Condo renovations play by different rules than HDB — management approvals, renovation deposits and stricter working hours all shape your timeline and budget.
Cost benchmarks
- 2-bedroom (700–900 sqft): $30,000–$60,000
- 3-bedroom (1,000–1,300 sqft): $50,000–$90,000
- Penthouse / 4-bedroom+: $90,000–$200,000+
Condo owners typically spec higher-end materials — engineered timber, natural stone, premium fittings — which moves budgets above equivalent HDB work.
MCST approval: start early
Before any work begins, your contractor must submit renovation plans to the management (MCST), place a renovation deposit (commonly $1,000–$5,000, refundable), and comply with restricted working hours — usually weekdays 9am–5pm with no noisy works on weekends. Factor an extra 1–2 weeks for approval.
What you can and can't change
Internal non-structural walls are usually fair game; external facades, windows and balcony enclosures are not. Wet-area waterproofing works may require the developer's original specs. A firm experienced with your development will know its house rules — worth asking during quotation.
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