Moving Into Your BTO: From Key Collection to Move-In, in Order
Inspect, renovate, clean, move in. The most expensive BTO mistakes come from doing these out of order — so here's the order, and what to check at each step.
The short answer
- Inspectand report defects first
- Renovateonce defects are on record
- Cleanafter every trade has finished
- Move inand keep noting defects
Do it in this order: inspect and report defects, then renovate, then clean, then move in. Inspect first, because renovation can cover up defects you haven't reported. Clean after renovation, because renovation dust gets everywhere. And keep noting defects after you've moved in — some only show up once you're living in the flat.
Before key collection
HDB will let you know when your flat is ready and how to book a key collection appointment. HDB's website has the current process and the documents you'll need. While you wait:
- Shortlist renovation contractors. For work in an HDB flat, use a contractor listed in HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors, and ask each for a written, itemised quotation and timeline.
- Decide what you actually need to renovate. New BTOs come with finishes already installed, and many owners renovate less than they first planned once they see the flat in person.
- Put together an inspection kit: masking tape or sticky notes to mark defects, a phone charger to test power points, a coin or small tool to tap tiles, a torch, and your phone for photos.
- Sort out the utilities account for the new flat with SP Group.
Key collection day: inspect before anyone else touches it
Once contractors start work, it gets much harder to tell a defect that came with the flat from damage done during renovation. So walk every room before any work begins, and photograph everything with the date visible.
Floors and walls
- Tap the tiles. A hollow sound suggests a tile isn't properly bonded and may crack or lift later. Mark each one.
- Look along the walls in raking light — a torch held flat against the wall shows up uneven plastering and patchy paint.
- Check for cracks in walls and ceilings, and around window frames.
Doors and windows
- Open, close and lock every door and window. Look for gaps, sticking and sagging hinges.
- Check the main door and gate locks work with every key you've been given.
Plumbing
- Run every tap, hot and cold, and look underneath for drips.
- Flush every toilet and check it refills and stops.
- Pour water on the bathroom floor and watch where it goes. It should run to the floor trap, not pool in a corner.
Electrical
- Test every switch and every power point. A phone charger makes a quick tester.
- Check the distribution board is labelled.
Report defects within the defects liability period
New BTO flats come with a defects liability period — generally 12 months from key collection — during which you can report defects for HDB to rectify. Report what you found on inspection day promptly, and keep a running list afterwards. HDB's website has the current process.
Don't let renovation cover a defect. If a floor tile is hollow and your contractor lays new flooring over it, you've lost the chance to have it fixed at no cost — and a hollow tile underneath can still cause trouble later. Get defects rectified, or at least recorded, before that part of the flat is renovated.
Renovation: agree what's included before it starts
Some renovation works in HDB flats need a permit, and there are rules on what can be altered and when work can be done. Your contractor normally handles the permit, but it's your flat, so check HDB's renovation guidelines yourself before agreeing to anything structural.
Before work starts, agree in writing:
- What debris the contractor will clear. Usually the hacking debris and packaging from their own work — but check.
- Whether a final clean is included, and what it covers. A contractor's "cleaning" is often a sweep, not the clean you'll want before moving in.
- The completion date, and what happens if it slips.
When the work is done, go through the post-renovation checklist before you make the final payment.
The clean: after every trade has finished
Renovation dust is fine enough to settle inside closed cabinets, window tracks, light fittings and the aircon. A proper post-renovation clean deals with all of it, along with paint drips, cement stains on tiles and adhesive residue. It only works once every contractor has finished — including the curtain installer and whoever is doing the last touch-ups — and before your furniture arrives.
If the aircon ran during renovation, or wasn't covered while work was going on, have it serviced before you move in. What aircon servicing involves.
Move in, then keep watching
With the flat clean, book your movers — our moving checklist covers the timing — and report your new address to ICA within 28 days of moving.
Then keep an eye on the flat for the rest of the defects liability period. Some defects only appear with time and use: hairline cracks, a tile that lifts, a leak that shows up in heavy rain. Note each one with a date and a photo, and report them before the period ends.
Common questions
How long is the defects liability period for a BTO flat?
BTO flats come with a defects liability period, generally 12 months from key collection, during which you can report defects for HDB to rectify. Check HDB's website for the current terms and how to lodge a report.
What should I check at BTO key collection?
Tap floor and wall tiles for hollow spots, test every switch and power point, run every tap and flush the toilets, check that doors and windows open, close and lock properly, and look for cracks, stains and uneven paint. Photograph anything you find.
Should I clean my BTO before or after renovation?
After. Renovation leaves fine dust on every surface and inside every cabinet, so a proper clean only makes sense once all the contractors have finished.
Can I use any contractor to renovate my BTO?
For HDB flats, use a contractor listed in HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors, and make sure any works that need a renovation permit have one before they start. HDB's website has the current rules.