How Often Should You Repaint Your HDB Flat?

Quick answer: there is no fixed rule for the inside of your HDB flat. Repaint when the walls show wear: fading, marks that no longer wipe off, mould, peeling or cracks, or when you renovate, move in or prepare to sell. Busy areas such as kitchens, toilets, corridors and children’s rooms need it sooner than bedrooms. The outside of your block is different: your Town Council repaints it, and the recommended schedule for this Repair and Redecoration (R&R) work is 7 years (MND).

Inside your flat vs outside the block

	Inside your flat	Outside of the block
Who repaints	You, the flat owner	Your Town Council
How often	When the walls need it (no fixed rule)	Recommended every 7 years, which Town Councils can bring forward or defer slightly
Who pays	You	The Town Council, from its funds

New BTO blocks also come with a 6-year warranty on the external paintwork, which is handed to the Town Council with the blocks (MND). If the outside of your block is peeling, report it to your Town Council. It is not something you repaint yourself.

Signs your walls need repainting

• Fading on walls that get afternoon sun, and visible patches where furniture or pictures used to be.
• Marks that do not wipe off any more: scuffs, handprints and crayon.
• Mould spots on ceilings and corners, especially in toilets and behind wardrobes.
• Peeling, bubbling or flaking paint: see why paint peels off walls.
• Hairline cracks and holes from old fittings.
• Yellowing on white ceilings, often in kitchens.

Which rooms need it sooner

Room	Why it wears faster	What helps
Kitchen	Cooking oil, heat and steam	Washable paint; wipe walls regularly
Toilets	Steam and condensation, mould	Anti-mould paint, exhaust fan
Children’s rooms	Drawings, handprints, knocks	Washable paint such as Nippon Odourless EasyWash
Corridors and living room	Bags, shoes and furniture rub the walls	Washable paint at lower heights
Bedrooms	Little wear	Can usually wait longest

Good times to repaint

• When you collect keys to a new flat, after renovation: see our BTO painting guide.
• When you renovate, after the dusty work and before new furniture.
• Before selling or renting out: see repainting before you sell.
• When a room changes use, such as a nursery, a study or a teenager’s room.
• Before Chinese New Year, Hari Raya or Deepavali, if you like the home fresh for visitors. Book early, because these are busy periods for painters.

How to make paint last longer

1. Choose a washable paint for busy areas, so you can clean walls instead of repainting them.
2. Run the exhaust fan or open windows in toilets and the kitchen to keep mould away.
3. Fix leaks quickly, before water damages the paint and plaster.
4. Keep furniture a few centimetres from the walls.
5. Ask for proper preparation: filling, sanding and sealer on patched walls help paint last much longer.

What a repaint costs

Our HDB packages start from $589 for a 2-room flat and $689 for a 4-room flat with Nippon Matex White. Single rooms start from $270 (see room painting). See every package on our price list.

Frequently asked questions

How often does the Town Council repaint HDB blocks?

The recommended schedule for Town Councils’ Repair and Redecoration works is 7 years, and Town Councils can decide to bring it forward or defer it slightly, according to MND.

Do I pay for the repainting of my HDB block?

Not directly. The Town Council repaints the block exterior as part of its maintenance work.

How often should I repaint inside my HDB flat?

There is no fixed rule. Repaint when you see fading, marks that do not wipe off, mould or peeling, and plan busy rooms like the kitchen and children’s rooms sooner than bedrooms.

Can I repaint just one room?

Yes. Single rooms start from $270 with Nippon Matex White.