# Find an office renovation contractor in Singapore

> Tell us about your office space, scope and timing, and our concierge introduces you to one to five renovation contractors or commercial interior designers who contact you directly.

Source: https://www.fyadvisers.com/find/office-renovation/  
Author: FYAdvisers  
Last updated: 2026-10-13

Office renovation in Singapore, often called an office fit-out, is the work of turning a leased or owned space into a working office: space planning, partitions, ceilings, flooring, lighting, electrical and data cabling, air-conditioning changes, pantry and meeting rooms, and furniture. Buyers usually hire either a design-and-build firm that handles design, approvals and construction under one contract, or a commercial interior designer who designs the space and then works with one or more contractors. Before any work starts, you will normally need your landlord's or management corporation's consent, and some works also need submissions to SCDF, BCA or URA through a qualified person.

## What office renovation usually includes

A typical office fit-out covers some or all of the following:

- **Space planning and design:** layout, workstation counts, meeting rooms, reception, storage and 3D visuals.
- **Partitions and ceilings:** drywall, glass partitions, false ceilings and acoustic treatment.
- **Flooring:** carpet tiles, vinyl, raised floors or tiling.
- **Mechanical and electrical (M&E):** lighting, power points, air-conditioning ducting changes, and adjustments to sprinklers, smoke detectors and emergency lighting where the layout changes.
- **Data and AV:** network cabling, server or comms rooms, meeting room screens and video conferencing.
- **Joinery and pantry:** built-in cabinets, pantry counters and sinks.
- **Furniture:** loose and system furniture, either supplied by the contractor or bought separately.
- **Approvals and handover:** submissions through a qualified person, building management coordination, defects rectification and as-built drawings.

### Common project types

- **New fit-out:** a bare or previously used unit fitted out for a new tenant.
- **Refresh or reconfiguration:** changing layouts, finishes or meeting rooms in an existing office.
- **Reinstatement:** returning the unit to its original condition at the end of a lease, as most leases require.

## What office renovation costs in Singapore

Fit-out pricing depends heavily on specification, so published figures are benchmarks, not quotes. Two consultancy guides published in March 2026 give a sense of the range:

- [Cushman & Wakefield's 2026 office fit-out cost guide](https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/singapore/insights/apac-office-fit-out-cost-guide) puts the average cost of a collaborative hybrid fit-out in Singapore at about S$180 per square foot. It quotes basic hybrid workplaces at about US$102 psf and highly specified ones at up to US$212 psf, with reinstatement at about US$19 psf.
- Knight Frank's Asia Pacific Fit-Out Cost Guide 2026, [as reported by EdgeProp](https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-news/singapore-tops-asia-pacific-office-fit-out-costs-amid-rising-workplace-investment), puts a mid or standard fit-out in Singapore at US$2,029 (about S$2,610) per square metre, based on data collected in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The main cost drivers for your own project are:

- floor area and how much of it changes;
- the condition of the unit (bare, previously fitted, or needing demolition first);
- the number of enclosed rooms, glass partitions and acoustic requirements;
- M&E changes, especially air-conditioning and sprinkler or detector relocation;
- AV and IT scope;
- furniture, if included;
- consultant fees for the qualified person and any submissions;
- building requirements such as after-hours noisy works, deposits and insurance;
- reinstatement obligations at the end of the lease.

Ask every bidder to price the same scope and drawings, and to show provisional sums and exclusions separately.

## Singapore rules and approvals for office renovation

### Landlord and MCST consent

Most office leases and strata by-laws require the tenant or owner to submit fit-out plans to the landlord or management corporation (MCST) for approval before works start. Buildings often have fit-out guidelines covering working hours, deposits, contractor insurance and approved M&E contractors. SCDF also states that a tenant must obtain consent from the building owner or management corporation before carrying out minor fire safety works.

### SCDF fire safety works

Changes to partitions, exits, sprinklers, detectors or fire doors can affect fire safety. [SCDF](https://scdf.gov.sg/home/fire-safety/plans-and-consultations/minor-addition-alteration-works) sorts addition and alteration works into three paths:

- works covered by the Fire Safety (Exemption) Order need no plan submission;
- minor addition and alteration works listed in SCDF's schedule can proceed after a lodgement by a registered architect or professional engineer through CORENET, at a fee of S$90 per submission;
- all other fire safety works need [SCDF plan approval](https://www.gobusiness.gov.sg/browse-all-licences/Singapore-Civil-Defence-Force-(SCDF)/Plan-Approval-for-Fire-Safety-Works) before work begins, with plans prepared by a qualified person.

If the building's fire safety was designed on a performance-based approach, the qualified person must check whether your works affect it and may need to engage a fire safety engineer. SCDF offers free consultations if you are unsure which path applies.

### BCA building works

Under BCA rules, some minor "insignificant building works" do not need plan submission, as listed in the [First Schedule of the Building Control Regulations](https://www1.bca.gov.sg/guidelines-and-requirements/building-works-not-requiring-approval/). Works outside that list, such as structural changes, need plans submitted to BCA by a qualified person. BCA advises consulting a qualified person when in doubt.

### URA change of use

If you are moving into a unit that was approved for a different use, check the approved use first. [URA](https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Property/Business/Change-Use-of-Property-for-Business) advises confirming whether planning permission is needed before committing to a tenancy or starting renovation, and GoBusiness lists [Change of Use Approval](https://www.gobusiness.gov.sg/browse-all-licences/Urban-Redevelopment-Authority-(URA)/Change-of-Use-Approval) as a separate application.

## Fit-out timelines

There is no standard duration; it depends on size, approvals and building rules. Plan for these stages and ask each provider for a written programme:

1. **Brief and site survey:** headcount, layout needs, budget and target move-in date.
2. **Design and quotation:** layouts, visuals and a priced scope, revised until agreed.
3. **Approvals:** landlord or MCST submission, then SCDF, BCA or URA submissions where needed. These can run in parallel with ordering long-lead items.
4. **Works on site:** demolition, M&E, partitions and ceilings, finishes, then furniture and IT.
5. **Inspection and handover:** defects list, building management inspection, any fire safety clearances, and handover documents.

Leave buffer for approvals and long-lead items such as glass partitions, custom joinery and imported furniture, and check your lease's rent-free fit-out period against the programme.

## Design-and-build or a separate designer?

There are two common ways to buy commercial interior design in Singapore:

- **Design-and-build:** one firm designs and builds. You get a single contract, one point of responsibility and usually a faster start. The trade-off is less independent price comparison on the build.
- **Separate designer, then tender:** a commercial interior designer prepares the design and specification, and you tender the works to several contractors. You get independent advice and like-for-like bids, but more coordination and often a longer timeline.

## How to choose and what to ask

1. Can we see completed office projects of a similar size and building type?
2. Who is your qualified person for SCDF and BCA submissions, and is that included in the price?
3. Which trades do you carry out yourselves, and which are subcontracted?
4. What is excluded, and what are the provisional sums?
5. What is the payment schedule, and is it tied to progress?
6. What insurance do you hold for the works and for workers on site?
7. What is the defects liability period and warranty on workmanship?
8. Will you handle building management submissions and after-hours works?

## Red flags

- Starting work before landlord, MCST or required authority approval.
- A lump-sum quote with no itemised scope or exclusions.
- Large upfront payments not linked to progress.
- No qualified person named for fire safety or structural work.
- No written programme or defects terms.

## How FYAdvisers matching works

1. **Describe your need.** Tell us your location, floor area, scope and target move-in date.
2. **Free concierge consultation.** A concierge contacts you to confirm your needs, budget and timing.
3. **We introduce one to five providers.** With your consent, we introduce you to the number of contractors or commercial interior designers you choose, up to five.
4. **Meet and decide.** The providers reach out directly to arrange a site visit, and you decide whether to hire any of them.

It is free for you; providers pay FYAdvisers to receive matched requests. We only share your details with your consent. FYAdvisers does not carry out renovation or design work itself.

Once you have moved in, you can also find [office cleaning](/find/office-cleaning/) or a [corporate event company](/find/corporate-event-companies/) for an office opening.

## Frequently asked questions

### How does matching work?

You describe your premises, what you want done and your target move-in date. A concierge then contacts you to confirm the details and, with your consent, introduces you to the number you choose (one to five) of contractors or interior design firms whose services match it, and they contact you directly. You decide whether to hire any of them.

### Is it free?

Yes. It is free for businesses requesting a provider. Providers pay FYAdvisers to receive introductions.

### Do I need approval to renovate my office in Singapore?

Usually you need your landlord's or MCST's consent first. Depending on the works, you may also need SCDF fire safety plan approval or a minor works lodgement, BCA approval for structural changes, and URA permission if the use of the premises changes. A qualified person (a registered architect or professional engineer) can confirm what applies to your unit.

### How much does an office fit-out cost in Singapore?

It depends on specification. Cushman & Wakefield's 2026 guide puts an average collaborative hybrid fit-out in Singapore at about S$180 per square foot, and Knight Frank's 2026 guide puts a mid or standard fit-out at about S$2,610 per square metre. A quote for your own floor plan is the only reliable figure.

### Should we use a design-and-build firm or a separate designer?

Design-and-build gives you one contract and one point of responsibility, which suits most small and mid-sized offices. Appointing a separate designer and then tendering the build to contractors gives you more independent advice and price comparison, at the cost of more coordination.