HDB defects liability period (DLP): how to do your month-11 re-check before it ends

Your first defect check happens at key collection, but some problems only appear after months of daily use, rain and aircon. HDB gives new flats a 1-year defects liability period (DLP) from the date you collect your keys. A second, shorter check around month 10 or 11 is how you make sure nothing slips past it.

What the DLP is, in plain terms

• It lasts one year from key collection. Note the date on your calendar the day you get your keys, and set a reminder about six weeks before it ends.
• You report defects online or at the Building Service Centre (BSC) in your precinct. The BSC's location is in your welcome pack.
• HDB's process is a joint inspection, then the repair, then a closing inspection. HDB says most repairs take less than two weeks, but leave yourself buffer before the DLP ends in case a repair needs a second visit.
• After the DLP, upkeep is generally on you. HDB's advice is to engage a repair contractor or approach your HDB Branch. Don't count on getting something fixed under the DLP if you only report it after the year is up.

HDB also asks owners to report defects within one month of key collection and before renovation starts. That avoids arguments later about whether a problem came from construction or from renovation works. The month-11 re-check doesn't replace that first check; it catches what has developed since.

When to do the re-check

Aim for month 10 or early month 11. That leaves time to report, wait for the joint inspection, get the repair done and check it before the year runs out. If you're still renovating or haven't moved in, do it anyway: an empty flat is easier to inspect.

What to re-check, room by room

Walls and ceilings

• New hairline cracks, especially at corners of doors and windows and where walls meet ceilings.
• Stains, bubbling paint or damp patches on ceilings, particularly below the bathrooms and kitchen of the flat above.
• Damp or peeling paint on external-facing walls after heavy rain. Check again the morning after a big storm if you can.

Floors and tiles

• Tap the tiles again. Tiles that were solid at key collection can become hollow later. Tap areas you use most: the kitchen, bathroom entrances and walkways.
• Cracked tiles or grout, and tiles that have lifted or started to "tent".
• Where you've laid vinyl or other flooring over tiles, you can't check underneath. Note it in your report so it's clear what couldn't be inspected.

Bathrooms and kitchen

• Drainage: pour a bucket of water near each floor trap. Water should flow to the trap and not pond in corners.
• Look under the basin and kitchen sink with a torch for drips or water marks.
• Flush every toilet and watch for water running continuously or leaking at the base.
• Check sealant around basins and along wall joints for gaps or mould.

Windows and doors

• Open and close every window. It should move smoothly and lock properly, with no loose or missing rivets or screws on hinges and handles. BCA advises owners to check and maintain their windows at least once every six months, so this doubles as one of those checks.
• Look for water marks on the sill or wall below windows after rain.
• Doors should close without scraping. Check hinges, locks and the main door's alignment in its frame.

Electrical and fittings

• Test every original power point and switch that HDB installed. A cheap plug-in socket tester makes this quick.
• Check the gate and door locks, letterbox key and any original fittings you haven't replaced.

How to report it so it gets fixed

1. Tape and number each defect, for example #12, the same way you did at key collection.
2. Take two photos per defect: a close-up showing the tape, and a wider shot showing where it is in the room.
3. Write the exact location, such as "Common bathroom, ceiling above shower, near vent".
4. Submit before the DLP ends, online or at the BSC, and keep a copy of what you submitted and the date.
5. Attend the joint inspection with your list and photos, and check each repair at the closing inspection.

A note on renovation

If your contractor has hacked, drilled or waterproofed an area, a defect there may be treated as renovation-related rather than a construction defect. That's why the photos and report from key collection matter: they show what the flat looked like before work began. Keep them with your re-check photos so you can compare the same spots.

Quick month-11 checklist

• Find your key collection date and work out your DLP end date.
• Re-check walls, ceilings, tiles, drainage, windows, doors and power points.
• Tape, number and photograph anything new.
• Report it with at least a few weeks to spare.
• Check the repairs, and keep all your records.