HDB Window Repair Singapore
The single thing worth getting right before you book anyone: whether your job counts as maintaining an existing window, or as installing a new one.
Does HDB window repair need an approved contractor?
It depends which side of the line the work falls on. HDB states that installation or replacement of new aluminium windows must be carried out by a BCA-approved window contractor listed in HDB's directory. HDB also states that flat owners or occupants are responsible for maintaining existing aluminium windows — the category most part repairs sit in. Replacement is regulated; maintenance is your responsibility to arrange.
| Maintaining an existing window | Flat owner or occupant is responsible for arranging it |
|---|---|
| Installing or replacing a window | BCA-approved window contractor listed with HDB |
| Approval workhead | BCA workhead RW01 |
| Minimum warranty (HDB-listed contractors) | Three months on replaced parts; one year on total window replacement |
| Full-height windows | Special case — generally not replaceable except with permission for a damaged frame |
Where the line falls in practice
| Type of work | Category | Contractor requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Handle, lock, latch or keeper replacement | Maintenance of an existing window | Competent contractor; owner or occupant arranges it |
| Roller, track, friction stay or hinge replacement | Maintenance of an existing window | Competent contractor; owner or occupant arranges it |
| Rubber gasket or seal replacement | Maintenance of an existing window | Competent contractor; owner or occupant arranges it |
| Glass replacement in an existing frame | Maintenance of an existing window | Competent contractor; safe access and correct glass specification |
| Installing or replacing a whole aluminium window | Regulated | BCA-approved window contractor (RW01) listed with HDB |
| Retrofitting works on existing windows | Regulated | Approved contractor and trained window installer requirements apply |
| Full-height window replacement | Special case | Generally not allowed; permission may be granted for a damaged frame |
If you are unsure which row your job sits in, send photos and say it is an HDB flat. Placing the job in the right category before anyone quotes is the whole point of the assessment step.
What HDB window maintenance actually means
HDB places responsibility for maintaining existing aluminium windows on the flat owner or occupant. In practice that means checking the windows periodically rather than waiting for a failure. The things worth looking at:
- Rust streaks, pitting or flaking at hinges, friction stays and their fixings.
- Any play or wobble in a sash when it is gently moved.
- Handles and latches that have become loose, stiff or unreliable.
- Rubber gaskets that have gone chalky, cracked or pulled back at the corners.
- Sliding panels that have become stiff, or that lift too easily in the track.
- Water marks or staining below or beside the window after heavy rain.
Rivets and retrofitting
Certain older aluminium window types in Singapore have been the subject of retrofitting requirements, and BCA's window safety guidance states that replacement and retrofitting require approved contractors and trained window installers. If your windows are original to an older block, mention that in your enquiry — it changes which partner the case should go to. Always check the current official guidance for your window type rather than relying on a summary, including this one.
Renting: who arranges and who pays
Responsibility between landlord and tenant is decided by the tenancy agreement, not by a general rule. The practical advice is to report the fault in writing early, agree who is instructing the contractor before any visit, and keep the quotation and invoice. Read the landlord and tenant guide.
Repair services for HDB windows
Window Handle Replacement
Loose, spinning, stiff or snapped handles on casement and top-hung windows.
Read the repair guide
Window Lock and Latch Repair
Latches that will not catch, locks that jam, and keepers that no longer line up.
Read the repair guide
Sliding Window Roller Replacement
Stiff, grinding or jumping sliding panels caused by worn rollers and dirty tracks.
Read the repair guide
Window Friction Stay Replacement
Casement windows that drop, sag, or will not hold their position when open.
Read the repair guide
Window Hinge Repair
Rusted, stiff or sagging hinges that pull a casement sash out of square.
Read the repair guide
Window Rubber Seal Replacement
Perished gaskets that let in rain, wind noise and rattles.
Read the repair guideTell us it is an HDB flat and give your postal code — it decides both coverage and which partner is suitable.
Frequently asked questions
Does HDB window repair require a BCA-approved contractor?
It depends on the work. HDB states that installation or replacement of new aluminium windows must be carried out by a BCA-approved window contractor listed in HDB's directory. HDB also states that flat owners or occupants are responsible for maintaining existing aluminium windows, which is the category most repairs fall into. Where your job is regulated, we assign it to a partner holding the required registration and listing.
What does RW01 mean?
RW01 is the BCA workhead under which approved window contractors are registered. BCA's window safety guidance states that replacement and retrofitting require approved contractors and trained window installers. When BCA's online directory was checked on 28 July 2026 it listed 281 RW01 window contractors — a sizeable pool, though each one still has to be checked for scope, availability and HDB listing.
Who is responsible for maintaining HDB windows?
HDB states that flat owners or occupants are responsible for maintaining existing aluminium windows. That means routine checks and repairs are yours to arrange, not something HDB carries out for you. Where a flat is rented, the split between landlord and tenant depends on the tenancy agreement.
What warranty should I receive for HDB window work?
HDB's terms for approved window contractors listed with HDB set a minimum three-month warranty on replaced parts and a one-year warranty on a total window replacement. We require partner terms that meet the current official requirement, and the warranty must be written on the quotation and the invoice.
Can I replace a full-height window in my HDB flat?
Full-height windows are treated as a special case rather than a standard repair. HDB states that replacement is generally not allowed, except where permission may be granted for a damaged frame. We do not quote this online — the case has to be assessed against the current rules first.
How do I check that a contractor really is approved?
Ask for the legal company name and UEN, then check the BCA directory of RW01 window contractors and HDB's own listing for the work concerned. Do not accept a photograph of a certificate as proof. Our contractor rules guide sets out exactly what to ask for.