Collecting the keys to a new BTO flat is a big day. The weeks that follow matter just as much. Every new HDB flat comes with a 1-year Defects Liability Period (DLP) that starts on the day you collect your keys. HDB asks owners to report defects within the first month, before renovation starts. That leaves a short window to find problems that are easy to miss when you’re excited about the new place.
Our BTO defect check gives you a trained second pair of eyes during that window. We go through the whole flat room by room, mark every defect we find, and hand you a clear list you can submit to the Building Service Centre (BSC). If you choose a package that includes it, we come back for the joint inspection and the final check.
BTO defect check packages and prices
All three packages are DLP inspections for newly completed homes. Prices are “from” rates. Contact us for a quote
| Package | Trips | What’s included | Price |
|---|
| Bronze | 1 | One full defect inspection; defect report and photos sent to you; submission of the defect report to the BSC; full guidance on completing the DLP process | From $95 |
| Silver | 3 | Everything in Bronze, plus we coordinate the joint inspection and final inspection with the BSC, attend the joint inspection, and attend the final inspection with you and the BSC | From $145 |
| Gold | 5 | Everything in Silver, plus one post-renovation inspection with its own defect report and photos, and a final inspection with you | From $245 |
Want a more senior opinion? A RICS-certified inspector is available at an extra charge.
See the full breakdown on our
defect inspection price list.
What we check in your BTO flat
We cover three areas of the flat.
Architectural
- Ceiling seepage: damp patches or staining, especially below bathrooms and around the household shelter.
- Wall and floor cracks: we note where each crack is and how long it is.
- Hollow tiles: floor and wall tiles that sound hollow when tapped, which can crack or lift later.
- Fixtures and fittings: doors, windows, locks, hinges, gates, grilles and built-in items. We check that they’re aligned and working, and look for scratches, dents and damage.
Mechanical
- Piping condition: visible pipes, joints and connections.
- Water pressure and drainage: taps and showers, and how quickly water drains away.
- Water ponding: whether floors fall properly towards the floor traps so water doesn’t collect. If the water supply isn’t on yet, we check gradients with a spirit level.
Electrical
- Electrical points: switches and power points.
- Appliances: testing of the fitted items that can be tested on the day.
Quick BTO defect checklist
If you’re checking on your own before, or alongside, a professional inspection, this is the short version of what to look at in each room:
- [ ] Walls and ceilings: cracks, uneven paint, stains, damp spots
- [ ] Floor and wall tiles: hollow sounds, chips, cracks, lippage (uneven edges), missing grout
- [ ] Vinyl or timber flooring (if taken up): gaps, lifting, scratches
- [ ] Doors and frames: swing, closing, locks, gaps, scratches, dents
- [ ] Windows: opening and locking, sealant, scratched glass, restrictors
- [ ] Bathrooms: ponding near floor traps, leaking taps and pipes, WC flushing, sealant around fittings
- [ ] Kitchen and service yard: floor gradient, pipe joints, drainage
- [ ] Electrical: every switch and socket working, covers straight and secure
- [ ] Household shelter: door closes and locks properly
- [ ] Main door and gate: alignment, locks, hinges
Some things aren’t treated as defects. HDB’s own guidance says slight colour variation in tiles or timber, and small differences in grout width, are normal characteristics of the materials. Our reports focus on genuine defects so your list stays credible with the BSC.
For a longer walk-through, read our
DIY HDB defect check guide and our
BTO electrical and plumbing checklist.
How the BSC process works
HDB sets up a temporary Building Service Centre near each new project. Your Welcome Kit tells you where it is and when it’s open. This is how defect reporting normally runs:
- Collect your keys. Your 1-year DLP starts on this date.
- Inspect the flat. Do this soon after key collection, ideally in the first week or two, so there’s time to submit.
- Submit a rectification request. HDB asks for defects to be reported within one month of key collection and before renovation begins. You can submit online by scanning the QR code in your Welcome Kit (or on the notice in your kitchen), or at the BSC.
- Joint inspection. BSC staff visit to verify the items you reported.
- Rectification. The BSC assigns contractors. HDB says repairs usually take less than two weeks, so tell the BSC your renovation dates early.
- Closing inspection. When the work is done, the BSC arranges a closing inspection with you to confirm each item has been fixed.
Why report before renovating? Once your contractor starts, it becomes hard to tell whether a crack or chipped tile came from the original construction or from the renovation. Reporting early keeps things clear.
Our
HDB BSC guide covers booking, the joint inspection and rectification timelines in more detail. If you haven’t collected your keys yet, start with our
HDB key collection checklist.
Our BTO defect check process
- Book on WhatsApp. Send us your block, unit type and key collection date. We confirm a slot, and you can reschedule without limits if your plans change.
- Before we arrive. If you can, activate your water and electricity so we can test water flow, drainage and power. HDB owners: please collect the two copper tap heads from your letter box before the inspection.
- On the day. Our inspectors go through the flat room by room and mark each defect. At the end, we take you through what we found.
- Your defect list. We can fill in the defect form for you so it’s ready to submit, and we send you the report with photos.
- Joint and final inspections (Silver and Gold). We coordinate with the BSC and attend the joint inspection and final inspection, so repairs are checked against the original list.
- After the job. You still get offsite consultation afterwards if questions come up during your DLP.
Why homeowners choose Easy Inspection
- More than 2,000 home inspections completed across HDB and private projects.
- 356 Google reviews, with a 5-star rating on Google.
- Full-time inspectors only.
- BSC and developer liaison, plus a defects guide so you know what happens next.
- Lifetime offsite consultation and unlimited rescheduling.
- Transparent pricing that starts from $95.
- Experience across many BTO projects, including Tengah Garden Walk, Tengah Park Avenue, Tampines GreenGlen, Tampines GreenCrest, Bidadari Park Drive, Yishun Glen, Plantation Acres, Plantation Grove, Fernvale Vines, Kim Keat Ripples and Yio Chu Kang Beacon.
BTO defect check FAQ
How soon after key collection should I book a defect check?
As early as you can. HDB asks owners to report defects within one month of key collection and before renovation starts. Booking in the first week or two leaves time for the inspection, the submission and the joint inspection before your contractor moves in.
How long does the inspection take?
For a typical flat with two inspectors, the check itself usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour, plus about 15 minutes to walk you through the findings. Bigger flats, or flats with a lot of defects, take longer.
Do I need the water and electricity on?
It helps. With water and power on, we can test water flow, drainage and electrical points. If they aren’t on yet, we can still check floor gradients with a spirit level. We can also show you how to turn on the water supply after activation.
Can you submit the defect list to the BSC for me?
Yes. Every package includes submission of your defect report to the BSC, and we can fill in the defect form so it’s ready straight after the inspection. With Silver and Gold, we also attend the joint and final inspections.
What’s the difference between Bronze, Silver and Gold?
Bronze is a single inspection with a report and submission. Silver adds our attendance at the BSC joint inspection and the final inspection. Gold adds a post-renovation inspection as well, which suits owners who want their contractor’s work checked before moving in.
Is a professional BTO defect check worth it if I can DIY?
Many owners do check on their own, and HDB publishes tips for doing so. A professional check is useful if you’re short on time, unsure what counts as a genuine defect, or want someone to follow the list through the BSC process. Read
how to know when it’s time to hire a professional to decide.
Book your BTO defect check
Send us your project name, unit type and key collection date on
WhatsApp: +65 8098 2345 and we’ll confirm a slot.
Suggested internal links: /defect-inspection-price/, /hdb-key-collection-checklist/, /hdb-bsc-guide/, /defects-liability-period-singapore/, /diy-hdb-defect-check-what-new-homeowners-need-to-look-for/, /new-bto-flat-inspection-checklist-electrical-and-plumbing-defects-you-need-to-identify-before-moving-in/, /hdb-bathroom-defect-check-the-most-common-problems-found-in-new-flats/, /what-to-prepare-for-a-new-home-defect-inspection/, /how-to-interpret-your-hdb-condo-defect-report/, /top-10-hdb-and-condo-home-inspection-defects/, /post-renovation-inspection/