What home repair scams should you watch for?

The door-to-door home repair scam "on behalf of HDB"

HDB warns that some people go door to door claiming to do repairs on its behalf, such as replacing the bin chute hopper or installing laundry racks, and say their products are HDB-approved. Some residents paid deposits and the services were never provided. Other tricks include claiming to do upgrading work in the block, carrying official-looking files and saying your flat breaks vague regulations. Targets tend to be elderly people alone at home.

HDB informs residents in advance of works in their flat through circulars or notices on the block notice board, and its officers carry a staff card with their photograph. Ask to see the card before you let anyone in, and if they cannot show one, be firm and reject them.

Deposits and renovation work that never happens

In 2023, the Singapore Police Force arrested a man suspected of a series of renovation scams. He approached victims at their homes to promote his renovation service and became uncontactable after payments were made. Police believed he was involved in more than 20 cases islandwide.

When the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) published its guide on fair trading practices for the renovation industry in 2022, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) gave this advice in the same release:

• Research the contractor's credibility and track record before you sign.
• Insist on a written contract that describes the goods and services and says how delays are handled.
• Negotiate the deposit as low as possible and pay progressively by project milestones.

Prices that change on site

A pattern to watch for, whether people call it a locksmith scam or a plumber scam in Singapore, is a low price on the phone and a higher one at the door. The cost depends on the job, so know what a call-out fee covers and ask what the phone price includes.

For renovation, the CCCS guide says quotes should be accurate, clear and itemised, with mandatory charges stated at the outset, and that contract changes need the consumer's express agreement. For minor repairs, HDB says you negotiate the terms and charges with the contractor yourself and approve the work before paying.

If the price changes at the door:

1. Stop before work starts. Ask them not to begin until you agree the price.
2. Ask for an itemised written quote. Ask for every item and charge to be listed, so you can see what changed.
3. Check the company on Bizfile. Search the business name on Bizfile to see whether its status is live.
4. Decline if anything is unclear. If the quote is vague, you can say no and ask them to leave.
5. Pay only for work you approved. Check the finished work against the written quote before you pay.

Before your next job, read how to compare home-service quotes.

Fake approvals and certificates

Be wary of anyone who says their work or products are "HDB-approved". For renovation, HDB asks you to engage only contractors registered with it, in the Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC). HDB does not endorse DRC contractors or vouch for the quality of their works.

For digital locks, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) does not endorse or certify products, so an "SCDF-approved" lock is not something SCDF gives. What SCDF does require is that, since 2024, a digital lockset installed on a fire-rated door is certified for fire resistance. Ask the supplier for the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) and check that the brand and model match.

To check the business itself, use Bizfile, the portal of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). Search by business name or Unique Entity Number (UEN) to see basic information such as its live status and registered address.

What to do if it happens

If you have been misled, harassed or cheated, HDB advises making a police report immediately. In an emergency, call 999 for the police.

If you are not sure whether something is a scam, use ScamShield, the government's one-stop portal for scam awareness. You can report a scam there, or check one on the ScamShield app or by calling the ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

For a dispute with a real business over pricing, schedule or quality that you cannot settle privately, HDB notes you can seek help from CASE, the Singapore Mediation Centre or the Small Claims Tribunal, or go to court. If a dispute arises, CASE explains your options.

How to hire safely next time

• Compare written, itemised quotes from more than one company on the same points.
• Decide whether an hourly rate or fixed price suits your job, and agree it in writing.
• Use companies whose prices and sources you can see.
• For regulated work, check that the person holds the licence the job needs.

Before you agree to anything, go through the questions to ask before hiring a handyman. If a cleaning price looks far below others, read about red flags in cheap cleaning offers.

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