Sub-divided flat landlords to bear inspection costs to ensure compliance with new regulations – reports
Hong Kong Free Press
Owners of sub-divided flats will be required to bear the costs of inspections to ensure units comply with new regulations meant to phase out “low quality” dwellings.
Landlords will be required to hire professionals to conduct checks to ensure that the units are up to par, Ming Pao reported on Sunday.
It was reported that the owners will be required to inspect the unit’s size, height, fire resistance, hygiene, and ventilation, among other criteria, and submit written documents to prove that the sub-divided units can be legally registered.
Owners will be given a maximum of 12 months to complete improvement works, Ming Pao reported citing sources.
‘Low-quality’ flats
The checks are part of a move to phase out “low-quality” sub-divided flats, in accordance with a plan introduced in Chief Executive John Lee’s 2023 Policy Address. The Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units will submit a report on new measures to tackle substandard units to Hong Kong’s “patriots only” legislature by the end of August.
See also: Hong Kong should end ‘low-quality’ subdivided homes within 3 years, say pro-gov’t lawmakers
The pro-establishment Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) last week proposed that sub-divided flats should measure no less than 1.8 metres in height or 7 square metres in floorspace.
The kitchen and toilet should be separate from each other, and the unit should comply with the Fire Services Ordinance and Buildings Ordinance. Adopting those standards would mark about 10,000 sub-divided units as “low-quality.”
The Housing Bureau told local media that authorities have held discussions and drafted proposals on establishing minimum standards for sub-divided units, and that the task force has commissioned a consultant to visit and collect data on sub-divided units.
The bureau said it will submit its report to the chief executive in August as planned. HKFP has reached out to the bureau for comment.
New regulations
According to a government report, by 2020, there were around 110,008 sub-divided units in Hong Kong, including sub-divided flats, cubicles, bedspaces, space capsules, loft spaces and rooftop dwellings.
There are nearly 250,000 people living in the city’s sub-divided units, according to the Society for Community Organization (SoCO).
Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) Francis Lam said the government had been in touch this month, adding that it would be “unreasonable” for the government to tap into public funds for the inspections.
He also said the government was looking into setting up a platform to support owners and tenants.
Housing chief Winnie Ho this June said that the authorities may set the minimum size between seven and 10 square metres, or 75 to 108 square feet.
The surveyors’ body in May recommended to the government task force that the units should measure 100 square feet at minimum, and that landlords should be responsible for arranging registered professionals to conduct annual inspections.
It was also reported on Sunday that government departments including the Home and Youth Affairs Department, the Buildings Department, and the Water Supplies Department will set up a dedicated interdepartmental office.
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