If an HDB window is loose, damaged or at risk of falling, keep people away from it and arrange prompt professional help. Avoid operating it to see whether it will hold. HDB advises taking precautions to secure an unsafe window and engaging a Building and Construction Authority (BCA) approved window contractor listed with HDB for the repair or replacement. Do not lean outside or attempt a repair yourself.
If you found the problem just after moving in, keep the handover records and report the facts to the relevant parties. Deal with the safety concern first. The question of which works are needed and whether any handover, defect or contract process applies can be investigated using those records.
- Keep children and other people clear of the affected window.
- Tell the contractor if a part appears at risk of falling.
- Verify that the contractor is BCA-approved and listed with HDB.
- Keep any photographs taken from a safe position and the handover record.
- Ask for the scope, applicable approvals and written completion record.
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Describe the problem from a safe position
Use HDB’s window care guidance. Tell the contractor the room, the type of window if you know it and what you noticed. A description such as “the window panel shifted when it was last opened” helps communicate the issue without requiring you to test it again. If you cannot safely photograph the area, describe it in words.
| Observation | Useful detail to pass on | What to leave to the contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Panel seems loose | Room and when the movement was noticed | Safe assessment of the panel and fittings |
| Window no longer closes normally | Which part appears affected | Whether repair or replacement is appropriate |
| A fitting looks damaged | Position as seen from inside | Identifying the component and approved repair |
| Problem found soon after handover | Date and any existing condition record | Assessment of the actual issue and needed works |
Back to contents · Next: Verify who will carry out the work
Verify who will carry out the work
HDB’s window contractor guidance sets out the requirement to use a trained contractor approved by BCA and listed with HDB for the relevant window works. Use HDB’s official directory route to confirm the company. Ask who will assess the window and what they need you to prepare before the appointment.
Check HDB’s renovation guidelines for window works for the proposed scope. Ask whether the work requires a permit or notification and who handles it. Keep the quotation and work record. BCA’s window safety guidance provides the wider responsibilities and maintenance information.
Keep the handover question separate
For a newly completed flat, check the applicable HDB defect reporting route and identify when keys were collected. For a resale flat, keep the inspection notes and any relevant agreement or correspondence. If you need to ask about responsibility or reimbursement, use the applicable process and describe when and how you discovered the problem. Avoid delaying a safety assessment while waiting for an answer about payment.
Back to contents · Next: Worked example after moving day
Worked example after moving day
A household notices that a bedroom window panel shifts during ordinary use shortly after moving in. It keeps people away from the window and contacts an approved contractor. One adult gives the room location and describes the movement without trying to reproduce it. Another retrieves the handover notes to see whether the condition was recorded.
The contractor assesses the issue and explains the scope. The household asks about approval requirements and how to tell when the window can safely return to normal use. It keeps the work record with the home’s other maintenance documents and tells everyone in the home what was done.
Back to contents · Next: Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Can a general handyman repair the window?
Verify the specific contractor requirements with HDB. Use a BCA-approved window contractor listed with HDB for the applicable repair or replacement.
Should I open the window to show the problem in a video?
Keep away from an unsafe window and describe what you already saw. Let the qualified contractor assess it.
Does finding the problem after handover establish who pays?
The timing is relevant evidence. Check the applicable defect or transaction route and get a professional assessment of the issue.
Back to contents · Next: Next steps and official sources
Next steps and official sources
Keep the area clear and contact a verified contractor. Record the window location and the discovery date, then keep the assessment and any follow-up with your handover documents.