After collecting your BTO keys in 2027, inspect the new flat before renovation starts. Check the access items, doors and windows, visible surfaces, fittings and wet areas that HDB supplied. Record issues with dated photographs, a location and a short description. Use HDB’s rectification channel and keep the reference alongside your renovation timetable.
HDB gives newly completed flats a one-year Defects Liability Period from key collection and asks owners to report items within the first month and before renovation. Set aside time to inspect, report and check completed repairs. If something cannot be safely assessed by a visual check or ordinary operation, leave it to HDB or an appropriate qualified person.
- Record the condition of the flat before contractors or deliveries start.
- Check the actual items supplied under your flat and optional fittings selection.
- Make each report easy to locate and reproduce.
- Report through HDB and agree how rectification fits the renovation schedule.
- Recheck each reported item and retain the records after moving in.
Find the section you need
Jump to the first inspection, room-by-room checklist, reporting process or handover to your renovation contractor.
What to do on the first visit after key collection · How to make a defect report that someone can act on · Recheck the work before closing the item · Frequently asked questions about BTO defects
Chapters 1–3 · First visit, room checks and reporting
Chapters 4–7 · Rectification, renovation, worked example and FAQs
Bring a charged phone, something to write with and the flat plan or a room list. Keep the documents identifying what HDB supplied, including optional fittings where applicable. Make sure you know which keys and access items should be present. An orderly first pass matters more than trying to diagnose every issue on the spot. Use an ordinary visual inspection and the normal use of accessible fittings.
Record the starting condition
Take an overview photo of each room before setting anything down or inviting contractors to begin work. Make a simple naming system such as living room, bedroom one and common bathroom. Photograph distinctive corners where you can return to the same angle. If someone else is helping you, agree on those names first. You can both refer to the same issue later without needing to interpret several descriptions.
Make a separate list of checks you cannot perform that day. A room may have poor light at that hour, or utilities may be unavailable. Record why the check is pending and arrange a suitable follow-up. Follow HDB’s instructions for access and service arrangements. Where an item is unsafe to operate or inaccessible, ask for a qualified assessment. Keep the initial observation rather than forcing the fitting to move.
Reserve time before renovation
Put the inspection on a calendar early enough that you can submit requests before renovation. Check the builder or contractor’s schedule for when work needs access to each room. If the move is urgent, decide which works can be rescheduled, which deliveries can be delayed and where essential items can be stored. Try to retain at least one visit for rechecking the work before the room is covered or fitted out.
One adult can lead the room sequence and another can take photos or keep the log, where possible. If you are inspecting alone, finish the overview of one room before going through its individual items. Save copies of the photos and log together. The goal is to keep a reliable record of the starting condition that you can use once several people are working on the flat.
Give the first visit and the second visit different jobs
Use the first visit to establish the original condition and identify the items you can check safely. Use a second visit to address anything you could not inspect, check the records for missing locations and follow up on questions. This can be more reliable than a single long visit where several people start tasks at once. If something needs professional assessment, record that dependency on both the inspection list and the renovation timetable.
The second visit is also a chance to see whether the light, weather or ordinary use makes a condition clearer. Keep the dates on the observations. A photo taken before rain and one taken afterward can help an assessor understand what changed. Take both from a safe position and leave access to any potentially hazardous item to the people responsible for inspecting it.
Begin at the entrance and work clockwise through the flat. Check normal operation of accessible doors, locks and window controls when safe. Observe whether a door rubs, whether a latch closes under normal use and whether a window appears damaged or difficult to operate. Ask HDB to inspect a window that is loose or that you cannot safely check. Keep away from edges and avoid removing covers or fittings.
Check surfaces in useful light
Observe walls, ceilings and supplied floor finishes in ordinary light. Look for visible cracks, chips, uneven finishes, gaps or damp marks and note the size and location without attempting a diagnosis. Take a wider image so the inspector can find the area, then take a close view. If the condition is visible only when light comes from a certain direction, note the time and angle. Check whether the item is part of what HDB supplied.
Look for repeated issues across rooms, but give each location its own entry. A chipped corner in the living room and a chipped fitting in the bathroom may need different work. If a surface looks different after cleaning or drying, add the new observation and date. The original and follow-up photos can both be helpful.
Inspect kitchens, bathrooms and the service yard
Look at visible fittings, seals and surrounding finishes. If water service is available and safe to use, check ordinary operation of supplied taps and drains and observe any visible leakage. Record where moisture appears and under what conditions. Avoid creating flooding, moving fixed fittings or altering plumbing. If the cause is unclear, report the observation and ask for assessment. A smell, mark or slow drain is easier to follow up when it is tied to a specific location and time.
Check the supplied cabinets or optional fittings where relevant. Open them normally when it is safe, note missing items and compare with the records that describe what was included. Keep moveable furniture or renovation items out of the photograph where possible so the original condition is easy to see.
Treat electrical concerns as a separate issue
Record visibly damaged fittings, covers or indicators and seek appropriate help. Avoid touching exposed or damaged electrical parts, opening panels or attempting wiring tests yourself. Ask HDB or an appropriately licensed professional to assess anything beyond safe ordinary operation. For any condition that presents an immediate hazard, keep people away and seek appropriate assistance before continuing the inspection.
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HDB says requests can be submitted online or through the precinct Building Service Centre. Follow the current instructions for your project. HDB also describes access through the QR code in the Welcome Kit or a notice at the flat. Check that you have selected the correct property and keep a copy of what you submit.
Describe the problem from observation
Write the room, item and observed behaviour. “Bedroom two, lower hinge side of door, door touches floor during normal closing” tells someone more than a general entry about the room. If an issue comes and goes, note the circumstances. A mark noticed after rain can be logged with dates and the locations of nearby windows or fittings, while leaving the cause for the assessor.
Use consistent names across the report, plan and photos. An inspector should be able to stand in the right spot on the first visit. Include a wide photo showing how to locate the item and a close photo showing the condition. Avoid sending unrelated personal documents or images containing personal details. Use the official channel for information required by the request.
Keep a log of requests and appointments
Give each item a short reference of your own and note the official request number, date submitted, photos and next action. Record whether an appointment is confirmed, whether the item has been inspected and whether the proposed work is complete. If the appointment changes, update the people whose renovation or delivery schedule depends on it.
One report may contain a mix of cosmetic and functional items. Identify which affect safe use, possession planning or work on an adjacent surface. If a renovation task depends on the issue being assessed first, say so in the scheduling discussion. Record the answer so you can plan the sequence and avoid covering an area that still needs inspection.
Save an original copy
Keep the photographs and the log in their original form as well as copies suitable for sending. If you add an annotation to show the location, retain the unmarked image as well. Keep any follow-up message beside the relevant entry. This makes it easier to understand what changed if the file is revisited weeks after the first visit.
Prepare for the joint inspection
HDB says the Building Service Centre arranges a joint inspection after a report to verify the items, and later arranges a closing inspection after the rectification work. Bring your list and the locations of each issue so you can walk through them in order. Ask about the next step for any item you cannot reproduce on the day, and update the log with the action or date you receive.
Follow HDB’s security instructions when arranging access. Its guidance advises against handing over flat keys to a contractor for rectification. Confirm how to secure the flat and who will attend the appointments. If an owner cannot be present, check the approved arrangement with the Building Service Centre before assuming access can be handed to someone else.
| Item | Write down | Photo or other record |
|---|---|---|
| Door touches the floor | Room, door edge and when it contacts the floor | Wide photo and close view of the contact point |
| Visible chip in a supplied fitting | Exact fitting and side of the chip | Overview and close-up |
| Window does not latch in normal use | Room, panel and what happens when closed normally | Image showing the panel and latch |
| Damp mark noticed after rain | Surface, location, date and weather at the time | Dated images from the same position |
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HDB advises reporting within one month after key collection and before renovation. This helps establish whether an item was present at handover or arose after work started. Plan the first inspection early. If the renovation timeline is tight, speak with HDB and your contractor about which work can go ahead without affecting the inspection or repair.
Put rooms and trades on the same calendar
A door issue might affect a flooring installer. A mark near a window might need to be assessed before painting or fitting a cabinet. List the work that depends on each open item. Ask whether another room can be prepared while the affected area remains accessible. Confirm that any work underway is permitted and consistent with HDB’s requirements.
Where HDB indicates rectification may take place during or after renovation, confirm what that means for the specific item. HDB’s general guidance notes that some works can be arranged around a renovation or after moving in when appropriate. Leave enough space for assessment, access and safe work. Discuss what to protect or move, who should be present and how a completed item will be verified.
Keep the work scopes separate
Ask the contractor to record the areas and fittings their work will change. Share the relevant part of your condition log, especially any area that must remain accessible. Use a clear start date, scope and record of any change. If a defect is discovered after work has begun, record where and when it was noticed and what work has already affected the area. Ask HDB or the contractor to clarify the next step as appropriate.
A staged plan can keep the move progressing. While a repair is outstanding, you may still be able to measure furniture, arrange deliveries for a later date or decide which optional improvements can wait. Coordinate this with the people doing the work. Progress is easier to manage when everyone knows which areas are open, which are clear and which are waiting for an answer.
Check permits and contractor responsibilities early
HDB’s renovation guidance sets out when a permit is required and says renovation contractors for HDB flats must be listed in the Directory of Renovation Contractors. Check the type of work and the relevant requirements, including where a particular trade requires appropriately licensed people. Make the contractor’s scope and any permit or approval responsibilities clear before work starts.
The renovation plan may include work in a room with an unresolved defect. Ask whether keeping that surface visible or leaving a fitting untouched would affect the schedule. If it would, work out which other tasks can be moved forward legally and safely. Document the adjusted dates and tell everyone who needs access. This is easier when the records identify the exact item instead of marking an entire room as unavailable without explanation.
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After a repair, revisit the original observation. Try the same safe, normal operation, or compare the same viewing angle under similar light. Record what has changed. If an issue was intermittent or related to rain, document what can be checked now and follow HDB’s instructions for raising any recurrence. Keep the original photos alongside the follow-up so the condition is easy to compare.
Use a separate status for each issue
An item can be reported, inspected, scheduled, repaired or awaiting a recheck. Use a short status for each. Closing an appointment does not mean every item in the original list has the same result. If the repair has resolved what you observed, record the date. If you can still reproduce the issue, record exactly how and contact the official channel with the relevant reference.
Invite the person handling renovation to review the cleared areas if that helps the handover. Confirm which measurements or finishes could have changed with the repair. If a fitting is replaced or adjusted, check that nearby work can still proceed as planned. Keep these coordination notes separate from the factual description in the HDB log.
Keep records once you move in
Retain the key collection date, the Defects Liability Period information, the original reports and the final status of each repair. If another issue appears later within the applicable period, consult HDB and note when and how you first saw it. Record any work done since handover. Older records are useful when they show what was already present and who worked on the area.
Set a reminder to review any unresolved matters before the applicable period ends. Use current HDB instructions on reporting and follow-up. A timely record helps you ask a focused question about the item, instead of reconstructing the original inspection and renovation sequence months later.
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A family collects keys on a Monday and has a renovation contractor scheduled for the following week. On its first visit, it sees a supplied door that rubs during closing, a chip in a bathroom fitting and a mark near a window. It takes room overviews and close photos, notes when it saw each issue and makes a separate entry for each. Nobody removes fittings or tries to reproduce a potentially unsafe condition.
Keep the most affected work out of the way
The contractor planned to start in the room with the door issue. The family shares the relevant observations, contacts HDB through the project’s reporting channel and asks whether the contractor can prepare another area while assessment is pending. It holds off on covering the area near the window. The contractor confirms which tasks can move to a different date and which delivery should be delayed.
The family labels the bathroom chip separately because it may have different implications for the move. It asks HDB for the inspection or repair arrangements and writes down the next action. Its log shows one contact, one status and one next decision for each item. The family can now update the contractor without forwarding every message about every room.
Use the original observation at the recheck
After the reported door issue is addressed, the family operates the door normally, records what has changed and updates the contractor. For the window mark, it keeps the dated images and follows the agreed next step. It checks that the rest of its move schedule still works if one room remains unavailable for a short period.
At move-in the family retains the documents rather than deleting the photos. The log shows the original condition and the later work, which could be useful if an issue recurs. This example illustrates a sequence. Inspect, report, coordinate, verify and retain the record. The actual repair decision and time depend on HDB’s assessment and the circumstances of the flat.
Compare the plan with a tighter schedule
Suppose a family has to return its rental keys shortly after the intended renovation date. It identifies which rooms have to be usable for the first evening and which can wait. One reported item affects the family’s ability to use the room safely, while another is a minor visible issue that can be discussed with HDB for a later visit if appropriate. The family requests guidance on those items separately.
The household then moves a furniture delivery and preserves access for inspection. It arranges a fallback for the first night if the flat is not ready for safe occupancy. By giving the move and the repair distinct dates, it avoids assuming that a visit means the property will immediately be ready. Each person knows the next milestone they are responsible for and which document or confirmation will trigger it.
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How long is the Defects Liability Period?
HDB says newly completed flats have a one-year Defects Liability Period from key collection. Follow its current reporting guidance and report discovered items within one month and before starting renovation where possible. Keep the key collection date and any case references together.
Can I start renovation while a request is outstanding?
Ask HDB about the specific item and speak with your contractor about sequencing. Keep relevant areas accessible and avoid work that would obstruct assessment or repair. HDB describes circumstances where work may be arranged during or after renovation. Confirm what applies to your flat.
Do I need to diagnose the cause before submitting?
Describe the observation clearly. Identify the location, the behaviour and when it occurs. A photo and a precise note can help HDB assess the issue. For anything requiring specialised or potentially hazardous work, seek appropriate assistance.
What if something looks different after a contractor has started?
Record the new condition, when you saw it and the work that has affected the area. Keep the original photographs and ask the relevant parties how to proceed. Separate the observations you can verify from assumptions about who caused the issue.
What should be ready before contractors start?
- A room-by-room condition record dated after key collection.
- Submitted requests and a plan for assessment and access.
- Agreed sequencing for areas with unresolved items.
- The project’s renovation requirements and the contractor’s written scope.
- A plan to check completed items before they are covered or put into regular use.
Keep the documents together with the move schedule. When a date or repair changes, update the affected room, the person responsible and the next planned check.
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