Living in Your Home: Renovation, Defects, Noise and Pets
Living in an HDB flat comes with its own rules: a window after key collection for HDB to fix defects, permits and working hours for renovation, limits on noise and how neighbour disputes are handled, and how many cats and dogs a flat may keep. These guides set out each rule, the process and what it costs.
Who this is for: New flat owners, renovating owners, and owners and tenants with pets.
Home & Living Guides
Every PropKaki guide on home & living, newest first.
HDB Pet Rules 2026: How Many Cats and Dogs You Can Keep, What Licences Cost, and Renting With Pets
An HDB flat may keep 2 cats and 1 dog from HDB's approved list; a private home, 3 cats or dogs in all. Every pet cat has needed an AVS licence since 1 September 2026; a sterilised cat's lifetime licence costs $35. Here are the rules, the costs and how renting with a pet works.
HDB Renovation and Noise Rules: Hours, Saturday Drilling, NEA's Limits and Neighbour Disputes
General renovation in an HDB flat may run 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday; hacking, tile work and heavy drilling only 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Here are the dates they stop in the next 12 months, NEA's limits, and where a noise complaint goes.
BTO Defects Inspection: How HDB's Defect Check Works, What to Check and What Happens After Year One
HDB fixes defects in a new flat for a year from key collection, but asks you to report them within the first month and before renovation starts. MND says most are minor and more than 90% are fixed within 14 working days. Here is how the process works and what to check.
BTO Renovation Ideas That Pass HDB's Rules: What You Can Change and What the Fittings Cost
HDB's brochures show what a new BTO flat comes with, and its own price notes put flooring, internal doors and sanitary fittings at $8,000 to $9,000 in a 4-room. Here is what you can change, what needs HDB's permit, and which windows, tiles and walls you have to leave alone.
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Home & Living — Frequently Asked
What does Home & Living cover?
Living in an HDB flat comes with its own rules: a window after key collection for HDB to fix defects, permits and working hours for renovation, limits on noise and how neighbour disputes are handled, and how many cats and dogs a flat may keep. These guides set out each rule, the process and what it costs.
Who are these Home & Living guides for?
New flat owners, renovating owners, and owners and tenants with pets.
How many PropKaki guides cover Home & Living?
PropKaki publishes 4 guides on home & living, most recently updated 25 September 2026. Every guide is built on real URA, HDB and data.gov.sg data, with the working shown.
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