HDB renovation handover checklist: what to check before the final payment
Handover day. The flat looks finished, the ID is in a rush, and you're handed a pen. Fifteen minutes later you've signed, and on the first shower the bathroom floor doesn't drain.
Before you go
- Your contract and itemised quotation, to check that everything listed was done.
- Signed variation orders, so you know what changed.
- Your phone charged, for photos and the torch. A coin for tapping tiles and a small plug tester if you have one.
Room by room
| Where | Check |
|---|---|
| Bathrooms | Run every tap and the shower for a few minutes. Watch the floor drain clear with no pooling. Look under the basin for drips. Check the sealant around the basin, bath and shower screen. Flush the toilet and check it's fixed firm. |
| Kitchen | Run the sink and check under it for leaks. Open every cabinet and drawer, and check the hinges close softly and doors line up. Look for gaps between the countertop and the wall. Test the hob and hood points. |
| Floors | Tap tiles and listen for hollow ones. Look along the floor for uneven tiles, chips and grout gaps. Check vinyl or laminate doesn't lift at the edges. |
| Walls and ceilings | Look along each wall with the torch held flat for cracks, bumps and patchy paint. Check false-ceiling joints and the area around downlights. |
| Electrical | Try every switch, socket and light. Check each socket matches the plan and the DB box is labelled. |
| Doors and windows | Open, close and lock every door and window. Check gaps are even and nothing scrapes. |
| Carpentry | Wardrobes, shoe cabinets, TV console: doors aligned, edges sealed, no raw board showing, handles firm. |
How to log defects
- Photograph each one close up and from a distance so it can be found again.
- Write one line per defect: room, what's wrong, who fixes it.
- Agree a fix date for each and share the list in writing with your ID or contractor.
- Check each fix and photograph it before you tick it off.
Collect before the final payment
- Warranty for the workmanship, in writing. CaseTrust-accredited firms give 12 months from completion.
- Warranties and manuals for appliances, water heater and fittings.
- Receipts for every payment made.
- The final drawings, and any approvals from HDB or your condo management.
Many contracts keep the last payment until handover. See the payment schedule guide for how payments are usually split.
Keeping the list in one place
In Synify, each defect is a snag with a photo, and it stays open until it's fixed. You and your ID see the same list, so nobody's working from a different notepad. The homeowner's side is free, and you can start the project yourself and invite your ID. For what to photograph during works, see the renovation checklist.
Common questions
What should I check at HDB renovation handover?
Walk every room in daylight with your ID or contractor. Run every tap and shower and watch the floor drains clear, test every switch, socket and light, open every door, drawer and cabinet, and look along walls, ceilings and tiles for cracks, gaps, stains and hollow tiles. Photograph and list each defect with an agreed fix date, and collect warranties, manuals and receipts before the final payment.
Should I make the final payment at handover?
Many contracts tie a small final payment to handover and the defects list being cleared. Check what your contract says before you pay it.
How long is the warranty on renovation work?
It depends on your contract. CaseTrust-accredited renovation firms give a 12-month workmanship warranty from completion. Keep the warranty in writing.
How do I check for hollow tiles?
Tap each floor tile with a coin or the handle of a screwdriver. A hollow tile sounds dull and different from the tiles around it. Mark it, photograph it and add it to the list.
What if a defect appears after handover?
Photograph it, write down the date you found it and send it to your ID or contractor in writing. If it is within the warranty period, ask them to fix it under the warranty.
Keep your defect list, photos and payments in one record with your ID. Free for homeowners, no card.
Start your projectSources and a note
General information, not professional advice. Your contract with your ID or contractor takes priority over this page.