# HDB Permit for Toilet Waterproofing and Hacking: The Rules | Seepwise

> Do you need an HDB permit to redo toilet waterproofing? Hacking bathroom floors generally needs one, applied for by your renovation contractor. New-flat rules explained.

URL: https://waterproofing.affiliateinsider.buzz/guide/hdb-permit-toilet-waterproofing/

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# Do You Need an HDB Permit for Toilet Waterproofing?

Updated 2026-10-10 · by Seepwise 

 Short answer: If the bathroom floor is hacked, generally yes. Hacking floors in wet areas needs an HDB renovation permit, and your renovation contractor applies for it, not you. Non-hacking work such as PU injection does not hack the floor. In new flats, wet-area floor tiles should not be changed in the first three years, and changing them can end HDB's 5-year ceiling-leak warranty. 
[Seepwise](/) writes these guides from HDB, MND and BCA sources and published Singapore price data; each claim links to where it comes from. 

## The short rule

Hacking bathroom floors generally needs an HDB renovation permit, and so does raising floor levels in kitchens, balconies and bathrooms, because incorrect works add structural stress ([Hometrust](https://www.hometrust.sg/articles/renovation-permits-what-you-need-a-permit-for-and-how-it-works/)). The permit is applied for by your renovation contractor. Unauthorised works can be ordered reinstated at your own cost. 

## New flats have extra rules

- In the first three years, wet-area floor tiles should not be changed, so the waterproofing membrane can settle (Hometrust).

- HDB’s ceiling-leak warranty for new flats runs 5 years and ceases if floor tiles are changed or the waterproofing system is tampered with (HDB).

If a new flat leaks, report it to HDB before any contractor touches the tiles. Doing the repair yourself can cost you the warranty that would have paid for it. 

## Which waterproofing jobs hack the floor

 Job Hacks the floor? Permit likely 
 Full toilet re-waterproofing (membrane renewed) Yes Yes 
 Re-screeding to stop a ceiling leak below Yes Yes 
 PU injection into cracks and joints No Not for the hacking 
 Overlaying new tiles No Not for the hacking, but it does not fix a failed membrane 

Confirm the exact permit requirement for your flat with your contractor before work starts; rules are set by HDB and can change. 

## What a permitted job should include

A membrane across the floor and turned up the walls, new screed to fall toward the floor trap, and a ponding test of at least 24 hours before tiling ([guide](https://megafurniture.sg/blogs/articles/old-hdb-toilet-renovation-a-practical-buyers-guide-for-singapore-homes)). See [what a ponding test is](/guide/ponding-test-waterproofing/). 

## Bottom line

Hacking means a permit, applied for by the contractor. In a new flat, check the three-year rule and the 5-year warranty first. [Request a quote](/contact/#request) and the specialist confirms the permit route for your flat. 

Want this checked at your home? 
A specialist calls you back to book an inspection. 
 
Request received. 
A specialist will contact you on the number you gave. If water is near electrics, switch off that circuit at the distribution board and keep clear until then. 

## More questions

 Who applies for the HDB renovation permit? + 
Your renovation contractor applies for it, though you as the owner remain responsible for the works. What happens if the work is done without a permit? + 
HDB can treat it as unauthorised and require the flat to be reinstated to its original condition at the owner's cost. Can I overlay new tiles without a permit? + 
Overlaying is the common way to avoid hacking, but it does not repair a membrane that has already failed. [Related serviceToilet waterproofingA wet area that stays dry for years needs three things done in order: membrane, screed, test.](/toilet-waterproofing/) 

Related guides 
- Hacking vs Non-Hacking Waterproofing: Which Fixes Your Leak?
- What Is a Ponding Test, and Why Does It Matter?
- How Much Does Toilet Waterproofing Cost in Singapore (2026)?
- How Much Does Waterproofing Cost in Singapore (2026)? 

Get the source found and the rules applied to your leak. 
A specialist calls you back to book an inspection. Tell us what you see and the type of home. 
 [Request an inspection](/contact/#request)