Dilapidation Works Singapore: Handover Guide
Short answer: Reinstatement planning typically starts 2 to 3 months before lease expiry for offices, running through site survey, contractor appointment and a final inspection week with a rectification buffer before handover.
Not to be confused with a dilapidation survey
For a commercial tenant, dilapidation works is another name for the reinstatement and handover obligation this guide covers: stripping out your fit-out and repairing damage before handing the unit back to the landlord in its original or agreed condition.
Some searches for "dilapidation works Singapore" are actually looking for a dilapidation survey, a different service. P-CON Building Surveyors describes it as an inspection by a professional building surveyor of the existing structural condition of buildings and structures adjoining a proposed construction site. If that's what you need, look for a building surveyor, not a reinstatement contractor. If you're a tenant planning your own lease-end works, the timeline below is what you need.
The typical phase breakdown
ID Work Studio's commercial reinstatement guide lays out a five-phase timeline for a typical office:
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| 3 months before expiry | Review your lease and request the landlord's reinstatement scope in writing. |
| 2 months before expiry | Survey the site and get quotations from contractors. |
| 6 to 8 weeks before expiry | Confirm your contractor and identify technical requirements, like gas decommissioning or structural approvals. |
| 1 month before expiry | Appoint the contractor and schedule your move-out. |
| Final week | Inspection, rectification of anything flagged, final cleaning, and handover. |
Larger or more complex units, especially retail and F&B, generally need to start earlier: Zoro Interior recommends 3 to 6 months before expiry for retail shops, against 2 to 3 months for a typical office.
How long the actual work takes
On-site duration varies by space type and size. ID Work Studio notes small offices can finish in a few days to two weeks, while larger offices and retail units need more time for approvals and inspections. Zoro Interior puts retail project duration at 2 to 4 weeks for small units and 6 to 10 weeks for large or complex ones, and its restaurant guide gives F&B the same 6 to 10 week range.
Whatever the estimate, build in slack. A final-week inspection almost always turns up something to fix, and a rectification buffer is cheaper than a late-handover penalty from your landlord.
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Related guides
Sources
Checked July 2026.