BTO defect checklist (2026): what to check at key collection, room by room
You have one month after key collection to report defects to HDB's Building Service Centre (BSC), and you should do it before any renovation starts. After that, repairs are still covered until the end of the 12-month defects liability period (DLP), but it gets harder to prove a defect wasn't caused by your contractor.
What to bring
- Painter's tape and a marker to label every defect with a number, so the BSC can match your photos to the spot.
- A coin or tile-tapping stick for hollow tiles (some BSCs lend sticks).
- A phone charger to test every socket.
- A bottle of water to test floor gradients and drainage.
- Your phone torch: held flat against a wall, it shows patches and uneven paint.
Room by room
Entrance and main door
Open and close the door fully. It shouldn't rub the frame, the gap should be even, and the lock should turn smoothly. Check the frame for chips and gaps where it meets the wall. If a gate is installed, check the hinges, lock and paint.
Living and dining
Tap every floor tile. Look along the skirting for gaps. Check walls and ceiling with your torch. Open, close and lock every window panel, and check the rubber seals and glass. Test every socket and switch. Open the distribution board and check the breakers are labelled.
Kitchen and service yard
Tap floor and wall tiles. Pour water near the floor trap: it should all flow in with no pooling. Run each tap for a minute and look underneath for drips. Check the clothes drying rack brackets are firm and level.
Bathrooms
Same drainage test near the floor trap. Tap wall tiles, including the rows behind where the WC and basin sit. If a WC and basin are installed, flush and watch the base for leaks, and check the basin is level and firmly fixed. Look at the ceiling for water stains and check the access panel sits flat.
Bedrooms
Walk the whole floor and look for lifting edges, gaps between strips, scratches and soft spots. Check doors, frames, skirting, walls, ceiling, windows and sockets. With two or three bedrooms that look alike, note clearly which one is which. A labelled floor plan saves a lot of confusion at the joint inspection.
Household shelter
Close the steel door fully and turn all the handles. It should seal evenly without forcing. Check the vents are clear and the walls have no cracks or damp patches.
How to report defects
- Number every defect with tape and take one close-up plus one wider photo showing the tape.
- Submit your list to the BSC using the defects feedback form from your key collection pack or HDB's online service, within one month of key collection.
- Attend the joint inspection. The BSC checks each item with you and arranges repairs.
- Re-check after repairs at the closing inspection. Don't sign off anything that isn't fixed.
- Check again around month 10–11, before the 12-month DLP ends. Some defects, like leaks and cracks, only show up later.
What's usually covered
Workmanship and installation defects: hollow or cracked tiles, leaking pipes, faulty sockets, doors that rub, windows that don't lock, poor drainage. Not covered: damage from renovation or daily use, and purely cosmetic preferences. If you're unsure, report it anyway and let the BSC decide at the joint inspection.