Renovation
works are very popular in Singapore as more people seek to upgrade
their buildings to fit into modern status. However, finding the right renovation
contractor for the job is very important especially one who will not
only provide you with quality services but also do the job according to
the laid down regulations. Before commencing with your renovation project, it is important to understand the laid down regulations to avoid landing into trouble with the authorities.
Important timing regulations for renovations in Singapore
As aforementioned, every renovation contractor must adhere to the laid down regulations. The labor laws in particular prohibit the following:
· All general renovation works should only be carried out between 8am and 6pm daily.
· Noisy renovation including drilling works, wall demolitions, cutting of tiles, floor finishes or removing walls should only be carried out between 9am and 5pm during weekdays.
· DIY (Do-It-Yourself) works such as hammering and drilling should not be carried out from 10:30pm to 7am.
Why renovation works are prohibited on Sundays
The reason as to why the National Environment Agency prohibits any renovation works on Sundays and public holidays include the following:
· To allow construction/renovation workers time to rest for the sake of their health and effectiveness. Generally, workers are supposed to work for between 8 and 12hours per day according to employment act.
As
the home or flat owner, it is important to know and adhere to these
regulations since you will at all times be held responsible for all the renovation
works taking place in your property. Any lack of compliance with the
set requirements by the contractor affects you directly and the
consequence are squarely on you and therefore you will need to ensure
that everything works as stipulated in the permit you are issued with
for the job.
In
addition to not working on public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays, it is
also advisable to familiarize yourself with other regulations set to
regulate the timings and duration you should take during the renovation projects. Below are some of the additional requirements you should keep in mind during the project.
· Any renovation work on existing flats or houses must be completed with the first one month upon the approval and issuance of the permit.
· All noisy projects such as demolition of walls, cutting of tiles, wall finishes and removal of floors should only be done between 9am and 5pm. These jobs should not be done on public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
· The renovation contractor is only allowed to use two hand-held power tools which are approved or allowed equivalents.
· Renovation contractors should not take more than 3 consecutive days demolishing the walls and/or removing walls and/or finishing floors.
Completing of Work
It is your responsibility as the flat owner, to ensure that the renovation contractor you hire is registered and that he completes the work according to the HDB requirements. Together with your renovation contractor, you will also be required to display a Notice of Renovation from the time you are issued with the permit until the project is complete.
As
the flat or homeowner, failure to adhere to the laid down guidelines
could see you face tough penalties from the local authorities. Some of
these penalties or consequences include the following:
· Renovation work that does not comply with the regulations will be considered unauthorized and you can be instructed to either reinstate it to the previous state or remove it all together.
It is also important to apply for a permit and get approval before starting your project. However, if your renovation
does not require a permit, you will still need to comply with the
regulations which include not working on Saturdays, Sundays and public
holidays.