Hong Kong public rental housing waiting time edges up slightly to 4.8 years

The composite waiting time for general applicants for long- and short-term subsidised public rental housing in Hong Kong has edged up slightly to 4.8 years at the end of June, authorities have said, adding that a higher proportion of coveted homes in urban areas was allocated in the second quarter.

Despite an increase in the “composite” figure, which includes temporary flats under the light public housing initiative, the Housing Bureau said on Thursday that the average waiting time for general applicants – families or single elderly people – to be housed in a standard public rental home in the past 12 months dropped by 0.1 years to 5.5 years, compared with the first quarter.

The average waiting time for single elderly applicants remained at 3.9 years.

The bureau said the short-term fluctuations in the average waiting time reflected a “positive sign” because applicants who had waited longer for a home in urban areas were allocated one.

“[It proves] that we are effectively tackling the long-standing backlog of waiting cases and laying the foundation for significant improvements in the future. In the long run, the average waiting time for public rental housing will clearly trend in a positive direction,” the bureau said.

The data showed that about 3,200 general applicants, including 330 single senior residents, were housed in standard public rental homes between April and June.

As of the end of June, 100,500 general applications from families and single elderly people were waiting for a standard public rental home.