The Answer in 60 Seconds Per the CaseTrust Accreditation for Renovation Businesses page: "Initial deposits are also capped at maximum 20% of the total cost." Accredited firms must purchase a deposit performance bond. Per CaseTrust's published FAQ, the appointed broker is bolttech Insurance Brokers Pte Ltd (broker-core@bolttech.sg / 6535 1828). The bond underwriter and exact bond amount tier are confirmed with bolttech directly at application.

The Sourced Detail

What the bond does

Per the CaseTrust Renovation page: "CaseTrust-accredited renovation businesses must purchase a deposit performance bond to safeguard deposit payments against non-performance of contracts, closure, winding up and liquidation, among others."

Per the same page, two structural protections sit alongside the bond:

  • Initial deposits capped at maximum 20% of total cost (verbatim from case.org.sg)
  • Workmanship warranty (verbatim from case.org.sg): "Businesses shall provide Homeowners a workmanship warranty for a period of 12 months from completion date of the Works."
  • Progressive payment : "Payments are collected in phases upon agreed milestones."

The bond is the financial backstop. The deposit cap is the structural backstop. Together they limit the homeowner's downside if the renovation firm closes mid-project.

Who brokers the bond

Per CaseTrust's published FAQ: "CaseTrust will connect you with bolttech Insurance Brokers Pte Ltd to apply for insurance, after your business completes the assessment stage. Should you require general advice on insurance matters, you may contact bolttech Insurance Brokers Pte Ltd at: 6535 1828 broker-core@bolttech.sg."

bolttech is the appointed broker. The actual underwriter is the insurance company that issues the bond — verified with bolttech at the time of application. Per CaseTrust FAQ, full NRIC numbers are required from homeowners because the bond is issued in the homeowner's name, in line with PDPC guidelines.

How the mechanism works

Per RCMA's published explainer of the bond mechanism (RCMA is CaseTrust's joint accreditation partner for renovation), the operational structure is:

  • A master policy is issued to the renovation business
  • An approved limit is set in a customised system the operator accesses
  • The operator issues a certificate to all customers who paid a deposit
  • The limit is on a drawdown basis — once a deposit is logged, it draws down the operator's available bond capacity
  • The operator must top up the limit as it runs low
  • Operators cannot generate certificates if there is insufficient limit
  • On insolvency, compulsory liquidation or bankruptcy of the renovation firm, the consumer can call for compensation for the un-utilised deposit
  • bolttech's appointed loss adjuster assesses validity; if valid, cheque payment is issued in favour of the consumer within fourteen (14) working days

What the bond does NOT cover

Per case.org.sg directly, the bond protects deposits. It is not a workmanship warranty, not a defects liability bond, and not a contractor's all-risk policy. Once the firm starts work and collects milestone payments, those subsequent payments fall outside the bond's deposit-protection scope. Disputes about quality, delays, or scope go to CASE mediation or, failing that, the Small Claims Tribunal or the State Courts.

Cumulative scheme exposure is significant: per the 2022 CASE update (referencing the structurally analogous spa scheme), "The cumulative amount of prepayments protected since the introduction of the prepayment protection feature in the scheme stands at more than $263 million" — evidence the master-policy mechanism does process payouts at scale when required.

A note on S$ figures

We are deliberately not quoting a specific S$ bond cap in this article. Third-party sites have published figures of S$50,000 / S$100,000 tiers (paid-up capital-linked) or "100% of deposit" coverage, but the case.org.sg renovation page itself does not set out the bond cap in its public-facing text as of the source verification date. CaseTrust's FAQ routes operators to bolttech for the current bond structure. For accuracy, applicants should verify the current bond amount with bolttech directly.

The accreditation cycle

Per CaseTrust FAQ, the renovation accreditation is valid for four (4) years, with admission and bi-yearly interim audits. For RCMA Joint Accreditation specifically, the firm must first be a member of RCMA. Both schemes require ACRA registration with at least 2 years of operating history.

What This Means for Your Business

If you run a renovation firm and want to display the CaseTrust decal, you will need to:

  • Get accredited (4-year cycle) via the CaseTrust online application
  • Apply through bolttech Insurance Brokers for the deposit performance bond
  • Adopt the CaseTrust Standard Renovation Contract with progressive payments and the 20% deposit cap
  • Provide a 12-month workmanship warranty
  • Manage the bond drawdown limit operationally

Companies typically need to consider, separately: project-related Public Liability cover (a deposit bond is not liability insurance); WICA insurance for any employed renovation crew (statutory under MOM); and standalone professional indemnity if your firm offers interior design / 3D drawings / consultancy.

Questions to Ask Your Adviser

  1. "What's the current deposit performance bond cap for a firm at my paid-up capital level — and what does bolttech's standard wording include?"
  2. "If a homeowner pays a 20% deposit by PayNow, when is the bond certificate triggered — at receipt or at contract signature?"
  3. "I have both renovation and spa wellness arms — do I need separate bond schemes under CaseTrust?"
  4. "What's the difference between the CaseTrust-only bond and the CaseTrust-RCMA Joint Accreditation bond from a coverage perspective?"
  5. "If I close down, what happens to the master policy — is there a tail period for outstanding consumer claims?"

Related Information

Published 3 May 2026. Source verified 3 May 2026. COVA is an introducer under MAS Notice FAA-N02. We do not recommend insurance products. We provide factual information sourced from primary regulators and route you to a licensed IFA who can match a policy to your specific situation.