LayeredHow to Check an HDB Licensed Renovation Contractor
An HDB-registered contractor is the only kind that can apply for your renovation permit. Here is the five-minute check, and the two other licences people forget.
If you are renovating an HDB flat, one check should come before design, price or style: is the firm an HDB licensed contractor? Only contractors registered with HDB can apply for the renovation permit, so this is both a legal requirement and a quick filter against unreliable operators. Here is how to check, in about five minutes.
Why the HDB licence matters
HDB keeps a directory of registered renovation contractors. Works that need an HDB renovation permit, such as hacking walls, must be done by a registered contractor, who also files the application for you. If your firm is not registered, it cannot do those works lawfully, and you, as the owner, can face the consequences. Read more in our HDB renovation permit and rules guide.
Step by step: how to verify an HDB licensed contractor
- Ask for the exact registered company name and HDB licence number. Ask in writing (a message is fine). A registered firm can give you both immediately.
- Look the firm up on HDB. Use HDB's contractor lookup and search for the company.
- Match the details. The company name and licence number must match what the firm gave you and what will appear on your contract.
- Check the status and dates. Look for an active registration and check the validity or expiry date. A suspended or expired entry is a red flag.
- Check the company behind the quote. The name on your quote, contract and invoices should be the registered company, not a trading name you cannot trace.
The two other licences people forget
HDB registration is not the only licence that matters. Specific trades are regulated separately:
- Electrical works must be carried out by an electrical worker licensed by the Energy Market Authority (EMA). A renovation contractor licence does not authorise electrical installation work.
- Plumbing and sanitary works must be carried out by a licensed plumber with PUB, apart from some simple jobs.
Ask your firm who their licensed electrical worker and plumber are, and ask to see the licences. A good firm will not mind.
HDB licence vs CaseTrust: two different things
| HDB registration | CaseTrust | |
|---|---|---|
| What it tells you | The firm may do HDB renovation works and apply for permits | The firm meets a consumer-protection standard, such as a standard contract and deposit protection |
| Who runs it | HDB | Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) |
| Where to check | HDB contractor lookup | CASE's CaseTrust website |
You want both. Our guide to CaseTrust and HDB licences explains the differences, including CaseTrust-RCMA and CaseTrust Gold.
Red flags
- The firm cannot give a licence number, or gives one that does not match the lookup.
- The registered name differs from the name on the quote or contract.
- Pressure to start hacking before the permit is approved.
- Reluctance to name the licensed electrician or plumber.
On Layered
Firms on Layered can list their HDB licence number and CaseTrust accreditation, and you can filter the directory by credentials. These are self-declared unless marked as checked by Layered (a tick and a date), so use them as a prompt, then check them yourself with the steps above. Our renovation checklist includes this check in the "Choose your designer" stage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check an HDB renovation contractor's licence online?
Yes. HDB provides a contractor lookup on its e-services site where you can search by company and confirm the licence details, including status and dates.
Is an HDB licensed contractor the same as a CaseTrust firm?
No. HDB registration lets a firm do HDB renovation works and apply for permits. CaseTrust is a separate consumer-protection accreditation from CASE. Check both.
Does an HDB-registered contractor need a licensed electrician?
Yes. Electrical installation must be done by an electrical worker licensed by the EMA, which is separate from the contractor's HDB registration.
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