HDB BTO Defect Check Price in Singapore (2026): What It Really Costs
A BTO defect check starts at $109 and scales by flat type and how many trips you book. Here is the full price list, what is included, and why the cheapest quote is rarely the best value.
A professional BTO defect check in Singapore starts at $109 for a single-trip inspection of a 2-room flat, and scales with your flat type and how many trips you book — up to $719 for a 5-room-plus package that carries you through the full one-year warranty. Most 4-room owners pay $189 for a one-trip check or $279 for the popular 3-trip package. Below is the full published rate card, what each dollar buys, and where paying a little more actually saves you money.
The short version
- BTO defect checks run $109–$719 depending on flat type and trip package.
- A 4-room, 1-trip inspection is $189; the 3-trip package (initial + joint inspection + rectification review) is $279.
- Price scales by flat size and by number of trips, not by how many defects we find.
- The full rate card and instant calculator are published online — no quote-only games.
- The cheapest inspection is the one that misses defects; a missed hollow-tile wall costs far more than the fee.
How much does a BTO defect check cost?
Pricing is transparent and published by flat type. You pick your flat and your package — a single trip for the initial inspection and report, or a multi-trip package that also covers the joint inspection with HDB and a re-check of the rectified work. Here is the full HDB BTO rate card:
| Flat type | 1-Trip | 3-Trip | 5-Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Room | $109 | $199 | $349 |
| 3-Room | $159 | $249 | $439 |
| 4-Room | $189 | $279 | $529 |
| 5-Room | $199 | $309 | $619 |
| 3Gen | $219 | $369 | $719 |
Buying private instead? Condo and EC inspections are priced by unit size rather than flat type — from $179 for a unit up to 600 sqft to $789 for a large 1,701–2,000 sqft layout on the full package. See the condo & EC defect check rates for the sqft bands, or get your exact figure on the pricing page.
What is included in the price?
Every package — even the single trip — includes a full room-by-room inspection and a same-day digital report. You are not paying per defect or per hour. A one-trip BTO inspection covers:
- Architectural finishes — plastering, paintwork, skirting and alignment, checked under raking light.
- Floor and wall tiles — percussion-tested for hollow or debonded sections, plus chips and lippage.
- Waterproofing and water-tightness — wet-area falls, ponding and sealant across bathrooms, kitchen and service yard.
- Doors, windows and locksets — alignment, gaps, smooth operation and seals.
- Mechanical & electrical — every socket, switch, the DB board, lighting points and ventilation.
- A same-day report — every defect photographed, located and severity-graded, formatted for your BSC.
The multi-trip packages add the trips that actually get defects fixed: the joint inspection alongside your Building Service Centre, and a return visit to verify the rectification was done properly. Those trips are where a defect check turns into money HDB spends on your behalf. For a full breakdown of DIY versus a professional check, see our honest DIY vs professional comparison.
Should I book 1, 3 or 5 trips?
The trip count is really a question of how much of the follow-through you want us to handle. Most BTO owners who are renovating do well on the 3-trip package; the 5-trip package suits owners who want the whole Defects Liability Period, including a post-renovation re-check, covered end to end.
| Package | Covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Trip | Initial inspection + same-day report | Owners confident handling their own HDB submission and follow-up |
| 3-Trip | Initial + joint inspection with the BSC + rectification review | Most BTO owners — the sweet spot for getting defects actually fixed |
| 5-Trip | All of the above + post-renovation inspection + final review & handover | Owners renovating who want the full 1-year window covered |
Why isn’t the cheapest inspection the best?
Defect inspection is one of those services where the price you see and the value you get can point in opposite directions. A rushed inspector who clears a flat in 30 minutes and hands you a thin list is “cheap” — until the hollow-tile wall they didn’t percussion-test debonds a year later, well outside your warranty, and you pay four figures to re-tile. The average Singapore handover hides around 47 genuine defects, and the whole point of paying for a check is that the inspector finds the ones you can’t.
Judge a quote on what it includes, not just the number: a thorough room-by-room scope, percussion testing, a proper same-day report, and — on multi-trip packages — attendance at the joint inspection. We publish our full rate card precisely so you can compare like for like.
Is a BTO defect check worth the money?
The maths is simple. During your one-year Defects Liability Period, HDB fixes genuine workmanship defects at no cost to you. A single hollow-tile wall, a leaking shower screen, or a mis-wired socket that surfaces after the window closes will each cost more to fix yourself than a whole inspection. Find one real defect and the check has paid for itself; a typical report lists dozens.1
You’re not paying us to find defects. You’re paying us to find them while they’re still HDB’s problem to fix.
That is why we back it with a find-it guarantee: if we don’t find defects worth more than our fee, the inspection is free. Ready to see your exact price? Use the instant calculator on our pricing page, or book your HDB BTO defect check directly.
Frequently asked
How much does a BTO defect check cost in Singapore?
A BTO defect check starts at $109 for a 1-trip inspection of a 2-room flat and scales by flat type and package. A 4-room flat is $189 for a single trip or $279 for the 3-trip package; a 5-room is $199 (1-trip); a 3Gen flat runs up to $719 on the full 5-trip package. The complete rate card and an instant calculator are published on our pricing page.
Is the price per defect or a flat fee?
It is a flat fee based on your flat type and the number of trips you book — never per defect or per hour. Whether we find five defects or fifty, the price is the same, so there is no incentive to pad the report.
What is the difference between the 1-trip, 3-trip and 5-trip packages?
1-trip is the initial inspection and same-day report. 3-trip adds the joint inspection with your Building Service Centre and a rectification review. 5-trip adds a post-renovation inspection and a final review and handover, covering the full one-year Defects Liability Period.
Do I pay HDB anything to rectify the defects?
No. During the one-year Defects Liability Period, HDB rectifies genuine workmanship and material defects at no cost to you. You only pay for the independent inspection that documents them properly so your claim is accepted.
Is a professional defect check worth it over doing it myself?
For most owners, yes — a single missed defect that surfaces after your warranty closes usually costs more than the whole inspection fee. A professional catches hollow tiles, waterproofing failures and wiring faults that are hard to spot yourself. See our DIY vs professional comparison for an honest breakdown.
Sources & references
Every link below was checked against the live source. Regulations change — confirm specifics for your project before relying on them.
- 1Rectification of Defects in New FlatsHDB — HDB rectifies genuine defects at no cost during the one-year Defects Liability Period; after it ends, owners engage their own contractor.
