Leaks and pipes
Water pipe leak repair in HDB flats
If a pipe leaks in your HDB flat, first check whose pipe it is: PUB maintains the supply up to and including the meter, the town council maintains the main pipes in common areas, and everything after your meter is yours. An exposed leak typically costs $80–200 to repair; a concealed one more (estimates). Send a photo or video on WhatsApp for a price range, 24/7.
Typical price
$80–$200per job, exposed pipe, standard hoursEstimate, confirm on WhatsApp
PUB rule: this work must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber. Since 2018 it is an offence to engage an unlicensed plumber for it. You can check any plumber on PUB's Licensed Plumber Directory.What needs a licensed plumber
What is different in HDB flats
- Whose leak is it: water from the meter itself or the pipe before it is PUB's. Leaks in common corridors and the main sanitary stack go to the town council. The pipe from your meter into the flat, and every pipe inside, is the owner's.
- Concealed leaks cost more once the wall is opened. Typical estimates: one short section rerouted $250–600, excluding retiling; several sections $1,000–2,500. Ask for the exposed-reroute and open-the-wall options with prices before work goes further.
- Repairing or replacing water service pipes, and urgent leak repair on them, must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber. The plumber submits a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion to PUB within 7 days.
- Older flats with original pipes tend to leak again at the next weak joint. A whole-flat re-pipe typically runs $1,500–5,000, which can be better value than repeated section repairs.
- A meter test tells you whether it is your supply pipe at all. If the meter stays still with every tap off but the flat below has a stain, the cause may be bathroom waterproofing instead, which follows HDB's ceiling leak process.
- PUB maintains the supply up to and including the water meter. The pipe from the meter into your flat, and every pipe inside, is the owner's to repair. The main stop valve is at the meter in the common corridor, and many flats have a second valve inside.
Price in HDB flats
Usually at the lower end for exposed pipes in the kitchen or service yard. The price rises when the leaking pipe is one of the original concealed pipes in an older flat.
Full water pipe leak repair price breakdownGeneral rules for HDB flats
- The town council maintains the common stack, corridor pipes and other common property. Pipes and fittings that serve only your flat are the owner's.
- HDB has renovation rules on hacking, waterproofing and floor traps. Like-for-like repairs are usually fine; hacking work may need HDB approval.
- New flats have a defects liability period. Report defects to HDB first while it applies.
Water pipe leak repair in HDB homes: common questions
How is EmergencyPlumber different from an unlicensed handyman?
Water service pipe repair is licensed work under PUB rules, and ours is done by a PUB Licensed Plumber. We come 24/7, give a price range from your photo, and agree the final price before work starts. If the leak is PUB's or the town council's, we tell you so.
My HDB pipe is leaking. Who should I contact?
Close the stop valve first. If the leak is at the meter or before it, contact PUB; if it is in the common corridor or the main stack, contact your town council. A leak after your meter or inside your flat is yours to repair with a PUB Licensed Plumber.
How much does it cost to replace a pipe in an HDB flat?
Typical estimates: $80–200 for an exposed joint or short section, $250–600 for one concealed section rerouted (excluding retiling), and $1,000–2,500 for several sections. Re-piping a whole flat runs about $1,500–5,000. Many quotes exclude 9% GST.
How do I find a hidden pipe leak in my HDB flat?
Turn off every tap and appliance, note the meter reading, and check again after 30–60 minutes. If it moves, there is a leak after the meter. Look for damp patches, bubbling paint or a hissing wall; if you still cannot find it, leak detection typically costs $120–350.
Do I need a licensed plumber to repair a water pipe?
Yes, for water service pipes. PUB requires installing or replacing them, and urgent leak repairs on them, to be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber. Replacing a tap, mixer or flexible hose does not need one.
How do I turn off the water in my HDB flat?
The main stop valve is at your water meter in the common corridor, usually in a meter compartment outside the flat. Close it before any repair. Many flats also have a second valve inside, near the kitchen or service yard.
Water pipe leak repair: causes, fixes and FAQs
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