BTO key collection day: what to bring, and what to do first at your new flat

Key collection day has two parts: the appointment where you sign, pay and get your keys, and your first walk-through of the flat. Pack for both, and you can start your defect check the same afternoon instead of making another trip.

For the HDB appointment

• Identity cards for every owner. All owners should attend unless you've made authorisation arrangements with HDB beforehand.
• Your appointment confirmation and any documents your HDB notification asks for. Follow the list in your own letter or email; it's the only one that counts for your case.
• Payment for any balance due, in the way your notification specifies.
• Time. Allow a couple of hours; queues and processing vary.

You'll sign the remaining documents and receive your keys, letterbox key and access cards. Before you leave the counter, check you have everything listed in your pack.

For your first visit to the flat

• Painter's tape and a marker. Stick tape on every defect and write a number on it, like #07, so your photos match the spot.
• A coin or tile-tapping stick for hollow tiles. A dull sound means hollow.
• A phone charger to test every socket.
• A bottle of water to test floor traps and drainage.
• A torch (your phone's works): held flat against walls, it shows patches and uneven paint.
• A measuring tape if you're planning furniture or carpentry.
• A fully charged phone, for photos and notes. A power bank helps; you'll take a lot of pictures.
• Slippers or shoe covers, tissues and a bag for rubbish. New flats are dusty.

The first things to do at the flat

1. Photograph the electricity and water meter readings on day one.
2. Test every key, the letterbox key and the access cards. If one doesn't work, you're still close to the Building Service Centre (BSC).
3. Walk the flat before anything is delivered or installed. This is the only time the flat is completely empty and clean enough to see every floor tile.
4. Start your defect check room by room. Floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows, sockets, taps, floor traps and the household shelter. Tape and photograph everything you find.

Report within the first month

Submit your defect list to the BSC within one month of key collection and before renovation starts. After that, repairs are still covered until the end of the 12-month defects liability period, but it becomes harder to show a defect wasn't caused by renovation work. See our room-by-room BTO defect checklist and how to check for hollow tiles.