How do you complain about renovation noise?

Is the noise within the allowed hours?

Start with the clock, because the hours decide whether you have a clear point to raise. For HDB flats, the hours are set out on HDB's renovation information page. General renovation is allowed from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays, with none on Sundays and public holidays. Restricted works, the noisy ones such as demolishing walls, removing wall or floor finishes, cutting tiles and heavy and excessive drilling, are allowed only from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. They are not allowed on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays or the eves of New Year's Day, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa and Christmas Day.

If the neighbour renovation noise happens inside these hours, the timing itself is within the rules above, even when the noise is hard to live with. Noise outside them, or noisy works on a Saturday, gives you a clear point to raise. To check a specific day and time, try the renovation hours checker.

Step-by-step: raising a renovation noise complaint

A calm, well-prepared approach gives you the strongest footing. Work through these steps in order.

1. Note the details. Write down the dates, times and type of noise, such as drilling, hammering or tile cutting. A simple record makes the problem easier to explain later.
2. Check the Notice of Renovation. If the noise comes from an HDB flat, look for the Notice of Renovation outside it. It helps you see who the contractor is and whether a permit was issued.
3. Speak to the neighbour politely. HDB suggests choosing a suitable time, not confronting your neighbour when you are angry, keeping calm and polite, then waiting a few days to see if the problem is solved. You can also speak calmly to the contractor on site.
4. Give feedback to the right body. If talking does not help, contact the body that handles renovation noise for that type of home, as explained in the next section.
5. Seek mediation. If the problem continues, ask a neutral third party to mediate before you consider the tribunal.

Who handles the feedback?

Where your feedback goes depends on the type of home the noise comes from. The National Environment Agency (NEA) regulates noise from additions and alterations works in landed properties only. For noise from an HDB unit, NEA says to give feedback directly to HDB, which issues permits for renovation work in HDB flats. So an HDB renovation complaint goes to HDB, not NEA. For noise from a condo unit, NEA says to give feedback to the condo's Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST), which manages the units.

Condo residents can read more about how renovation works are managed in our guide to condo renovation rules. When you give feedback, share your notes on the dates, times and type of noise, so the pattern is easy to see.

Mediation and the tribunal

If the noise continues after you have spoken to your neighbour and given feedback, mediation is the next step. HDB's guide to neighbour disputes says a neutral third party can mediate, and there are two routes. For informal mediation, contact your grassroots leaders. For formal mediation, go to the Community Mediation Centre, which has trained volunteer mediators. You can register a case online or call 1800-CALL-LAW (1800-2255-529).

The last step is the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals, which handle unreasonable interference with the enjoyment or use of a home. HDB strongly encourages mediation before filing and calls the tribunals a measure of last resort.

If you are the one renovating

A little planning keeps things smooth with the neighbours. HDB's renovation rules say flat owners are responsible for renovations in their flat, must make sure the contractor follows HDB's guidelines and must engage only contractors from HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors. Before works begin, inform neighbours within a radius of 2 units with a written notice at least 5 days in advance, and have the contractor put up the Notice of Renovation early. Keep it displayed outside the flat until all renovations are completed.

During the works, HDB asks residents to close the main door when possible. Only 2 of the handheld power tools approved by HDB (or their equivalent) may be used at any one time, and contractors cannot take more than 3 consecutive days to demolish walls or remove wall or floor finishes.

For the full timetable, see our guide to HDB renovation hours, and check which works need approval in our HDB renovation permit guide.

Questions