After a while, the walls in your home start to seem a little bit shabby. The paint is flaking and you can’t figure out what to do about it. You’d love to update your home, but you don’t know how. Maybe you don’t have the budget for a complete renovation. Maybe you don’t want to disrupt your current lifestyle. Whatever the reason, it’s time to get serious about updating your home. The best way to start the process is by contacting a reputable construction company. Before you hire someone though, you need to know the proper terms and conditions for hiring a contractor. In this article, we’re going to discuss the ins and outs of hiring a Casetrust or HDB Licensed Contractor.

What is CaseTrust renovation?

Before receiving a HDB license, a renovation company and its workers must enroll in and successfully complete a public housing renovation training course. In other words, they must demonstrate that they are well-versed in HDB laws by, for instance, obtaining the proper permits before breaking internal walls or being aware of the proper procedures to carry out bathroom waterproofing work.

What is CaseTrust accredited?

Did you know that over the previous ten years, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) has received more complaints about this industry than any other ten? The majority of these complaints centered on subpar service standards and breaches of contractual obligations. 

The CaseTrust-RCMA joint accreditation program was launched in 2016 as a result of CASE’s collaboration with the Singapore Renovation Contractors and Material Suppliers Association (RCMA) to combat these widespread misconceptions about the remodeling and interior design industries. On the condition that a CaseTrust audit is successfully completed, businesses are given accreditation for a term of four years.

CaseTrust, the accrediting division of CASE, offers business standards for organizations dedicated to ethical business and trading practices. The RCMA is a trade group for suppliers of materials and remodeling companies that was established in 1980. Its members are accepted based on an established track record and favorable testimonials from suppliers and customers.

How do I find out if a company is a CaseTrust?

You can check the HDB’s online contractor database to discover if a remodeling company or contractor is authorized. And in order to be on it, the candidate must fulfill a number of severe requirements, including having owned a firm with at least a year’s worth of ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) registration and having at least three years’ worth of expertise in the remodeling industry.

or CASE’s accreditation, is provided to remodeling companies that have ethical sales procedures and safeguards in place to protect their clients. According to the CASE website, among many other things, some of these requirements include “appropriate store rules, ethical advertising, and proper dispute resolution methods.” 

Additionally, CaseTrust businesses must be able to protect the deposits made by their customers. In our situation, and I believe it also applies to other CaseTrust organizations, we are required to purchase a performance security bond from an insurer like NTUC. In the event of a business closure or liquidation, customers will get a full refund of their deposits. You can contact CASE and ask for assistance through the following methods if the disagreement with a CaseTrust-accredited company isn’t resolved:

Phone hotline

Call 9795 8397 to speak with a CASE consumer relations officer from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

Walk-in consultation

From Monday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, you can stop by the CASE office to meet with a member of the staff in person. They can be found in Singapore at 170 Ghim Moh Road, #05-01 Ulu Pandan Community Building.

Online submission

CASE has a platform that allows customers to lodge a complaint online, where a response can be received in 3 working days. To facilitate the processing, relevant supporting documents and invoices should be attached in the submission.

Why hiring case trust or HDB licensed is a must?

Assurance of consistent service quality

A strict set of criteria, spanning from feedback management to external communication, are used to evaluate renovation and interior design firms applying for the CaseTrust-RCMA Joint Accreditation. These businesses are still subject to biennial audits even after receiving the accreditation to make sure they maintain acceptable service standards and are responsible for agreed-upon project deliverables.

Insures against company wind-ups

Companies are required to obtain a deposit performance bond as one of the requirements for accreditation. This bond protects your deposits in the event that a company abruptly ceases operations or goes through liquidation. This is an indication of the company’s dedication to engaging in open and fair trade with you as a paying consumer.

Cost transparency

Deliverables for each renovation project are agreed upon and specified in the CaseTrust Standard Renovation Contract, which is used by accredited businesses. You don’t have to be concerned about undeclared hidden charges arising during the renovation process because policies on fees and refunds are properly documented and made clear to customers.

Fair and comprehensive

Access to a structured redress system, where organized conflict resolution methods are accessible in times of a disagreement, is one of the advantages for CaseTrust-accredited businesses and their clients. You can schedule mediation sessions with the CASE Mediation Center to settle disputes in a competent and unbiased manner.

Credible and competent

Firms specializing in interior design, bedroom renovation, and other services are proud to have the CaseTrust quality badge. This indicates that their employees and subcontractors refrain from using unethical sales techniques and offer precise, truthful information.

What does it mean to be a CaseTrust-accredited interior designer?

Case trust interior design Singapore accreditation is defined by its transparency and customer-focused culture. You can count on working with a reputable business that supports you through every stage of the renovation process when you opt to hire an interior designer that has earned CaseTrust accreditation. Your interests are well protected, so you can rest easy.

Renovation Important Information

Here is a list of some of the most crucial considerations for planning your improvements. 

• Use only contractors listed in the Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC) to do the renovation, even if it doesn’t need HDB clearance. 
• All wall hacking and demolition, whether partial or comprehensive, requires prior written authorisation from HDB. The approval guarantees that any suggested demolition or hacking work won’t jeopardize the building’s structural integrity and safety of the general public. Your family’s and your neighbors’ safety can be in jeopardy if the building’s structural stability is compromised. 
• Do not direct staff members or anyone else to perform demolition or hacking activity that has not received written approval from HDB.
• Respect the HDB-specified allotted time scrupulously to avoid upsetting your neighbors. 

If you are discovered to have broken any of the Housing and Development (Renovation Control) Rules, such as carrying out unauthorized demolition or hacking activities, you may be prosecuted for failing to engage contractors from the Directory of Renovation Contractor (DRC).

Looking for HDB Licensed  Renovation Contractors

When you buy a property, you might consider upgrading it to fit your preferences for comfort and style. 

With our e-Service, you can look for a contractor in the Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC) or a BCA Approved Window Contractor. The DRC’s listed contractors are aware of the regulations set forth by the HDB for renovations and for maintaining the building’s structural integrity. HDB does not support or vouch for the caliber of their creations.

You and the contractors will enter into a private contract for their services, HDB is not informed of this. Contractors are solely accountable to their client for all contractual commitments, including the caliber of their work. Both sides must come to an agreement if there is any disagreement on the cost, timeline, or quality of the refurbishment. You can seek assistance through CASE, the Singapore Mediation Center, or the Small Claims Tribunal if the dispute cannot be resolved amicably privately. As an alternative, you could file a lawsuit to obtain relief. 

For advice on how to choose a contractor, consult the CASE Consumer Guides and the CCCS Fair Trading Practices.

Thematic and reflect your personality

MRD Singapore is the perfect formula for you to make your interior dream come true. One of the main keys to great interior design is that it should thematic and reflect your personality and taste as well as be cost-effective. 

With so many styles, trends and designs to choose from, it’s hard to decide which one to go for. With MRD in 7 Gambas Cres, #01-01 ARK@Gambas, Singapore 757087, you can definitely prevent this situation and get the best dream design you ever wanted but better. No more stress, contact us here to solve your interior problems.