10 Unlawful HDB Renovations You Might Overlook (Caution: Potential $5,000 Penalty)

It's always exciting to witness the creative ideas HDB homeowners bring to their residences. However, while exploring creativity in various aspects of home design is enjoyable, it's crucial to be aware of the guidelines to distinguish between approved and unauthorized modifications.

In the past three years, approximately 190 HDB flats have undergone some form of illicit renovation work. Those apprehended for such violations may face financial penalties, with potential fines reaching up to $5,000 upon conviction.

To ensure a seamless renovation process, it's essential to be mindful of the following 10 prohibited HDB modifications when conceptualizing your next home design.

1. Hacking Structured Walls

There are several compelling reasons to undertake home renovations despite the associated high costs. From creating a more open living space to customizing the layout to align with your lifestyle, these modifications play a significant role in defining a home.

With the ongoing trend of a declining birth rate in Singapore, modern families often have fewer members. Some individuals may prioritize a larger living area over having three dedicated bedrooms in their homes.

However, it's crucial to exercise caution before embarking on extensive wall removal within your flat, as not every wall can be dismantled, even with a willingness to cover the expenses. In most cases, securing prior written approval from HDB is mandatory for any demolition or hacking of walls, whether partial or complete. This requirement stems from the primary concern of preserving the structural integrity of the building to ensure the safety of all residents. Any alterations that could impact the external facade, overall form of the building, or public safety are strictly prohibited.

This restriction is particularly pertinent to owners of executive maisonettes, as removing structural elements such as reinforced concrete walls, columns, beams, slabs, and staircases is deemed illegal.

To avoid inadvertent breaches and offenses, it is crucial to engage contractors listed in the Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC). Prior diligence is recommended, involving a thorough check with HDB on the permissible types of renovations for the unit before committing to any modifications.

Alternatively, a simple approach is to examine your HDB floor plans and take note of any bolded lines, as these indicate walls that are off-limits for hacking.

2. Changing Your Main Unit Door to a Non-Fire Rated Door

While not applicable to every HDB flat, having a fire-rated door is advisable for added peace of mind. However, it is mandatory in two specific situations:

1. If the main door entrance of your HDB flat is located along the fire escape route.
2. For flats where the main door is within 3 meters of the nearest lift or staircase, a ½ hour fire-rated door is obligatory. Ensure that the contractor you hire is licensed with HDB, as a permit is necessary before making any changes to fire-rated doors.

For units where the main door is not within 3 meters of the nearest lift or staircase, a solid wooden door is sufficient, and no permit is required.

If HDB originally provided a fire-rated door for your flat, any replacement door must also be fire-rated. This particularly impacts newer HDBs with double-leaf main doors installed by HDB. Additionally, a permit from HDB is required for any alterations to the door.

Non-compliance with these regulations is considered an offense, so it is crucial to check your unit's requirements before making any modifications to your main door.

3. Exceeding the Approved Height Limit of Your Flooring

If you're a typical Singaporean, chances are you've already considered marble, terrazzo, or parquet flooring for your new home.

While flooring can be expensive, it plays a crucial role in shaping the aesthetic of your space and is often one of the first elements homeowners want to change in their new homes. However, there are guidelines to follow when it comes to replacing your flooring.

It's essential to be aware that the thickness of your new floor finish and screed must not surpass the approved 50mm. This measurement includes any concrete or other materials and is applicable to areas such as your balcony, kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. For those unfamiliar, a lightweight screed top-up is typically needed to adjust your home's floor level, thermal insulation, or acoustic insulation.

Keep in mind that if you intend to completely replace the floor by hacking it, you'll need a permit to ensure the proper execution of the task, as improper floor hacking can impact the overall structure of the home. Alternatively, to save on costs, you can explore overlaying the existing floor, but this should also not exceed the approved 50mm thickness.

4. Concealing Exposed Pipes

It's a personal annoyance of mine, and I'm sure many homeowners would concur that the bulky PVC-coated pipes in the bathroom and the meandering gas pipes in the kitchen are not the most visually appealing features.

Similar to the considerations for hacking structural walls, it's crucial to recognize that not all pipes are sanctioned for concealment.

As a general guideline, plumbing pipes are permissible for concealment, but it's advisable to refrain from concealing gas pipes in the kitchen.

PVC Pipes in the Bathroom

For those determined to hide those substantial PVC pipes in the bathroom, HDB specifies that an access opening of 600mm by 600mm is necessary to facilitate future inspections and maintenance. It's essential to adhere to these dimensions when selecting bathroom cabinets to conceal the pipes effectively.

Gas Pipes in the Kitchen

While gas pipes can technically be concealed, there must be a minimum opening width and height of 600mm to enable inspection and maintenance of the gas riser pipe. Additionally, the concealed space must be fully ventilated and removable.

5. Removing BTO bathroom floor and wall tiles in the first 3 years

Skip to the next section if you own a resale HDB flat.

In the case of new Build To Order (BTO) flats, waterproof membranes are installed beneath the floor tiles to prevent water leakage to the floor below. Consequently, there are restrictions on altering the floor and wall tiles in the bathroom during the initial 3 years. A common alternative is to overlay the existing walls and floor, but, as mentioned in point 3, it's crucial to ensure that the new floor level does not exceed the specified limit of 50mm.

6. Adding a Loft or Mezzanine or a Platform bed

Given the limited land and diminishing home sizes, it's understandable why homeowners seek to maximize their available space. This desire is particularly pronounced in HDB loft units, albeit rare, where homeowners likely paid a premium for such unique spaces.

While I empathize with the motivation to optimize the high ceilings in these units by incorporating a loft or mezzanine, unfortunately, such additions are not approved. There have been instances where homeowners, driven by this desire, illegally added mezzanine floors to their flats and faced consequences. For example, a homeowner spent $40,000 to expand the space of their 700 sq ft apartment, only to be required to reinstate the flat to its original state and pay an additional fine of up to $5,000.

In response to this issue, HDB explicitly stated that flat owners are not permitted to extend the floor area of their flat by covering void areas. Such extensions may impose additional load on the structure, compromising the building's structural integrity. Given the focus on structural integrity and adherence to URA guidelines regarding the illegal expansion of a unit's GFA, it's advisable to explore alternative ways to enhance your home.

Even the installation of a platform bed has its restrictions. HDB specifies that when installing a hardwood platform on the floor, no storage is allowed in the void between the platform and the floor. While this limitation may be attributed to weight restrictions, it does appear to be a somewhat ambiguous area.

7. Removing Bomb Shelter Door

Bomb shelters became a integral feature of HDB flats starting in 1996, which is why they may not be present in older resale flats!

Nevertheless, the bomb shelter is considered a structural element of the unit, reinforced with materials to serve its purpose. As a result, homeowners are prohibited from demolishing or drilling into the external and internal walls, as it could impact their functionality.

Therefore, altering, removing, or tampering with the shelter's door is strictly forbidden.

However, there are alternative approaches to enhance its appearance. For instance, you can construct a feature wall that effectively conceals the door seamlessly or cover it with wallpaper.

8. Installing Fixtures Outside Your Flat

I've observed various HDB homeowners adorning the shared walkway in front of their residences with personal decorations. While most are harmless, some take it to an extreme.

Although one might argue that it adds an interesting visual element for neighbors (which I personally appreciate), HDB has emphasized that it may pose a safety risk. These common spaces are designed for public use and should not be obstructed, as it could create issues during evacuations.

The standard guideline is to maintain a minimum of 1.2 meters of space along the common corridor.

9. Having Fish Tanks Exceeding 600kg Per Room

When it comes to fish tanks, there are additional restrictions even within the confines of your own home.

Unfortunately for enthusiasts of marine life, there's a limitation on the size of fish tanks permissible in your HDB flat. The total weight allowed for a fish tank should not exceed 600kg per room, encompassing all accessories (such as water pumps, water, sand, corals, and plants) within the tank and supported on a 4-legged rack.

If your aquatic companions surpass the stipulated limit, you would need to submit an application to HDB to obtain the necessary legal permit to continue keeping your fish.

It's important to note that the maximum dimensions of the fish tank should not exceed 2m in length and 1m in width, with the water depth kept within 0.5m.

10. Permanently Covering The Planter Box

Certain HDB flats feature lovely planters, akin to smaller versions of balconies, providing an ideal space for homeowners to indulge their passion for indoor gardening.

However, not everyone may find a purpose for these planters, leading to a desire to repurpose the space for other uses. It's important to be aware that installing any grilles, windows, or structures to permanently enclose the planter area is not permitted. Alternatively, you can utilize removable wooden planks to cover the space, ensuring it's not a permanent enclosure, and you'll be in compliance with regulations.