Can I use any contractor for reinstatement, or must I use the landlord's contractor?
It depends on the lease and building rules. Some leases let the landlord carry out reinstatement at the tenant's cost; many buildings require specialist systems such as sprinklers, fire alarm, building management system or chilled-water connections to be handled by the landlord's approved QP or nominated term contractor. General demolition and finishing work is often open to your own contractor, provided they follow house rules, hold the insurances the building requires and obtain the permit to work.
From the RRD Field Guide, checked against the sources cited in Office Reinstatement in Singapore: The Complete Guide to Commercial Handback. General information, not advice for your project.
The fuller picture
Office reinstatement is the work a tenant must do before handing premises back: removing its fit-out and restoring the unit to the condition the lease and the landlord's reinstatement guidelines require, often bare shell or original handover condition. It usually involves demolition, ceiling and M&E reinstatement, fire-protection reinstatement by a QP, a joint inspection and deposit settlement, all before the lease expiry date.
More questions on this topic
- What does 'reinstate to original condition' mean in a Singapore office lease?
- How long does office reinstatement take in Singapore?
- Do reinstatement works need SCDF or BCA approval?
- What happens if reinstatement is not finished by the lease expiry date?
- Can I negotiate cash in lieu of reinstatement?
- Can I leave my fit-out for the incoming tenant?
- When will I get my security deposit back?