Ceiling leak from upstairs
A ceiling leak from upstairs shows as a damp stain, peeling paint or dripping water on your ceiling, usually under the bathroom of the flat above. In HDB flats, the two owners deal with it together, and the floor slab between flats is the joint responsibility of both owners.
Typical price
$450–$3,800repair in the upper flat, before any cost sharingTypical job time
1–3 hours to trace; repair from 1 day to about 2 weeks
Estimate, confirm on WhatsApp
Signs to look for
- A brown or yellow stain on the ceiling, often under the bathroom or kitchen of the flat above.
- Peeling or bubbling paint, or flaking plaster, on the ceiling.
- Water dripping from the ceiling or a light fitting, often after the upstairs neighbour showers.
- Mould spots or a musty smell on one part of the ceiling.
- A damp patch that grows after heavy rain, in a top-floor flat.
Common causes
- Failed waterproofing under the bathroom floor of the flat above.
- A leaking pipe in the flat above or in the ceiling space.
- Cracked grout or gaps around the floor trap upstairs.
- Renovation upstairs that damaged the waterproofing or did not relay it properly.
- In top-floor flats, a leak through the roof.
- Air-con condensation, from a dripping drain pipe or a sweating pipe above the ceiling, which looks like a leak but is not one.
Before you call
Safe things to try first
- Take dated photos of the stain so you can show whether it is growing.
- Ask your upstairs neighbour whether the drip changes when they shower, or when they keep their bathroom dry for a day or two.
- Do a meter test on your own home to rule out your own pipes, especially if you have pipes above a false ceiling.
- If water is near a light fitting, switch off that circuit and put a pail under the drip.
Stop and call if
- Water is dripping through a light fitting or near electrical points.
- The ceiling is sagging or plaster is falling.
- The leak is getting worse quickly and you cannot reach the upstairs owner.
What we do
- 1Look at where the stain is and when it gets worse, and check whether your own pipes or air-con piping could be the cause.
- 2With the upstairs owner's agreement, do a meter test and a controlled water test in their bathroom to confirm the source.
- 3Explain whether it is a pipe leak, a waterproofing failure or something else, with photos and readings both owners can see.
- 4In HDB flats, explain HDB's cost-sharing process before any private repair is booked, so nobody pays twice.
- 5Repair the source in the upper flat, by fixing the pipe, injection or re-waterproofing, as agreed by both owners.
- 6Re-check the ceiling below after the repair, and advise when it is dry enough to patch and repaint.
How much it costs
Most ceiling leak from upstairs jobs in Singapore cost $450–$3,800 (repair in the upper flat, before any cost sharing). This is an estimate; the final price is confirmed on WhatsApp or on site before work starts.
- Leak detection to find the source$120–$350
- Pipe leak repair in the upper flat$80–$600
- Injection waterproofing$450–$950
- Hack, re-waterproof and re-tile the bathroom floor above$1,500–$3,800
HDB, condo and landed
HDB
Talk to the owner upstairs first, and approach your HDB Branch if you need help. The floor slab between flats is the joint responsibility of the upper and lower owners. For top-floor roof leaks, contact your town council. New flats have a 1-year defects liability period and a 5-year ceiling-leak warranty, which is void if the floor tiles were changed or the waterproofing was tampered with. HDB's rules change, so check its current ceiling leak page.
Ceiling leak from upstairs in HDB homesCondo
HDB's rules do not apply. Inter-floor leaks are handled under the strata title framework: tell the managing agent, who can help contact the upstairs owner and check building records, and agree the source and repair with that owner in writing.
Landed
There are no neighbours to share the cost with. Check upstairs bathrooms, balconies, planter boxes and the roof, and any pipes running in the ceiling space.
Ceiling leak from upstairs: common questions
Who do I contact first about a ceiling leak in my HDB flat?
Speak to your upstairs neighbour, then approach your HDB Branch if you cannot agree. If you live on the top floor and the leak is from the roof, contact your town council instead.
What is HDB's Goodwill Repair Assistance?
It is HDB's scheme for ceiling leaks caused by wear and tear. HDB pays half the repair cost, the two owners pay a quarter each, and your HDB Branch can tell you whether it applies. It does not cover damage inside the lower flat. Check HDB's current page for who qualifies, as the terms can change.
My flat is new. Is the leak covered?
New HDB flats have a 1-year defects liability period and a 5-year warranty on ceiling leaks. The warranty is void if the floor tiles above were changed or the waterproofing was tampered with. Report it to HDB with photos.
Could the leak be from my own air-con?
Yes. A dripping air-con drain pipe, or a cold pipe sweating above the ceiling, can look like a leak from upstairs. Check whether the wet patch lines up with your air-con piping and only appears when the air-con is running.
Do condos follow the same rules as HDB?
No. Condo inter-floor leaks fall under the strata framework and are worked out between owners, often with the MCST's help. HDB's process and Goodwill Repair Assistance do not apply.
When can I repaint my ceiling?
Only after the source is fixed and the ceiling has dried out, which can take a few weeks. Painting too early often brings the stain back.
Get a price for ceiling leak from upstairs
Send a photo or short video, your home type and postal code. We reply with a price range and the earliest slot.
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