Does this job need a licensed plumber
Start with the job itself, because it decides who you can call. PUB's Plumbing Works page says all regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be done by PUB Licensed Plumbers, except the simple plumbing works handymen may do. Since 2018 it has been an offence to engage a plumber not licensed by PUB for regulated works, so this check matters to you as the person hiring.
PUB's page also shows where the line falls. Installing or replacing a washbasin or sink and its bottle trap is simple work a handyman may do. Installing, changing or relocating a toilet bowl and the sanitary piping system is sanitary plumbing work for a Licensed Plumber. Swapping a cracked basin in a BTO bathroom is therefore a different booking from moving the toilet in a resale flat renovation.
So your first question to any company is simple: does this job need a licensed plumber, and will one do it? Our guide on what needs a licensed plumber has more examples.
Licensed plumber Singapore check
Ask for the name and licence number of the person who will do the work, not only the company name, then look it up. PUB's Licensed Plumbers page explains that PUB licenses plumbers, and that homeowners can find Licensed Plumbers through PUB's online listings, the Singapore Plumbing Society or their Town Council.
Raise it early, for example in the same message as your photos of the leak, rather than once someone is kneeling under your sink. If a different person turns up on the day, ask again before the tools come out. Our licensed plumber page explains the service in more detail.
Is the company registered
ACRA's guide to Bizfile's search functions explains how to look up a business on Bizfile, ACRA's portal. Select the Entity tab and enter the business name or Unique Entity Number (UEN). To search by UEN, choose "UEN (including previous UEN)" under the keyword match type filter, then click More information to view the entity profile.
Keep the result in proportion. A UEN or a live status shows registration only. It does not prove that anyone holds a plumbing licence, that the work will be sound or that past jobs went well. What it does help with is matching the name on the quote to the name on the invoice. See how to verify a contractor UEN for more.
Questions to ask before hiring a plumber about the quote
A quote for a leaking concealed pipe in a condo kitchen will look nothing like one for a dripping basin trap, so ask for parts and labour on separate lines. Parts should be named, such as the valve, trap or flexible hose, not lumped together as "materials". Labour should say whether it is a fixed sum for the job or charged by time.
Next, the visit itself. Ask whether there is a plumber call-out fee, whether you pay it if you decide not to go ahead, and whether it changes for visits at night, on Sundays or on public holidays.
Finally, ask what happens if the plumber opens a wall or cabinet and finds more damage than expected. A clear answer is that they stop, explain and quote again before carrying on. Quotes depend on the job; our plumbing quote checklist covers the rest.
GST and invoices
Not every plumbing business adds GST. IRAS's page on buying from a GST-registered business says not all businesses are registered for GST and only GST-registered businesses may charge GST. IRAS also has an e-Service to check whether a business is GST-registered, so you can quickly verify a quote that shows GST.
Ask whether the quoted figure already includes GST or will be added at the end. When the bill arrives, it should carry the company name you looked up on Bizfile and repeat the parts, labour and call-out lines from the quote. If the company bills by the hour, our piece on hourly rate vs fixed price explains how that affects the final total.
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Compare plumbersPlumber or handyman
Many repair lists mix small jobs with regulated ones. Under PUB's Plumbing Works rules, a handyman may install or replace a washbasin or sink and its bottle trap, while other water service and sanitary plumbing works need a PUB Licensed Plumber. If one visit covers a new basin and moving a toilet bowl in a landed home, booking a licensed plumber for the whole job saves you from splitting it.
When a handyman offers to do plumbing, ask which parts they will handle and who does the rest. Our plumber vs handyman comparison sets out the differences. If the same visit includes a light or socket, run through the questions to ask before hiring an electrician as well.
Questions
How do I check if a plumber is licensed?
Ask for the licence number and look it up. PUB's Licensed Plumbers page says homeowners can find Licensed Plumbers through PUB's online listings, the Singapore Plumbing Society or their Town Council. Check the person who will do the work, not just the company. A UEN on Bizfile shows registration only, so it cannot answer this question.
Can a handyman replace a tap?
Only if the job is on PUB's list of simple plumbing works. PUB's Plumbing Works page says installing or replacing a washbasin or sink and its bottle trap is simple work a handyman may do, and other water service and sanitary plumbing works need a PUB Licensed Plumber. If you are unsure where a tap job sits, ask a licensed plumber before booking.
Should I pay a deposit to a plumber?
Only once the amount and terms are clear. For a small repair, you can ask to pay when the job is finished. For larger work, such as re-piping during a renovation, agree what the deposit covers, whether it is refundable and when the balance is due. Pay the registered company named on the quote and keep the receipt.
Is the call-out fee waived if I go ahead with the job?
Sometimes. Some companies waive the call-out charge if you go ahead with the repair, while others charge it either way. Ask before the visit and keep the answer in a message or on the quote. Also check whether the same applies to after-hours visits, so the invoice holds no surprises.
What should the invoice show?
It should show the company's registered name and UEN, the job address, and separate lines for parts, labour and any call-out or after-hours charge. IRAS says only GST-registered businesses may charge GST, and its e-Service lets you check a business. Keep the invoice with your home records in case the leak returns.
Who is responsible if a repair leaks again?
Whatever you agreed with the company decides it, so settle this in writing before work starts. Ask what the company will do if the same joint or pipe leaks again: whether it returns to inspect, for how long, and whether both parts and labour are covered. Without that note on the quote or invoice, a repeat leak can turn into a dispute.
Practical guidance for planning a home job in Singapore. Company prices come from the HomezyPro directory, each linked to its source; rules and safety points link to the agency or manufacturer that sets them. This is not a site inspection, a quote or professional advice for your home.
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