Condo vs HDB Renovation: Costs, Rules and Carpentry Differences
Cost ranges below are third-party 2026 planning estimates, not Form & Space quotations or guaranteed prices. Obtain an itemised quotation for your own scope, including applicable GST and exclusions.
The biggest differences between a condo and an HDB renovation are who approves the work, how much it typically costs, and how the logistics shape the carpentry. HDB flats follow one national set of rules, with permits applied for by an HDB-listed contractor. Condos follow the law on strata buildings plus each estate’s own MCST by-laws, with BCA involved for anything structural. Industry figures for 2026 put a new condo renovation at about S$44,290 to S$62,160 and a resale condo at about S$78,280 to S$105,000.
If you are choosing between the two, or moving from one to the other, here is what changes in practice.
Condo vs HDB renovation costs in 2026
Qanvast publishes 2026 projections for both property types, based on 2025 median costs from projects on its platform. These are typical market ranges, not Form & Space prices.
| Property | New / BTO | Resale |
|---|---|---|
| HDB 3-room | S$40,800 to S$52,500 | S$55,000 to S$68,300 |
| HDB 4-room | S$50,000 to S$60,000 | S$70,000 to S$81,600 |
| HDB 5-room | S$60,600 to S$76,500 | S$80,800 to S$98,900 |
| Condo (all sizes) | S$44,290 to S$62,160 | S$78,280 to S$105,000 |
Two patterns stand out. First, a new condo often costs less to renovate than you might expect, because developers usually hand over units with flooring, bathrooms, kitchen cabinets and wardrobes already in place. Much of the budget then goes into customising rather than rebuilding. Second, resale condos sit at the top of the range. Older units often need hacking, new wet areas and updated wiring and plumbing, and the extra approvals and access rules add time on site.
Who approves the works
HDB flats
HDB regulates what can be done in its flats. You must use a contractor from HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors, and that contractor applies online for a permit for items such as wall hacking, floor replacement, windows and toilet works. Structural members such as reinforced concrete walls, columns, beams and slabs must not be touched. Approved works must be finished within 3 months of the permit for new blocks and 1 month for existing blocks.
Condos
In a condo, approval usually comes from two directions:
- The MCST. Under section 37 of the Building (Strata Management) Act 2004, an owner generally needs the management corporation’s authority for an improvement affecting the building’s appearance, subject to the exception for qualifying safety equipment under section 37A. The MCST may approve it only if it will not detract from the building’s appearance and will not affect structural integrity. Anything that increases the floor area needs a 90% resolution, as well as any planning permission required.
- BCA and your Qualified Person. BCA advises private property owners to engage a Qualified Person—a registered architect or Professional Engineer with a valid practising certificate—to determine the clearances needed. Some minor works are exempt from BCA plan submission, but exemptions do not remove safety duties, MCST by-laws or other approval requirements. Before hacking any wall, have the proposed work assessed and obtain all required clearances.
Do not assume a wall is non-structural from its appearance. Ask your Qualified Person and estate management to confirm the requirements before demolition is scheduled.
Hours, deposits and logistics
| Item | HDB flat | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Rule book | HDB renovation guidelines, the same for every flat | Strata law plus your estate’s MCST by-laws, which vary |
| General work hours | Mon to Sat, 9am to 6pm | Set by your estate’s renovation rules; obtain permitted hours in writing |
| Noisy work | Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm only | Often shorter windows, set by the MCST |
| MCST deposit | Not applicable | Amount and refund conditions set by the estate; ask the managing agent |
| Lead time | Permit applied for by your contractor; no published processing time | Ask the managing agent for its application deadline and approval lead time |
| Common areas | Notify neighbours within 2 units, at least 5 days ahead | Lift, corridor and lobby protection, contractor registration with security |
Condo working hours, deposits, refund conditions and application lead times are estate-specific, not national standard amounts or deadlines. Get the current renovation guide and written requirements from your MCST or managing agent before booking works.
Carpentry differences between condo and HDB homes
Carpentry is where the two property types feel most different day to day.
What you start with
A new BTO flat usually comes with few built-ins, so the carpentry list is long: kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, shoe cabinets and TV consoles. A new condo often already has a kitchen and wardrobes from the developer, so owners tend to add or replace selected pieces rather than build everything from scratch. In a resale unit of either type, removing the old carpentry is part of the job.
Fixing points and walls
Both property types have walls you cannot cut into. In HDB flats, structural walls are off limits, and the household shelter walls must not be hacked or drilled. Apartment buildings built from 1996 must have a household shelter, so many condos have one too. Plan full-height wardrobes and wall-hung units around these walls from the start, and confirm with your MCST or Qualified Person in a condo.
Doors and the front of the home
In HDB flats, a main door on a fire escape route must be half-hour fire-rated with a door closer, and replacing it needs a permit. In a condo, anything visible from common areas, such as the main door, gate or windows, can count as affecting the building’s appearance, so check your MCST’s rules before you choose.
Delivery and installation
Condo rules on lift use, delivery times and work hours mean installers often have less time on site each day. Carpentry that is made accurately off site and installed quickly suits these limits well, and so does planning wiring, lighting and smart home points before the cabinets are drawn. In both property types, the more you settle at design stage, the fewer costly changes on site.
Checklist before you renovate
- HDB: confirm your contractor is in HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors and list every permit item.
- Condo: get your estate’s renovation guide and application form from the MCST or managing agent.
- Condo: ask whether your works need a PE endorsement, BCA approval or a 90% resolution.
- Both: mark structural walls and the household shelter on your floor plan.
- Both: build approval time into your programme before booking hacking dates.
- Both: compare quotes on the same itemised scope, including protection and debris removal.
To see how condo homes differ in practice, have a look at our Kent Ridge Hill Residences condo renovation.
Frequently asked questions
Is it more expensive to renovate a condo than an HDB flat?
Not always. Qanvast’s 2026 projections put a new condo renovation at about S$44,290 to S$62,160, close to a 4-room BTO at S$50,000 to S$60,000. Resale condos are higher, at about S$78,280 to S$105,000, because of hacking, wet works and extra access and approval requirements.
Do I need HDB approval to renovate a condo?
No. HDB renovation rules apply to HDB flats. For a condo, check your MCST’s renovation rules and ask a Qualified Person which BCA and other clearances the proposed works require.
Can I hack a wall in my condo?
Before hacking a wall in a condo, engage a Qualified Person to assess whether it is structural and identify the necessary BCA and other clearances. Also check the MCST’s renovation application and approval requirements. A BCA plan-submission exemption does not remove your other obligations.
How much is the MCST renovation deposit?
The amount and refund conditions depend on your estate. Obtain them from your MCST or managing agent; there is no single deposit amount that applies to every condo. Check the inspection process, deductions and refund timing in writing.
Are condo renovation hours the same as HDB hours?
Not necessarily. HDB allows general work from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and noisy work from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Each condo MCST sets its own hours, and they are often shorter.
Renovating a condo or an HDB flat?
Explore our residential renovation and in-house carpentry services. To discuss your floor plan, priorities and proposed scope, send us an enquiry.
Related guides: HDB renovation cost guide · HDB renovation permit guide.