Renovating without an interior designer in Singapore: how to run it yourself

Running it yourself does not change the rules. These are the ones homeowners most often trip over. The detail is on HDB's important information on renovations page, and HDB updates it from time to time.

HDB flats

• DRC contractors only. The Housing & Development (Renovation Control) Rules 2006 require owners to use DRC contractors. Using an unregistered contractor can lead to a fine of up to $5,000 on conviction.
• Your contractor applies for the permit, on your authority. You sign an acknowledgement form and the DRC contractor submits the application online, with the floor plan where HDB needs to evaluate the works (for example, removing walls). Start work only once the permit is issued. Works that don't need a permit must still follow HDB's guidelines. More in our HDB renovation permit guide.
• Completion deadlines. Counted from the permit date: 3 months for newly completed blocks and 1 month for existing blocks.
• Walls and structure. Any hacking of walls needs HDB's prior approval, and structural walls, columns and beams can't be touched. The floor level can't be raised more than 50mm. See which HDB walls you can hack.
• New flats: bathrooms. HDB-supplied toilet floor and wall finishes must not be replaced for 3 years from the block's completion date, to protect the waterproofing. Laying new floor finishes over the existing ones with adhesive is allowed.
• Household shelter. Its walls, slabs and door must not be hacked or altered. Shallow drilling of up to 50mm into the internal faces, for non-metallic inserts only, is allowed.
• Main door. A main door that opens onto a fire escape route, such as a lift lobby, must be replaced with a half-hour fire-rated door and frame with a self-closing device.

Licensed trades

• Electrical: all electrical work must be done by an EMA licensed electrical worker (LEW). Your LEW applies for any electrical permit and arranges testing with SP Services afterwards.
• Plumbing: regulated water service and sanitary works need a PUB licensed plumber, and since 1 April 2018 it is an offence to engage an unlicensed one. Simple jobs, such as replacing a tap, showerhead or basin, can be done by a handyman.
• Gas: gas pipe alterations must be done by City Energy or a licensed gas service worker.
• Windows: only BCA Approved Window Contractors listed with HDB may install or replace windows, and window replacement always needs a permit.
• Aircon: use a BCA-trained installer. In HDB flats the aircon ledge may hold only the condensing units (at most 2), and the installation report goes to HDB within 14 days.

Hours, neighbours and debris (HDB)

• General works: 9am to 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays. No renovation on Sundays or public holidays.
• Noisy works (hacking, removing finishes, cutting tiles, heavy drilling): 9am to 5pm on weekdays only. They are also not allowed on the eves of New Year's Day, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas. Demolition or removal of finishes may not run more than 3 days in a row.
• Neighbours: tell neighbours within 2 units of you, in writing, at least 5 days before work starts. Once the permit is issued, display the Notice of Renovation outside your flat until the works finish.
• Debris: debris never goes down the refuse chute, toilet or floor trap. Your Town Council may offer a paid removal service; otherwise the contractor takes it to an NEA-approved site. Illegal dumping carries heavy fines.

Condos

There is no single condo rulebook. Your MCST's by-laws decide working hours, deposits, insurance and lift protection, so ask the management office for the renovation guidelines and forms before you book anyone. BCA notes that structural changes need a Professional Engineer and the Commissioner of Building Control's approval, and that window or facade changes need MCST approval. Check with the MCST whether your main door is a fire door before changing it or adding a digital lock. More in condo renovation rules.

Site works usually take about 2 to 3 months, but the whole project, from first plans to moving in, takes longer. MoneySmart estimates 4 to 6 months from planning to final touch-ups. Plan around the full span, not just the time on site.

How long site works take (industry estimates)

• BTO: Qanvast's 2026 estimates are 6 to 8 weeks for a 3-room flat, 8 to 10 weeks for a 4-room flat and 9 to 10 weeks for a 5-room flat.
• Resale HDB: Qanvast estimates 8 to 10 weeks for 3-room and 4-room flats and 9 to 11 weeks for 5-room flats. MoneySmart's estimate for resale homes is longer, at 12 to 16 weeks, and older flats with rewiring or hacking can take longer still.
• Condo: Qanvast estimates 8 to 10 weeks for a new condo and 10 to 12 weeks for a resale unit, plus whatever your MCST's hours and approval process add.

These figures assume a smooth job. Add a buffer of a couple of weeks for delays and defect fixes, and more if anything is made to order overseas.

Before key collection (about 1 to 3 months ahead)

• Finalise the layout, the points plan and the item list.
• Get quotes on the same scope, check registrations and sign the contract.
• Shop for tiles or flooring, kitchen appliances and bathroom fittings, so their sizes are known before work starts.
• For a new flat, the permit needs a utilities account. For a BTO, open your SP Services account within 3 days of collecting the keys to keep the pre-turned-on supply. Resale flats need an on-site turn-on appointment, so apply at least a week ahead.

Weeks 1 to 2

• BTO: inspect and report defects through HDB's QR code or the Building Service Centre, ideally before any renovation.
• Permit issued, neighbours notified, Notice of Renovation displayed.
• Site protection, hacking and masonry.

Weeks 2 to 5

• Electrical, plumbing and aircon piping first fix.
• Waterproofing and ponding tests, then screeding and tiling or vinyl.
• False ceiling once the services above it are in.

Weeks 5 to 9

• Carpentry measured after tiling, then fabricated (often around 3 weeks; get the lead time in writing).
• First coat of paint, then carpentry installation, then countertop templating, fabrication and fitting.

Final weeks

• Glass, aircon units, lights, taps, sanitary fittings, water heater, hob and hood.
• Gas turn-on with City Energy after renovation is complete (book up to 4 working days ahead; only the account holder can book).
• Final paint touch-up, chemical wash, defects walk-through and fixes.
• Curtains measured and installed, furniture delivered, move in.

For a week-by-week breakdown, see our renovation timeline guide.

Without an ID, you are the person who notices when something is off. A steady routine catches most problems while they are still cheap to fix.

A weekly routine

• Visit at least once a week, and also at milestones: before tiling, before the ceiling closes, before carpentry is installed and before painting. Check a stage is right before the next trade covers it.
• Walk the site with your plan. Check every point against the drawing. Mark socket, switch and pipe positions on the wall itself before the first fix, and photograph the marks.
• Hold one short weekly update with the main contractor or each trade: what was done, what is next, what they need from you, and any change to dates.

Communication

• One main group for decisions and the schedule, with the main contractor or each trade lead in it. Smaller groups for detail are fine, but copy every decision back to the main group so there is one record.
• Confirm every decision in writing with the date, what was agreed, and any cost or time impact. If you agree something on site, send a message the same day.

Photograph everything before it is hidden

Take photos and short videos of concealed wiring, pipes, waterproofing and aircon piping before they are covered, with a measuring tape in the frame. Years later, they tell you where it is safe to drill and where to look for a leak. This is the single most useful habit on this page.

Protect finished work

Once tiles, carpentry or countertops are in, ask for them to be covered. Later trades scratch, chip and stain finished surfaces. Agree in each scope who pays for damage they cause.

Before the final payment, walk through every room with your defects list and test everything.

• Tiles: tap for hollow spots and check for uneven edges between tiles.
• Carpentry: open every door and drawer, and load the drawers. Check hinges, alignment and edges.
• Electrical: test every socket and switch, and all lights.
• Plumbing: run every tap and shower, check the drainage and look under the sinks for leaks.
• Aircon: run every unit and watch the drainage over the first week.
• Paint and finishes: look in daylight and with the lights on.

Agree a date for fixes in writing, and keep the final payment tied to them. CaseTrust-accredited renovation firms give a 12-month workmanship warranty; for others, the warranty is whatever your contract says.

For BTO flats, HDB's Defects Liability Period is 1 year from key collection, but it covers defects in HDB's own works, not your contractor's. Report HDB defects early and before renovation starts. For damage done by a renovation, the contractor who did the work is responsible.

If a dispute can't be settled, HDB is not a party to your contract. CASE and the Small Claims Tribunals handle consumer disputes, including renovation claims of up to $20,000 (or $30,000 if both sides agree), filed within 2 years. Your notes, photos and written decisions are your evidence. See also our moving-in checklist.