# BTO Leak Warranty: DLP, 5-Year Ceiling Leak, 10-Year Spalling | Seepwise

> Is a leak in your BTO flat covered? The one-year defects liability period, HDB's 5-year warranty on ceiling leaks and external seepage, and what voids it.

URL: https://waterproofing.affiliateinsider.buzz/guide/bto-leak-warranty/

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# Is My BTO Leak Covered by HDB's Warranty?

Updated 2026-10-10 · by Seepwise 

 Short answer: Probably, if the flat is new enough. HDB fixes defects reported within the one-year defects liability period. After that, new flats carry a 5-year warranty on ceiling leaks and external seepage and a 10-year warranty on spalling concrete. The ceiling-leak warranty ceases if floor tiles are changed or the waterproofing system is tampered with. 
[Seepwise](/) writes these guides from HDB, MND and BCA sources and published Singapore price data; each claim links to where it comes from. 

## The three time windows

 Window What is covered Who fixes it 
 Defects liability period, 1 year Defects reported during the period HDB, at no cost to you 
 Warranty, 5 years Ceiling leaks and external seepage HDB 
 Warranty, 10 years Spalling concrete HDB 

Sources: [HDB](https://www.mynicehome.gov.sg/hdb-how-to/maintain-your-flat/); the DLP start date is set in your agreement and guides describe it differently ([Dollars and Sense](https://dollarsandsense.sg/complete-guide-defects-liability-period-dlp-hdb-flats/)). 

## What ends the ceiling-leak warranty

HDB states the 5-year ceiling-leak warranty ceases if floor tiles are changed or the waterproofing system is tampered with ([HDB](https://www.mynicehome.gov.sg/hdb-how-to/maintain-your-flat/)). Renovation guides add that wet-area floor tiles in new flats should not be changed in the first three years ([Hometrust](https://www.hometrust.sg/articles/renovation-permits-what-you-need-a-permit-for-and-how-it-works/)). Defects caused by your own renovation or poor maintenance are not covered ([Qanvast](https://qanvast.com/amp/sg/articles/what-hdb-warranties-you-have-and-5-mistakes-that-will-void-them-3504)). 

## What to do if your BTO ceiling leaks

- Photograph the stain with the date and note when it grows.

- Check the unit above: if it is also new, the leak is likely within the warranty.

- Report it to HDB before any contractor touches the tiles.

- Keep copies of everything you send and receive.

## After the warranty

Once the warranty ends, ceiling leaks become a shared cost between the upper and lower owners, with HDB’s Goodwill Repair Assistance having co-paid 50% ([MND](https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/speeches/view/written-answer-by-ministry-of-national-development-on-hdbs-goodwill-repair-assistance-scheme)). See [who pays for an HDB ceiling leak](/guide/hdb-ceiling-leak-who-pays/). 

## Bottom line

New flat, new leak: report to HDB first and leave the tiles alone. Outside the windows, [request an inspection](/contact/#request) to find the source and the cheapest route to fixing it. 

Want this checked at your home? 
A specialist calls you back to book an inspection. 
 
Request received. 
A specialist will contact you on the number you gave. If water is near electrics, switch off that circuit at the distribution board and keep clear until then. 

## More questions

 When does the defects liability period start? + 
It runs for 12 months; guides describe it starting from key collection or shortly after the Temporary Occupation Permit, so check your agreement for the exact date. Who fixes leaks after the warranty ends? + 
The owner, with HDB's Goodwill Repair Assistance available for wear-and-tear ceiling leaks and spalling. Should I renovate the toilet before reporting the leak? + 
No. Changing tiles or the waterproofing can end the warranty that would cover the repair. [Related serviceCeiling leak repairFind where the water enters, fix it at the source, and know who pays before work starts.](/ceiling-leak-repair/) 

Related guides 
- Ceiling Leak From Upstairs: What to Do First
- How Much Does Ceiling Leak Repair Cost in Singapore (2026)?
- Who Pays for an HDB Ceiling Leak?
- Ceiling Leak From Upstairs: What to Do First
- How Much Does Ceiling Leak Repair Cost in Singapore (2026)? 

Get the source found and the rules applied to your leak. 
A specialist calls you back to book an inspection. Tell us what you see and the type of home. 
 [Request an inspection](/contact/#request)