and you should not move past it. HDB only allows renovation work to be carried out by a BCA-licensed contractor who is listed on the HDB Directory of Renovation Contractors. If a firm cannot confirm this, stop right there.

• Ask for their registration number and verify it on the HDB DRC list yourself.
• Check that the licence covers the type of works you need, not just a generic entry.
• If they say "we'll sub it out to a licensed partner," ask who that is and get it named in the contract.

Doing this once saves you from the risk of unlicensed work that HDB can order torn out at your cost.

2. What exactly is inside the quote, and what is left out?

A quote is only as good as its detail. Before you sign, pin down scope so there are no surprises later.

• Does the price include hacking, debris removal, and plumbing or electrical rewiring?
• Are appliances, lighting fixtures, and aircon units supplied or just installed?
• What about touch-ups and the final cleaning before you move in?
• Ask for quantities, not just lump sums, so you can see what you are paying for.

From 1 Oct 2024, the CaseTrust Renovation Framework (RFPS) applies to contracts of S$5,000 and above, and it pushes for "Open Book" itemised pricing. That means you should be able to see the actual material costs, not just a mystery total.

3. How are payments structured and what is the deposit?

Never pay everything up front. A proper reno is paid in stages tied to completed work.

• Find out the progress payment schedule: how much at start, after hacking, after carpentry, at handover.
• Ask what happens to payments if a stage fails inspection or is done poorly.
• Clarify the renovation deposit. HDB holds S$500 for flats up to 3 rooms and S$1,000 for 4 rooms and larger, refunded only after a compliant end inspection.

Keep your own cash buffer too. Most owners set aside 10 to 15 percent of the budget for surprises that only show up once walls are opened.

4. What is the timeline, and what are the noise rules?

Time is money, and HDB sets hard limits you both must respect.

• Confirm the start date and the number of weeks to completion.
• Remember no renovation works are allowed on Sundays and public holidays, and noisy works like hacking and drilling are only permitted 9am to 5pm on weekdays and Saturdays.
• If you are doing a new flat, know that the renovation permit must be applied for within 3 months of key collection, the permit is valid 3 months, and HDB does an inspection at the end.

Ask how your contractor plans to keep the project inside the permit window so you are not left scrambling.

5. Who handles the permit and the final inspection?

Permits are not optional, and the end inspection decides whether your deposit comes back.

• Confirm the contractor applies for and manages the HDB renovation permit on your behalf.
• Ask what they do if the end inspection flags a defect, and who pays to fix it.




• Check they understand structural limits: no hacking of structural walls or beams, toilets cannot be shifted, and parapet walls, floor traps, corridor windows, and main door position are restricted.

A contractor who shrugs at these rules is one you do not want handling your flat.

6. What warranty and after-sales support do you give?

Defects show up after you live in the place, not on handover day.

• Ask for a written warranty period on workmanship and on carpentry, and get the length in years, not vague promises.
• Find out the response time for fixing leaks, misaligned doors, or peeling laminate.
• Keep a site diary and photos from day one so any claim is backed by evidence.

When the answers are clear and written down, you can sign with confidence. And if you are weighing built-in carpentry for your whole home, from the kitchen to the bedroom wardrobes, ask early how a single supplier handling all of it can keep the look consistent and the warranty under one roof. That kind of whole-house customization is worth raising before you commit.