Summary

Complaints to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) about renovation contractors fell to 787 in 2025 from 962 in 2024, and prepayment losses in the sector dropped 73.8% to S$190,667, according to CASE's annual report for 2025/2026. Renovation still ranked fifth among industries in CASE's complaints for the first half of 2026, with 402 cases, led by poor workmanship and firms failing to honour their obligations.

CASE's guidebook for homeowners advises never paying more than 20% upfront before work begins, and keeping back 5–10% of the final payment until the job is done. Firms accredited under CASE's CaseTrust scheme must protect deposits if they close, and a Gold tier launched on 15 March 2026 protects half of what a homeowner pays toward the project.

What this means for Singapore homeowners

What the rules require, and what they don't

  • In an HDB flat, only contractors listed in HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC) can carry out renovation works, including works that do not need HDB's approval, HDB says. HDB does not endorse or guarantee the quality of their work, CASE's guidebook notes.
  • The Government does not mandate minimum qualifications or experience levels for key personnel in renovation and interior design firms, Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said in a May 2024 parliamentary reply. He encouraged consumers to engage CaseTrust-accredited contractors instead.
  • CaseTrust accreditation is voluntary. As at 15 March 2026, 278 renovation businesses were accredited, CASE says.

The difference shows in the complaints. Of the 962 renovation complaints CASE received in 2024, about 97% were against contractors without CaseTrust accreditation, it said in February 2025.

CaseTrust Silver and Gold

CaseTrust (Silver)CaseTrust Gold (from 15 Mar 2026)
Deposit protectionDeposit performance bond against closure, winding up and liquidation50% of payments toward the project sum, through an insurance bond or banker's guarantee
Initial depositCapped at 20% of the total costStructured payment schedule tied to project milestones
ContractCaseTrust Standard Renovation ContractCaseTrust Standard Residential Renovation Contract (Gold)
Workmanship warranty12 months from completionUp to 24 months
VariationsAgreed in writing before any worksWritten agreement before works proceed

Sources: CASE, CaseTrust Accreditation for Renovation Businesses and Renovation Gold pages (accessed 7 Nov 2026); Gold scheme info kit (16 Mar 2026).

Gold is open only to firms with at least three years of CaseTrust accreditation, and in March 2026 CASE signed an agreement to bring in UOB as the official guarantor for prepayments under the scheme, its annual report says. A joint CaseTrust-RCMA accreditation, run with the Singapore Renovation Contractors and Material Suppliers Association since August 2014, extends the deposit bond to cover non-performance of contracts. RCMA members need at least S$50,000 in paid-up capital and public liability insurance of at least S$500,000, according to CASE's guidebook.

Paying in stages

CASE's guidebook sets out a sample schedule, which it says will vary by project:

StageShare of contract
On signing the contract15%
Start of renovation25%
Start of masonry works25%
Start of carpentry works30%
Withheld until all work and rectifications are complete5%

Source: CASE, CaseTrust guidebook for homeowners (2026).

The 20% ceiling on upfront payments has one exception in the guidebook: minor single-task jobs, such as building wardrobes for one room.

Illustration only: on a S$60,000 contract, the 20% ceiling means no more than S$12,000 before work starts, and a 5% retention holds back S$3,000 until the work is finished and defects are put right.

What to put in writing

  • Itemised pricing, with the scope of works, drawings and specifications.
  • A timeline that meets your move-in date; the guidebook suggests a buffer of one to three weeks.
  • Every variation, agreed in writing before the work is done.
  • The workmanship warranty, of at least 12 months. If you supply your own materials, the renovator may void the warranty for works involving them, the guidebook warns.

When things go wrong

CaseTrust-accredited firms must attend mediation at CASE when a homeowner asks, the guidebook says. Beyond that, the Small Claims Tribunals (SCT) hear disputes over contracts for services, and the Judiciary gives a renovation contract as its example. The SCT can hear claims of up to S$20,000, or up to S$30,000 if both parties sign a Memorandum of Consent. Claims must be filed within two years, and lawyers cannot represent parties. An individual pays S$10 to file a claim of up to S$5,000, S$20 for one of up to S$10,000, and 1% of the amount claimed for a larger claim. A claim against a company in liquidation or winding up cannot proceed without the High Court's permission, which is where deposit protection counts.

From 2017 to 2023, CASE received about 120 complaints a year over prepayment losses from incomplete renovation works, at an average contract value of around S$7,400, and helped consumers recover their money in about half of the cases it negotiated, Mr Gan said. In the first half of 2026, poor workmanship accounted for 27.1% of renovation complaints and failure to honour obligations for 26.9%, CASE said in August.

FAQ

How much deposit should I pay a renovation contractor in Singapore? CASE advises no more than 20% before work begins. CaseTrust-accredited firms cap initial deposits at 20% of the total cost.

What happens to my deposit if the firm closes? With a CaseTrust firm, deposits are covered by a deposit performance bond, and Gold firms protect 50% of payments toward the project sum. With any other firm, ask in writing how your money is protected before you pay.

Education only — not legal advice.

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