BTO defect check, done on the day you collect your keys.

What a BTO defect check covers

Your BTO comes with a twelve-month Defects Liability Period (DLP) from key collection. The first month is the one that matters most: report your defects within 30 days, before any renovation begins, and HDB rectifies them free. Miss that window, or start renovation first, and the line between a construction defect and renovation damage gets blurry fast.

A PropDefect BTO defect check covers every system the HDB defect submission form recognises:

• Architectural finishing: paintwork, plaster, skim coat, doors, windows, kitchen and bathroom fittings
• Tiling: hollow tiles, alignment, grouting, surface defects, chipped edges
• Plumbing: water pressure, drainage gradients, leaks, sanitary fittings, floor traps
• Electrical: socket polarity, RCD trip test, lights, fans, distribution board, network points
• Structural: wall cracks, ceiling cracks, beam alignment, settlement signs
• Bomb shelter (household shelter): door seal, hinge alignment, ventilation, SCDF compliance
• Doors and windows: alignment, sealing, lock function, weather-stripping

Your 30-day BTO defect window

HDB asks you to report defects within one month of key collection, before renovation works begin. This protects you: once renovation starts, the contractor and HDB can each point at the other, and you are caught in the middle. A defect check on or near collection day documents the unit's condition before anyone touches it: a clean, timestamped baseline.

If you have already collected keys but not yet renovated, you still have until the end of your DLP to file. The sooner the better. And do not start renovation or move in fully before the check.

What's typical in a Singapore BTO handover

A new BTO flat rarely hands over defect-free. Most of what turns up is minor. None of it dramatic on its own. Taken together it adds up, and every item is HDB's to fix during the DLP, so it is worth documenting properly.

Common BTO defects to check for

• Paint runs, missed spots, and uneven coverage
• Hollow tiles in bathrooms and kitchen
• Door and window seal gaps
• Hairline cracks in beams, walls, and ceiling corners
• Electrical issues: reverse polarity, missing earth, RCD failures
• Household shelter seal and hinge issues
• Drainage gradient errors causing pooling
• Hidden moisture behind tiles, detected with thermal imaging

How BTO defect check day works

1. Booking via WhatsApp. Send us your unit address and key collection date. We confirm a slot within 30 minutes.
2. Onsite check. The inspection takes about 3 hours on a 3- or 4-room unit, 4–6 hours on a 5-room or executive unit. Every finding is checked against the CONQUAS standard before the report is filed.
3. Real-time WhatsApp updates. If you can't be there, we send photos and observations as we work.
4. Filed report within 24 hours. Delivered as a PDF in the HDB-required format, ready to file through your BSC or MyHDB.
5. Rectification follow-through. When HDB rectifies, we return to verify. Included in the Comprehensive and Post-Reno packages.

When to book your BTO defect check

The earlier the better. Book 1–2 weeks before your key collection appointment. Checking on collection day is ideal. Defects are documented before you take possession, at the start of the period when HDB is still obligated to rectify them.

Pricing for BTO

For most BTO units, our Essential package covers a single thorough check at key collection, from $250. The Comprehensive package adds three visits across the DLP (at collection, mid-cycle, and pre-expiry) plus rectification verification. If you're renovating, the Post-Reno package layers in post-reno checks. Pricing is fixed by home size, so see our full pricing.

Every package includes the check, the report, and continued WhatsApp consultation throughout your DLP.

Frequently asked BTO questions

Can you come on my BTO collection day?

Yes, and we recommend it. Checking on collection day means defects are documented before you take possession, at the very start of your reporting window. Book 1–2 weeks ahead.

Is a BTO defect check the same as a defect inspection?

Yes. "Defect check" and "defect inspection" are the same service: a structured, room-by-room inspection of your new flat against BCA CONQUAS standards. We use the plain term most Singapore homeowners search for.

Will you file the HDB defect form for me?

We prepare the report in the official HDB defect format, ready for you to submit through your project's BSC or the MyHDB app. On Comprehensive and Post-Reno packages, we draft the covering note and walk you through submission, but you remain the signatory, since you are the contracting party with HDB.

What if my contractor disputes a finding?

Our reports follow CONQUAS standards and include photo evidence, structured in the format HDB requires, so findings are difficult to dismiss. If a dispute escalates, we provide consultation and supporting documentation.

How long is the DLP for a BTO?

Twelve months from your key collection date, but report within the first 30 days, before renovation, for the cleanest rectification. Some structural elements carry longer warranty; we flag any such item during the check.