Collecting the keys to a new Build-To-Order flat is a milestone — and also the single best opportunity you will ever get to have workmanship problems fixed for free. A professional HDB BTO defect check turns a hopeful walkthrough into a documented, evidence-backed list that HDB's Building Service Centre can act on before your Defects Liability Period expires.
Why a professional BTO defect check Singapore homeowners trust matters
New flats are handed over after a fast-moving construction programme involving dozens of subcontractors. Even well-built units routinely carry 40 to 100 minor defects: hollow floor tiles, uneven door leaves, hairline ceiling cracks, sealant gaps, mis-wired sockets and bathroom floors that pond instead of draining. Most of these are invisible to an untrained eye during a ten-minute look-around, yet each becomes your problem — and your renovation contractor's excuse — once the liability window closes.
HDB grants a one-year Defects Liability Period from key collection. Within that year, qualifying workmanship defects are rectified at no cost. A structured inspection front-loads that process: instead of discovering problems one at a time over months, you submit one comprehensive, photographed list in the first fortnight and get everything scheduled together.
What we check in your BTO flat
Our inspectors follow a fixed room-by-room protocol using proper equipment — tapping rods, moisture meters, spirit and laser levels, socket testers and high-resolution cameras — rather than relying on eyesight alone.
- Tiling and flooring: hollow tiles, lippage, cracks, stains, uneven skirting and vinyl bubbling.
- Walls and ceilings: hairline and structural cracks, uneven plastering, poor paintwork, cornice gaps.
- Doors and windows: alignment, hinge play, locksets, rollers, rubber seals, scratches and dents.
- Water and drainage: seepage traces, ponding, gradient checks, taps, basins, WC flushing and floor traps.
- Electrical: distribution board, polarity and earthing at every socket, lighting points, doorbell and intercom.
- Wet areas and service yard: waterproofing evidence, sealant integrity, bin chute and clothes-drying fittings.
- Carpentry and fittings: HDB-supplied cabinets, sinks, wardrobes and grab bars where applicable.
Defects that get missed most often
Hollow tiles, bathroom ponding and window seepage account for the majority of expensive post-DLP repairs. All three are easy to detect with the right tools and almost impossible to prove once renovation has covered them up. This is exactly why BTO defects inspections in Singapore are best done before your contractor starts work.
How the inspection process works
- 1. Book a slot. Call or WhatsApp us with your flat type and key collection date. Weekend appointments are available.
- 2. On-site inspection. Allow 1.5 to 3 hours. You are welcome to join — our inspector explains each finding as it is logged.
- 3. Report within 24 hours. A photo report organised by room, with defect descriptions and severity ratings, ready to submit to HDB.
- 4. Submit and rectify. Lodge the list with your Building Service Centre and track the rectification appointments.
- 5. Re-inspection. Silver and Gold packages include follow-up visits so we verify the repairs were done to standard, not just marked complete.
BTO inspection packages and pricing
Pricing is by flat type. Bronze covers a single inspection trip, Silver adds two re-inspections, and Gold gives you five trips across the full liability year.
| Flat type | Bronze (1 trip) | Silver (3 trips) | Gold (5 trips) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Room Flexi / 2-Room | $165 | $255 | $425 |
| 3-Room BTO | $185 | $285 | $473 |
| 4-Room BTO | $215 | $305 | $525 |
| 5-Room BTO | $243 | $325 | $563 |
| Executive / Maisonette | $293 | $385 | $663 |
Indicative pricing. Final quotation confirmed on booking based on flat type and location.
Why choose us for your HDB BTO defect check
We are an independent inspection team — we do not sell renovation or repair services, so there is no incentive to inflate or downplay findings. Every report is photo-documented, delivered next day, and written in language HDB officers can act on. Our inspectors have covered hundreds of HDB and private handovers across Singapore, from 2-room Flexi units to executive maisonettes and new condominium launches.
Owners collecting keys to a new condo or EC can view our condo defect inspection packages instead, or read practical handover guides on our inspection blog.
Key takeaways
- Inspect within one to two weeks of key collection, before renovation begins.
- HDB's Defects Liability Period lasts one year from key collection.
- A documented, photographed list gets defects rectified faster and with less argument.
- Re-inspection matters as much as the first visit — verify every rectification.