Is mould in the bathroom fair wear and tear?

Light surface mould in a humid Singapore bathroom that cleans off is generally fair wear and tear. Persistent staining or damage from poor ventilation or neglect can be treated as tenant damage. Regular cleaning during the tenancy is the best defence, and the move-in inventory sets the baseline.

Do bathroom reinstatement works need a permit?

Cosmetic works like regrouting, resealing and replacing fittings usually don't need a permit. But anything affecting waterproofing or hacking floor or wall tiles in an HDB flat may require approval and a registered contractor, always confirm before any wet-area hacking, as waterproofing is sensitive.

Cost Guide

Kitchen Remodelling vs Reinstatement in Singapore

By Mr Kobayashi, Operations Lead, REINSTATE.by MCSG · Updated 16 July 2026 · 7 min read

The wet areas are where deposits quietly leak away. Kitchen and bathroom reinstatement covers removing tenant additions, regrouting and resealing, treating mould, replacing cracked tiles or sanitary ware, and cleaning, restoring both rooms to handover condition, minus fair wear and tear.

Kitchens and bathrooms take the hardest use and the closest inspection at handover. Grout, mould and a chipped basin are small things that add up to real deductions. Here's what reinstatement covers in the wet areas, and where the fair-wear line sits.

Is it kitchen remodelling or reinstatement?

Kitchen remodelling	Kitchen reinstatement
Improves or changes layout, cabinetry, finishes, appliances or services	Returns tenant changes to the lease-required handover condition
Starts from the owner's desired design and budget	Starts from the tenancy clause, inventory and original condition
May add cabinets, counters, points or new finishes	May remove additions, repair damage and make good affected finishes
Can involve approvals, regulated plumbing/electrical work and waterproofing constraints	Can still require approvals where hacking, wet-area or regulated work is involved

Quick answer: remodelling creates a new outcome; reinstatement restores an agreed earlier condition. If a landlord wants to retain a tenant's kitchen improvement, record that agreement in writing before omitting removal work.

What gets reinstated

Kitchen	Bathroom
Remove tenant-added cabinetry / shelving	Remove tenant-added fittings & accessories
Make good countertop & backsplash	Regrout & reseal tiles and silicone
Clean / degrease hood, hob & sink	Treat & clean mould; clean sanitary ware
Replace cracked tiles	Replace cracked tiles or chipped basin/WC
Return appliances in working order	Check taps, shower, drainage, water heater

The wet-area issues that catch tenants out

Grout & silicone. Discoloured grout and mouldy silicone are flagged at almost every handover, regrouting and resealing is cheap and expected.
Mould. Singapore's humidity grows it fast; regular cleaning prevents the staining that becomes a deduction.
Limescale & degreasing. Taps, glass screens, hoods and hobs need proper cleaning, not a wipe.
Chips & cracks. A cracked basin or chipped tile is damage, not wear, and visible.

Fair wear vs damage in wet areas

Surface mould and grime that clean off, and minor ageing, are usually fair wear and tear. Cracks, chips, broken fittings, and staining from neglect are tenant damage. The move-in inventory and the fair-wear test decide which is which.

A note on waterproofing

Cosmetic works, regrouting, resealing, replacing fittings, generally don't need a permit. But anything that affects waterproofing, or hacking floor/wall tiles in an HDB flat, can require approval and a registered contractor. Waterproofing is sensitive, never hack wet-area tiles casually.

Kitchen or bathroom flagged at handover?

Send us the unit, we'll assess what's fair wear vs damage in the wet areas, quote regrouting, resealing, mould treatment and any make-good against the move-in condition, and hand both rooms back inspection-ready.

WhatsApp us for a quote →

Reflects 2026 Singapore reinstatement practice; wet-area scope and cost vary with condition and material. Waterproofing and HDB tile works may need approval and a registered contractor, always confirm. This is general information, not legal advice.

References & further reading

Authoritative Singapore sources for further reading. This guide is general information, not legal advice, confirm current rules with the relevant authority.