+ HDB DEFECT INSPECTION
HDB defect check, done before the warranty closes.
Independent inspection for HDB BTOs, ECs, and resale flats. We catch hollow tiles, hairline cracks, drainage gradient errors, and household shelter issues while the responsible party is still obligated to fix them under the Defects Liability Period.
What an HDB defect inspection covers
The HDB Defect Liability Period gives you twelve months from key collection to report workmanship defects and have them rectified free of charge. For HDB BTO and resale flats, the project contractor carries out the rectification; for ECs, the defects go to the developer under the Sale & Purchase Agreement. After that window closes, every issue becomes yours to fix, at full cost.
Our HDB inspections cover the systems set out in the HDB defects feedback form:
- Architectural finishing: paintwork, plaster, skim coat, doors, windows, kitchen and bathroom fittings
- Tiling: hollow tiles, alignment, grouting, surface defects, broken edges
- Plumbing: water pressure, drainage gradients, leaks, hot water, sanitary fittings
- Electrical: socket polarity, RCD trip test, lights, fans, distribution board, network points
- Structural: wall cracks, ceiling cracks, beam alignment, settlement issues
- Bomb shelter compliance: door seal, hinge alignment, ventilation, SCDF certification
- Doors and windows: alignment, sealing, lock function, weather-stripping
- Air-conditioning system: alignment, drainage, condensation, control unit
Our reports map directly to the official HDB defects feedback form. We prepare your findings in that format so you can submit them through your Building Service Centre without translating our notes into HDB language. We do that for you.
What's typical in a Singapore HDB handover
A new HDB flat usually has a long list of small workmanship items rather than a few dramatic ones. No single defect is alarming on its own. Taken together, they add up, and the DLP is your window to have them fixed at no cost.
Most common defect categories in HDB
- Paint runs, missed spots, and uneven coverage
- Hollow tiles in bathrooms and kitchen
- Door and window seal gaps
- Hairline cracks in walls and ceiling corners
- Electrical issues: reverse polarity, missing earth, faulty residual current device (RCD)
- Household shelter door seal and hinge issues
- Drainage gradient errors causing water to pool
- Hidden moisture behind tiles
How an HDB inspection day works
- Booking via WhatsApp. Send us your unit address and key collection date. We confirm a slot within 30 minutes.
- Onsite inspection. A typical 3-room or 4-room unit takes around 3 hours; a 5-room or executive unit takes longer. Every finding is checked before the report goes out.
- Real-time WhatsApp updates. If you can't be there, we send photos and observations as we work.
- Report delivered within 24 hours. The report is delivered as a PDF in the HDB defects feedback format, ready for you to submit through your Building Service Centre.
- Rectification follow-through. After the contractor rectifies the reported items, we can return to verify the work. Included in the Comprehensive and Post-Reno packages.
When to book
The earlier the better. Book your slot 1–2 weeks before your key collection appointment. Inspecting around collection time is ideal: defects are documented before you take possession, while the responsible contractor is still obligated to rectify them.
Your DLP runs 12 months from collection, but report defects as early as you can. HDB asks you to flag items soon after key collection and before renovation starts. Do not start renovation work or move in fully before the inspection. Once you do, it becomes harder to separate construction defects from renovation damage, and rectification can be refused.
Pricing for HDB
For most HDB units, our Essential package covers a single thorough inspection at handover. The Comprehensive package includes three visits across the DLP (handover, mid-cycle, and pre-expiry) plus rectification verification. Larger units are priced higher within each package, not pushed into a separate tier; if you want a post-renovation check added, the Post-Reno packages add one or two further visits on top of Comprehensive. Pricing is fixed by home size, from $250. See our full pricing.
All packages include the inspection, the report, and continued WhatsApp consultation throughout your DLP.
Frequently asked HDB questions
Can you come on my BTO collection day?
Yes, and we recommend it. Inspecting on collection day means defects are documented before you take possession, while the site engineer is still standing next to you. Book 1–2 weeks ahead.
Will you file the defect form for me?
We prepare the official HDB defect form in the required format, ready for you to submit through your project's BSC. On the Comprehensive and Post-Reno packages, we draft the covering note and walk you through submission, but you remain the signatory, since you're 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 HDB?
Twelve months from your key collection date. Some structural elements have longer warranty coverage. We'll flag any item that falls under extended warranty during inspection.
Do I need a separate engineer review?
Not usually. If we find a structural concern during inspection (significant beam cracks, settlement issues, or load-bearing wall problems), we coordinate a structural engineer assessment at no extra cost on the Comprehensive and Post-Reno packages.
Book your HDB inspection
Send us your unit address and collection date. We'll confirm your inspection slot within 30 minutes.
Book your inspection →