Updated 2026-10-10 · by Seepwise
Short answer: Usually both owners. The floor slab between two HDB flats is the shared responsibility of the upper and lower owners. Under HDB's Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme, HDB has co-paid 50% of the repair, with the other half split between the two owners. If renovation upstairs caused the leak, the upper owner pays in full. Top-floor roof leaks go to the Town Council.
Seepwise writes these guides from HDB, MND and BCA sources and published Singapore price data; each claim links to where it comes from.
The default rule: a shared slab, a shared bill
HDB states that the upper and lower flat owners share the maintenance of the floor slab between their flats, and asks owners to discuss repair arrangements with their neighbours and split the costs (HDB). The logic is physical: the leak lives in a slab that both flats depend on, and the repair, usually re-screeding the wet area above, is done from the upstairs unit.
Where HDB comes in: Goodwill Repair Assistance
HDB’s Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) scheme was set up for ceiling leaks and spalling concrete caused by natural wear and tear. For ceiling leaks, the Ministry of National Development has described HDB co-paying 50% of the repair cost, with the remaining 50% shared equally between the upper and lower floor owners (MND). In practice that means each owner pays about a quarter.
Two points to keep in mind:
- GRA covers the slab leak from wear and tear. It does not cover damage to fixtures and fittings the owners installed themselves.
- HDB arranges the repair under GRA. Owners who want work done faster sometimes engage their own contractor instead and split the full cost between them.
When the upper owner pays everything
If investigation shows the leak came from renovation work in the upper flat, for example new tiles laid over a disturbed membrane, the upper owner is fully responsible for the repair and its cost (Singapore Legal Advice). Dated photos of the stain, and the date the upstairs renovation started, are the evidence that matters here.
When it is not a neighbour issue at all
| Situation | Who handles it |
|---|---|
| Top-floor flat, ceiling wet after rain | Town Council: the roof is common property |
| Second-floor flat leaking into the void deck | Costs split between the Town Council and the owner |
| New flat inside its warranty period | HDB: ceiling leaks are covered for 5 years |
| Aircon drain or a concealed pipe | Whoever owns that fitting |
Sources: HDB. The warranty on new flats ceases if floor tiles are changed or the waterproofing is tampered with, so check your dates before anyone hacks anything. See Is my BTO leak covered by HDB’s warranty?
The order to do things in
- Photograph the stain with a date, every few days, so you can show it growing.
- Note when it gets worse: after showers upstairs, after rain, or when the aircon runs. That points to the source.
- Talk to your upstairs neighbour, then contact HDB if you want GRA.
- If you want it faster, get a leak inspection with a written finding both owners can agree on.
Bottom line
A ceiling leak between two HDB flats is usually a shared cost, and HDB’s GRA has paid half of it. Renovation-caused leaks are the upper owner’s, roof leaks are the Town Council’s, and new flats are under warranty. A written inspection finding is what turns an argument into a repair. Request an inspection and we will match you with a specialist.
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More questions
Can my upstairs neighbour refuse to let the contractor in?
The repair usually has to be done from their wet area. HDB has said it will expedite serious leaks subject to the upper owner's availability and may do temporary repairs in the lower flat if needed.
Does the 50% co-payment apply to every flat?
It applies to leaks from natural wear and tear after the defects period. Check the current terms with HDB, because scheme details change.
What if the leak started right after my neighbour renovated?
If investigation shows the renovation caused it, the upper owner bears the full cost of the repair.