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The Housing and Development Board (HDB) of Singapore maintains strict rules and regulations over their HDB flats, including regulations on renovation works and projects that homeowners may consider doing. Renovation permits regulate the renovation plans of flat owners, ensuring that all construction works are approved by HDB.
Before starting your home renovation, you must first secure a renovation permit from HDB - the Housing and Development Board of Singapore. It is the first step in the renovation process after planning, and is a necessary permit to obtain before renovating your HDB flat.
The HDB renovation permit is essentially a go signal for you to proceed with your renovation works. It indicates that the HDB has read through, and approved of your renovation plans, and has given you permission to proceed with it. A renovation permit is submitted with the full plans of your renovation, so the HDB can assess and check your project.
As the homeowner of an HDB flat, it is your responsibility to communicate with your renovation contractor, and provide the Housing Development Board with the necessary details needed to apply for an HDB permit.
Applying for a renovation permit is completely free of charge. There are no additional fees, hidden fees, service charges, or payments that need to be made to secure a permit from the Housing Development Board.
Homeowners may apply for an HDB permit through a registered renovation contractor, or a building construction authority. Be wary of contractors or interior designers charging you for a permit application, and only partner with an HDB-approved contractor. HDB has a directory of licensed contractors who can apply for a renovation permit on your behalf.
To apply for a renovation permit, you must provide a detailed description of your renovation project to HDB, which you can do so through an approved contractor. Renovation works detailed in your application should include all alterations, including floor plastering, change in staircase railings, an installation report on air conditioners, and more.
An HDB permit lasts for 3 months from the date of approval, but it may take anywhere from one, up to three weeks after submission of the forms to obtain a permit from HDB. Renovations typically take 2 months on average, so 3 months is more than enough time to complete your renovation work.
To extend your renovation permit, you may apply for a one month renovation permit which will extend the span of the original permit for one month after its expiry. However, this is only allocated for noisy and major renovation work.
Not all additions and alterations will require a permit from HDB. Renovation works that require permits are typically ones that deal with major constructions, as well as the structural integrity of the home. Here are some of the renovation works that require a permit:
Your renovation contractor should be able to inform you whether your project will require a permit or not, and they should be able to apply for a renovation permit whenever necessary. Approved renovations can only proceed once you obtain the renovation permit from HDB.
Additionally, the HDB permit indicates the permitted time frame in which you can execute renovation works. Noisy renovation works, such as drilling and hacking, must be carried out between 9:00am and 5:00pm, and only on weekdays. General renovations may be carried out from 9:00am until 6:00pm daily.
You can check the status of your permit on the HDB website, then follow the steps below to view the status of your pending HDB permit application:
With more individuals working from, and staying at home, renovation works can be particularly disruptive to work productivity. The HDB recommends homeowners to inform their immediate neighbors about their renovation plans prior to execution, especially when considering noisy renovation works like hacking of tiles, drilling, and more.
Coping with noisy neighbors is one way to make the most out of your stay at home - whether you work remotely, attend school online, or simply lounge around your home. Fortunately, HDB does not allow any noisy renovation work during weekends, public holidays, eve of major holidays, and after 5:00pm.
Looking for a good contractor to tackle that renovation project with you? Look no further than Colebuild: our team consists of building and interior design professionals who can bring your dream home to life! Whether you need a professional engineer, or an interior designer to keep your space stylish, our services are sure to be of help in your renovation plans!
Send us a message with the scope of your project, and we can provide an accurate estimation to get you started on your renovations!
