How to Keep Trespassers Out of Your Home During a Renovation

Here's everything you need to know.

Imagine entering your home that’s still undergoing renovation, only to come across complete strangers wandering around and taking photos. It sounds bizarre, sure, but this has unfortunately become increasingly common in recent times:

• 7 September 2026: Individuals were seen entering a HDB flat undergoing renovation
• 19 September 2026: A homeowner confronted a man who tried entering her home undergoing renovation
• 30 October 2026: A couple shared CCTV footage of a man entering their BTO flat twice within five days

While it’s natural to be curious, it certainly doesn’t give anyone free rein to enter another person’s home without permission. But is it actually illegal? And, more importantly, what can you do to keep unwanted visitors out while your home is being renovated?

Is it actually illegal to enter someone else’s home during a renovation?

Short answer: Yes, it can be illegal.

Under Section 21 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act, anyone who deliberately enters someone's home without a satisfactory excuse may be guilty of wilful trespass, even if they don't cause any damage. Those convicted can face a fine of up to $1,000.

So, while the exact offence depends on the circumstances, one thing's abundantly clear: a home under renovation is still someone's private space, not a showroom for nosy passers-by. And an open door certainly is not an invitation to wander in!

How can you protect your home from trespassers during renovation?

Sure, keeping your home completely locked up when contractors are coming and going isn’t practical. But even then, there are a few simple precautions you can take to keep unwanted visitors out while renovation works are happening.

Keep your doors and gates secured

As easy as it makes things, an open door unfortunately makes your home an easy target for ‘visitors’.

One thing you can do is to invest in a good-quality lock and keep track of who has access to your keys. In fact, the Singapore Police Force advises homeowners to use close-shackled locks instead of number locks during their renovations, which are easier to open.

It also pays to regularly remind your contractors to keep the main door or gate closed whenever possible, and to lock properly before leaving for the day.

Install a CCTV camera to keep an eye on your home

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need Wi-Fi to install a CCTV camera. There are models out there that are 4G-enabled, which use a SIM card to connect to the Internet, as well as ones that utilise a microSD card to store footage locally.

For the latter, note that they operate completely offline and won’t let you view live footage or receive alerts remotely – meaning you’ll need to manually retrieve the recordings from the camera itself.

Set some ground rules with your ID

Aside from reminding them to shut the door, you should also make it clear that visitors should never be allowed into the unit without your permission.

It’ll help to show pictures of those who are allowed to visit your unit, like your partner or family members. This way, the workers will have a clearer idea on who to look out for, and who not to let inside.

What should you do if someone trespasses your home during renovation?

Despite your best efforts, there’s still an unfortunate chance that someone finds their way into your home without permission. If that happens, here’s what you can do:

• Prioritise your safety: It’s frustrating, sure, but avoid physically confronting the intruder. Call the police if they become aggressive or pose an immediate threat.
• Gather evidence: Save any CCTV footage of the incident, and take notes on when it happened and what the person did.
• Make a police report: Lodge a police report via the Singapore Police Force's online portal. Include any evidence you've gathered to help the police assess the incident.
• Tighten your home’s security: Inform your ID/contractors about the incident and review how the intrder gained access, just so you can make sure it doesn’t happen again.