HDB

Defect Check List

Things to prepare
1) Masking / black tape
a) Tapes and Markers are essential to mark out the defective areas.
b) preferred masking tapes since they are easy to remove without leaving sticky residue and
permanent markers to write on these making tapes.
c) Recommended to get them in at least 2 colors; Red for the major defects and Yellow for the
minor ones, so that the HDB technician will know what areas to focus on rectifying first.
d) Strongly advise numbering and scribbling notes on the description of the defects so that
miscommunication can be minimized.
2) Three-pin electrical plug with a light check electrical sockets
3) Spirit Level
a) Use spirit level to check if the walls, doors, windows are slated way too much so to determine as
to see if there are any structural deviations with the room and wall measurements and that the
doors and windows are properly aligned and upright.
4) Screw driver switch on water supply
5) Bucket test drainage
6) Torchlight check drainage holes and toilet ceiling
7) Stool or ladders for inspecting those high out of reach places
8) Number lock to lock up the house
9) Coins or Marbles (Marbles check for hollow tiles)
Preferred marbles since they give off a distinct hollow sound when knocked against hallow tiles or
timber strips.
10) Cameras
a) Consider using DSLR to take extreme closeups of the defects.
11) Parents or Helpful Friends
a) Ask them along to help to check out the defect. You will be surprised that it will take at least 2
days to check everything.
b) bring friends who have an excellent eye for details


Whole House
S/N Description
Pass Fail
1
Check your keys. Make sure each key, even the one for your letter box, opens the


corresponding doors properly
2
Have a sip of the tap water after you've deemed it clean enough. It should taste fresh

and free from corrosion. Plus, there should also be no unnatural particles floating
around when you fill up a clear glass.
3
Be on a vigilant look out for any water leakage or damage on your ceilings, especially

after the neighbours on the floor above you has moved in and begun their
renovations
4
Fittings such as pipes, gates and windows are brand new too. Other things that you


should take note of are signs of rust, cracks on the toilet bowls and sinks, and window
rubber linings that are not dried.
5
Ensure one side of the ceiling is not taller than the other.


To check that the ceilings were of equal height.
- Spirit level handy to ensure that walls and ceilings are not slanted.
6
Leaking walls during wet weather (Is there any water seepage on the walls)?


Living Room
S/ Description
N
Windows
1 Can windows open and close smoothly without difficulty?
2 Is there any screeching sound?
3 Is there any rusty part on the frame, hinge or lock etc?
4 Is there any chipping off or scratches on the glass panel?
5 Are the window screws properly tightened?
6 Are the window screws rusty or Is any screws missing?
7 Is the window locks properly installed?
8 Pay attention to handles to ensure they are not loose
9 Check that windows all turn and lock properly
10 Properly aligned within their respective frames
11 Check windows on rainy days to ensure they do not leak
12 Ensure window rubber linings are not dried or rotten
13 Check windows for any beading/joint problem with gasket
Doors / Gate
1 Able to open the door and gate with the keys provided?
2 Is there any loose mechanism on the door and gate?
3 Does the door lock and knob look old and defective?
4 Is the door and gate properly aligned?
5 Is the door and gate hinge rusty?
6 Is there any rusty part on the gate frame?
7 Can the doors open and close smoothly?
8 Is there any screeching sound?
9 Are the door magnets old or moldy?
10 Can the door magnet stick properly?
11 Is the doorbell working?
12 Is the doorbell switch defective? Is it properly installed?
13 Is the main door see through hole properly installed?
14 Can you see clearly with the main door see through hole?
Walls / Tiles
1 Is there any wall lines, cracks or hairline cracks?
2 Are there any cracks on the ceiling?
3 Are there any chipped tiles?
4 Are the tiles placed correctly?
5 Are the walls aligned and even?
6 Tiles are not hollow or loose (Take a 50 cents coin or a marble, and tap on each tile to
check if it's hollow or loose)
7 Edge of one tile is not higher than its neighbors (Use ruler to make sure floor tiles are
even by placing a ruler on them)
8 Is there any stained, discolored & scratched titles?
SCV / Telephone Outlet
1 Is the SCV outlet old or moldy?
2 Is there any crack etc on the SCV outlet?
3 Is the telephone outlet old or moldy?
4 Is there any cracks etc on the Telephone outlet?

Pass Fail


Bedrooms
S/N Description
1
Room Door is not damaged
2
Windows
- make sure they can open and close without difficulty (Open all windows to their
fullest)
- Pay attention to handles to ensure they are not loose
- Check that windows all turn and lock properly
- have no rusty parts and properly aligned within their respective frames
- Any rusty Window Panels?
- Check windows on rainy days to ensure they do not leak
- Ensure window rubber linings are not dried or rotten
- Check windows for any beading/joint problem with gasket
3
Door frames are not rusty
4
Door frame is installed properly
5
No cracks on walls
6
Walls are aligned and even
7
Electrical sockets are working
8
For Parquet Floors, take a 50 cents coin or a marble, and tap on each tile to check if
it's hollow or loose. (Hollowness is NOT okay because empty tiles means nesting grounds for insects like ants, spiders

Pass Fail

etc. And when you have to sand the parquet tiles to remove scratches in future, your hollow tiles will get even thinner...and
more easily dent from knocks etc!)

No scratches and gaps in between the parquet tiles

Kitchen
S/ Description
N
Windows
1 Can windows open and close smoothly without difficulty?
2 Is there any screeching sound?
3 Is there any rusty part on the frame, hinge or lock etc?
4 Is there any chipping off or scratches on the glass panel?
5 Are the window screws properly tightened?
6 Are the window screws rusty or Is any screws missing?
7 Is the window locks properly installed?
8 Pay attention to handles to ensure they are not loose
9 Check that windows all turn and lock properly
10 Properly aligned within their respective frames
11 Check windows on rainy days to ensure they do not leak
12 Ensure window rubber linings are not dried or rotten
13 Check windows for any beading/joint problem with gasket

Walls / Tiles
1 Is there any wall lines, cracks or hairline cracks?
2 Are there any cracks on the ceiling?

Are there any chipped tiles?

Is the wall and floor titles placed correctly?
3 Are the walls aligned and even?
4 Tiles are not hollow or loose (Take a 50 cents coin or a marble, and tap on each tile to
check if it's hollow or loose)
5 Edge of one tile is not higher than its neighbors (Use ruler to make sure floor tiles are
even by placing a ruler on them)
6 Is there any stained, discolored & scratched titles?


Service Yard
S/N Description
2
Door frames are not rusty
3
Service yard door opens and closes smoothly
4
Pole hanger for drying clothes (everything is bolted properly and its mechanisms
function smoothly)
5
No cracks on walls
6
Walls are aligned and even
7
Electrical sockets are working
8
Tiles are not hollow or loose (For tiled walls/floor, take a 50 cents coin or a marble,
and tap on each tile to check if it's hollow or loose)
9
Water tap in service yard has a good flow rate
10 Edge of one tile is not higher than its neighbors (Use ruler to make sure floor tiles are
even by placing a ruler on them)
11 Proper Water drainage

Pass Fail

Pass

Fail