Key Takeaways
- A handyman is a generalist who handles small home repairs and installations — drilling, mounting, assembly, curtain rods, hinges and minor fixes — rather than a licensed specialist in 1 trade.
- In Singapore, 4 kinds of work fall outside a handyman’s job by law: electrical installation work (Licensed Electrical Worker), regulated plumbing (PUB Licensed Plumber), gas work (Licensed Gas Service Worker) and renovation or window replacement (HDB- and BCA-listed contractors).
- PUB lists the simple plumbing works a handyman may do, such as replacing a tap or a shower hose.
- Curtain rod installation costs S$35 in Singapore and takes about 30 minutes with Urban Company.
- The simplest way to use a handyman is with a written list, so 1 hourly visit clears several jobs.
The List on the Fridge in Bishan
It’s 3 months since you moved into your 4-room resale flat in Bishan. The TV is still on the floor, the curtain rods are in their box and the bathroom tap has started to drip. None of it needs a contractor. That is what a handyman is for — up to a point.
What Is the Meaning of Handyman?
A handyman is a person who is good at many small practical jobs around the home, rather than a specialist in 1 trade. In Singapore, it means someone you book for the odd jobs that pile up, often several in 1 visit.
The key word is small: short, non-structural work that needs no licence or permit. Once a job touches the fixed wiring, water pipes, gas line or the structure of the flat, it belongs to a licensed professional.
What Jobs Does a Handyman Cover in Singapore?
Most handyman work falls into 5 groups, and these are also the top handyman services people book:
| Group | Typical jobs |
|---|---|
| Drilling and mounting | Hanging pictures and mirrors, wall shelves, TV mounting, sports equipment |
| Windows and doors | Curtain rods, curtain blinds, door knobs, door hinge plates, window handles |
| Furniture and carpentry | Furniture assembly, cabinet hinges, wardrobe and drawer tracks |
| Walls and paint | Hole repair and patching, touch-up painting, full wall painting |
| Bathroom fittings and simple plumbing | Bathroom accessories, plus the simple plumbing works PUB allows |
Several need you to supply materials such as brackets, rods or hardware. To see how these jobs are priced, read why handyman quotes vary in Singapore.
What Should a Handyman Not Do in Singapore?
A handyman should not do electrical installation work, regulated plumbing, gas work, or renovation and window replacement. Each has its own licensing rule, set by a different agency.
Electrical. EMA requires electrical works at consumers’ premises to be done by Licensed Electrical Workers, covering any rewiring, alteration, repair or replacement to the electrical installation, and advises using one to replace damaged power points. Changing a light bulb is fine; a socket, a switch or the distribution board is not. You can check a licence on EMA’s ELISE portal.
Plumbing. All regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber, and since 1 April 2018 it has been an offence to engage an unlicensed plumber for them. PUB’s list of simple plumbing works that handymen without a licence may do includes replacing a tap, mixer or shower hose, replacing a washbasin or sink, and clearing a blockage. Altering water pipes or moving a toilet bowl is not on it.
Gas. EMA states that residential gas installation works can only be carried out by the gas supplier or a Licensed Gas Service Worker. Never ask a handyman to touch a gas pipe.
Renovation and windows. HDB’s rules say you may only engage contractors from its Directory of Renovation Contractors for renovations, and some, such as demolishing walls, need HDB’s evaluation first. For installing or replacing aluminium windows, HDB requires a BCA-approved window contractor. A new window handle is a repair; a new window is not handyman work.
Handyman vs Electrician vs Plumber: Who Do You Call?
Call a handyman for fitting and assembling; call an electrician or plumber when the job touches wiring or water pipes.
| Job | Handyman | Electrician | Plumber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount a TV or shelf | Yes | — | — |
| Assemble a wardrobe | Yes | — | — |
| Replace a light bulb | Yes | Yes | — |
| Replace a socket or switch | No | Yes | — |
| Power keeps tripping | No | Yes | — |
| Replace a leaking tap | Yes, PUB-listed | — | Yes |
| Clear a choked floor trap | Yes, PUB-listed | — | Yes |
| Reroute water pipes or move a toilet bowl | No | — | Yes, licensed |
For the electrical and plumbing side, see how electrician pricing works in Singapore and why plumber quotes vary.
What Can You Do Yourself Instead?
Plenty of the list is fair DIY. Assembling flat-pack furniture, tightening a loose cabinet hinge or swapping a showerhead are reasonable to try.
Call a handyman when the job needs drilling into concrete, the item is heavy (a TV, a mirror, a loaded shelf), or you are unsure what is behind the wall. A wall can hide wiring or pipes, and a wrong hole turns a small job into a bigger one.
How Do You Brief a Handyman?
Give them a written list before the visit, not on the doorstep.
- List every job, with a photo of each spot.
- Add measurements — curtain width, TV size, shelf length.
- Say what the wall is, if you know: concrete, brick or drywall.
- Buy the parts, such as the rod, brackets or hinge.
- Flag anything touching wiring or pipes for the right professional.
With Urban Company, you book by the hour, not by task, from S$39 in 30-minute blocks, and the professional arrives fully equipped. For more on picking the right person, read how to choose a handyman in Singapore and what to check when a handyman quote looks low. For every current service and price, see the full handyman service list and book a handyman in Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of handyman?
A handyman is a person skilled at a wide range of small repairs and installations around the home, rather than a specialist in 1 trade. In Singapore it usually means someone you book for drilling, mounting, furniture assembly, curtain rods and minor fixes, often several in 1 visit.
What does a handyman do in Singapore?
A handyman covers non-structural jobs that need no licence: hanging pictures and mirrors, mounting TVs and shelves, installing curtain rods, assembling furniture, replacing hinges and door knobs, and patching holes. PUB also allows handymen to do simple plumbing, such as replacing a tap or a shower hose.
Can a handyman do electrical work in Singapore?
Not on your home’s electrical installation. EMA requires rewiring, alteration, repair or replacement of the electrical installation to be done by a Licensed Electrical Worker, and advises using one to replace damaged power points. Changing a light bulb is fine. Sockets, switches, wiring and the distribution board are an electrician’s job.
Can a handyman do plumbing work in Singapore?
Only the simple plumbing works PUB lists, such as replacing a tap, mixer or shower hose, a cistern’s flushing mechanism, or a washbasin, and clearing a blockage. Altering water pipes or moving a toilet bowl is regulated work for a PUB Licensed Plumber.
What is the difference between a handyman and a contractor?
A handyman does short, non-structural jobs that need no permit. A renovation contractor handles hacking, wall removal, tiling and other renovation work. For HDB flats, the rules require renovation contractors from HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors, and some works need an HDB permit before anything starts.
How do I get the most out of a handyman visit?
Write every job down before booking, with photos and rough measurements. Say what each wall is made of if you know, and buy any brackets, rods or hardware the job needs. With Urban Company you book by the hour, so 1 visit can clear the whole list.
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