Handyman vs contractor: side-by-side comparison
Rows link to HDB, PUB, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS). Prices depend on the job, so there are none here; see handyman rates.
| Point | Handyman | Renovation contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Renovation in an HDB flat | Only a DRC contractor may do it | HDB requires a DRC contractor for all renovations |
| Minor repairs | HDB lets you engage your own contractor privately | The same private arrangement applies |
| Permits | Works on the permit list go to a DRC contractor | Submits the e-application with your signed form (HDB) |
| Plumbing | Only PUB's simple plumbing works (PUB) | Regulated works need a PUB Licensed Plumber (PUB) |
| Electrical | EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA. (EMA) | The same EMA rule applies (EMA) |
| Contract | Private: agree the charges and approve the work before paying (HDB) | Private; CCCS has a fair trading guide for renovation |
When should you hire a renovation contractor instead of a handyman?
Hire one for any renovation in an HDB flat. HDB requires a contractor listed in its Directory of Renovation Contractors for all renovations, and works that need an HDB permit can start only after the permit is granted.
HDB's building works guidelines list works that need a permit, including replacing floor finishes such as ceramic, homogeneous, marble or parquet tiles, replacing internal wall finishes up to ceiling level, demolishing non-load bearing reinforced concrete elements and repositioning internal door entrances. All demolition or alteration of walls can only be carried out after HDB approves it.
That is where the renovation contractor vs handyman line sits: if the job is on the permit list, or is any other renovation, it goes to a DRC contractor. Our guide to HDB renovation permits explains the process.
What a handyman can do
HDB notes that fixtures and fittings such as pipes, water taps, cisterns, hinges, tiles and switches wear out, and owners maintain them. For minor repairs you may engage a contractor privately, agree the charges and approve the work before paying. A worn item is not always handyman work, though: switches and many pipes need a licensed worker. See jobs a handyman can do.
PUB lets a handyman without a PUB licence do only its simple plumbing works. These include replacing or removing any tap or mixer, a shower hose or showerhead connected to a tap, any pipe between a stop valve and an instantaneous water heater, or a flushing cistern's flushing mechanism; installing, replacing or removing any washbasin or sink, including the bottle trap or fitting trap below it; replacing a floor trap grating or cover; and clearing any blockage in a floor trap, water closet or sanitary appliance.
Repairing or replacing any other water pipe, concealed or exposed, pipework for a storage water heater and installing, changing or relocating a toilet bowl are not on the list. They need a PUB Licensed Plumber, and since 2018 it has been an offence to engage a plumber not licensed by PUB for regulated works (PUB). See what needs a licensed plumber.
EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA. EMA lists work on wiring, power points such as socket-outlets, switches or lighting points, and consumer control units or circuit breakers.
HDB-listed contractors
HDB's e-Service lets you search the Directory of Renovation Contractors. DRC contractors are aware of HDB's requirements and of protecting the building's structural integrity, but HDB does not endorse them or the quality of their works. Your contract with one is private, and HDB is not privy to it.
If you disagree on pricing, schedule or quality and cannot settle it privately, HDB says you can seek help from the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), the Singapore Mediation Centre or the Small Claims Tribunal, or go to court.
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See handyman companies in the directory with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their sources.
Compare handymenCost and accountability
Prices depend on the job, so this page lists none. To compare quote types, see hourly rate or fixed price.
For renovation, the CCCS guide on fair trading practices, published in 2022, covers a mutually agreed timeline and transparent pricing: quotes that are accurate, clear and itemised, with mandatory charges stated at the outset.
CASE's advice in the same CCCS release is to insist on a written contract that says how delays are handled, negotiate the deposit as low as possible, pay progressively by project milestones, and photograph outstanding defects and make sure they are fixed before full payment. CaseTrust-accredited renovation businesses must use the CaseTrust Standard Renovation Contract and protect deposits with a deposit performance bond.
Which one should you choose?
- Repairing or replacing one fitting: a handyman, if it is not regulated plumbing or electrical work.
- Anything on HDB's permit list, or any renovation: a DRC contractor.
- Any electrical work: a Licensed Electrician.
- Regulated plumbing: a PUB Licensed Plumber.
For borderline jobs, read handyman or specialist, or compare handyman services in the directory.
Questions
Can a handyman do renovation work in an HDB flat?
Does a handyman need to be on HDB's contractor list?
Only for renovation work. For renovation, HDB says to engage only contractors registered with it, so check the Directory of Renovation Contractors. For minor repairs, such as a worn tap, hinge or cistern, HDB says you may engage your own contractor privately.
Can a handyman change a tap or fix a plumbing leak?
Yes for a tap, but a leaking water pipe usually needs a PUB Licensed Plumber. PUB's simple plumbing works list lets a handyman replace a tap or mixer, flexible hoses and any pipe between a stop valve and an instantaneous water heater, and clear chokes. Other water pipes are regulated work.
Can a handyman do electrical work?
Only if the handyman is a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW). EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA. Ask to see the licence card before work starts, as EMA advises.
Who applies for the HDB renovation permit?
Your renovation contractor does. You authorise the contractor to submit an electronic renovation application on your behalf, with an acknowledgement form you sign. HDB sends an SMS when it receives the submission, and you can view your permit once it is granted. For electrical work that needs a permit, your Licensed Electrical Worker may apply for you.
Is a renovation contractor on HDB's list endorsed by HDB?
No. HDB does not endorse contractors in its Directory of Renovation Contractors or the quality of their works. Your contract is private and HDB is not privy to it. If a dispute cannot be settled, you can seek help from the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), the Singapore Mediation Centre or the Small Claims Tribunal, or go to court.
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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