Summary
New homes in Singapore come with a one-year window to get defects fixed at no cost. For a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat, the Housing & Development Board (HDB) gives owners a one-year defects liability period (DLP) from the day they collect their keys, during which its contractor repairs the defects they report, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said in a written answer in February 2024. For a new private home bought from a developer, including an executive condominium (EC), the DLP is 12 months, and the developer must make good a defect within one month of the buyer's notice, according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Home Buyers' Guide.
Most new flat owners use that year. On average, 65% of new BTO flat owners reported defects during the DLP over the past five years, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said in a written answer to Parliament on 3 Mar 2026. "More than 95% of the reported cases involve minor defects such as scratches, alignment or paintwork," MND said.
What this means for Singapore homeowners
BTO flats: the first year
Owners report defects to HDB during the DLP, and HDB aims to complete rectification within 14 working days, MND said in 2016.
Most repairs are quick. More than 90% of reported defects were fixed within 14 working days, MND said in April 2023, a figure it said was unchanged for flats completed before and after the Covid-19 pandemic. In its 2026 answer, MND said nearly all of the minor cases are rectified within 14 working days.
Timing matters because most problems surface early. About 90% of defect feedback in the five years to 2020 came during the DLP, with the rest in the second to fifth years, MND said in October 2020.
BTO flats: after the first year
Beyond the DLP, owners are responsible for "the general care, maintenance, and wear-and-tear repairs in their flat", HDB says. Two longer warranties apply to new flats launched from 2005, MND said in 2024:
| Problem | HDB warranty |
|---|---|
| Ceiling leaks and external wall seepage | 5 years |
| Spalling concrete | 10 years |
Sources: HDB; MND written answer, 6 Feb 2024.
The five-year leak warranty ends if the floor tiles are changed or the waterproofing system is tampered with, HDB says, which matters for owners planning to retile a bathroom.
If a defect fixed during the DLP comes back, HDB investigates the cause. Where it is an inherent defect or quality issue, HDB has the contractor repair it again "at no cost to the flat owner", MND said in 2024, and any compensation is assessed case by case. Damage from wear and tear or poor maintenance is paid for by whoever maintains that part of the building: the owner inside the flat, and the town council for common property such as external walls.
Two everyday problems fall to owners. For a ceiling leak between two flats, HDB says the owners above and below share responsibility and should agree on the repair and split the cost. Windows are the owner's job: HDB asks owners to check them at least every six months and to use a BCA-approved window contractor, and a window that falls because it was not maintained can bring a fine of up to S$20,000, a jail term of up to one year, or both.
New condos and ECs
For a home bought from a developer, the 12 months run from the date the developer delivers vacant possession or the 15th day after the buyer receives notice that the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) has been issued and the infrastructure works are complete, whichever is earlier, URA's guide says. In a strata development, a defect can be in the unit, the common property or the housing project.
If the developer does not fix a defect within one month of the buyer's notice, the buyer may engage their own contractors and deduct the cost from the sum held by the Singapore Academy of Law as stakeholder for the developer, following the procedure in the sale and purchase agreement (S&PA) and serving a notice of deductions, URA says. ECs are sold by developers on the same basis: MND said in 2017 that the developer is "responsible for all defects during the 12-month Defects Liability Period".
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) does not regulate these defects. URA's guide describes them as "contractual matters under the terms of the S&PA between the developer and the purchaser".
| BTO flat | New private home or EC | |
|---|---|---|
| Defects liability period | 1 year from key collection | 12 months from vacant possession, or from the 15th day after the TOP notice if earlier |
| Who repairs | HDB's contractor | The developer, within one month of your notice |
| If repairs stall | HDB aims to fix defects within 14 working days (MND, 2016) | You can hire a contractor and deduct the cost from the stakeholder sum |
| Longer warranties | 5 years for leaks and seepage, 10 years for spalling concrete | None set out in URA's guide |
Sources: MND; HDB; URA Home Buyers' Guide.
Education only — not tax, legal or investment advice. Confirm with a licensed professional.
What to do next
- Inspect the home as soon as you get the keys, and photograph and list every defect before renovation starts.
- If you own a new flat, report defects to HDB early in the defects liability period, and check the warranty position before you change floor tiles or waterproofing.
- If you bought from a developer, send defect notices in writing as your S&PA requires, and note the one-month repair deadline.
- Find a verified contractor for repairs and renovation after the defects period: https://proprkey.com/en/pros?segment=trades
- Talk to a verified property lawyer if a developer does not fix a defect: https://proprkey.com/en/pros?segment=legalFinance
- Compare new launches with completed homes: https://proprkey.com/en/new-developments