Termites in your home or condo

How termites get into homes in Singapore

Termites do not need large gaps to enter a property. The two routes depend entirely on the species:

• Drywood termites enter through exposed, untreated timber. A swarming pair — a king and queen — find a small crack, joint, or end-grain in a wooden surface and establish a colony inside the timber itself. Imported wooden furniture, parquet flooring, timber door and window frames, wooden ceiling beams, and roof trusses are common entry points. Because drywood termites live entirely within the wood they consume, there is no soil contact required and no external sign until damage is well advanced.
• Subterranean termites travel through soil and build mud tubes to reach timber above ground. In landed properties, they enter through foundations, gaps around pipes, and cracks in slabs. In HDB flats and condominiums, subterranean termites are most likely to appear in ground-floor or first-storey units, or where utility pipes pass through slabs, though they have been found in mid-rise units where they have followed pipe runs or construction joints upward.

Where to look for termite activity in your home

The location of activity varies by termite type and property layout. A systematic check of the following areas covers the most likely hotspots:

Which termites are most common by property type

• HDB flats Drywood termites are the most common type found in HDB flats. Timber furniture, particularly imported hardwood pieces, parquet flooring, and older timber door frames are the primary targets. Subterranean termites are less common in upper-storey flats but have been reported in ground-floor units and where pipework provides a route upward.
• Condominiums The pattern is similar to HDB flats. Drywood termites in furniture and fitted joinery are most frequent. Units undergoing renovation are at higher risk, disturbing walls or flooring can expose existing hidden activity or create new entry points. Termites have also been introduced via secondhand wooden furniture or timber brought in during fitting out.
• Landed properties Subterranean termites pose a greater structural risk in landed homes because of direct soil contact at foundation level. In-ground baiting systems and soil treatment are the primary protective measures. Drywood termites are also present in landed homes, particularly in roof voids and older structural timber that has not been treated.
• Commercial premises and offices Timber partition walls, raised timber flooring, and fitted joinery in commercial interiors are all susceptible. For food and beverage, healthcare, and logistics facilities, the compliance implications of a termite discovery extend beyond the structural. Read more on business pest control for sector-specific considerations.

Can termites spread from one unit to another?

Drywood termites do not typically spread through walls between units; they are contained within the timber they infest and do not forage externally. However, a severe infestation in one unit can eventually reach shared structural timber where it borders an adjacent unit.

Subterranean termites travel through soil and mud tubes. In low-rise developments with shared foundations, an active colony can extend its foraging across multiple units through the building structure. This is less common in high-rise condominiums but has occurred where colony pressure is high and structural gaps allow passage.

In practice, if your neighbour has had a confirmed termite infestation, it is worth arranging an inspection of your own unit, particularly for any shared wall cavities or common timber elements. Even if you have not yet seen evidence yourself.