Over 73,000 Hong Kong subdivided flats apply for grace period to meet housing standards
Quick Look
More than 73,000 subdivided flats in Hong Kong have applied for a three-year grace period to meet government minimum standards under the Basic Housing Unit Ordinance, representing nearly 70% of the estimated 110,000 such units, with 42 already certified as compliant.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Basic Housing Unit Ordinance sets minimum standards for subdivided flats in Hong Kong, with a three-year grace period for compliance. Authorities launched an 'early bird' registration phase that closed on August 31.
More than 73,000 subdivided flats in Hong Kong have applied for a three-year grace period to meet the government’s minimum standards, a figure the housing chief has described as “better than expected”.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said on Saturday that authorities received around 73,800 applications during the “early bird” registration phase under the Basic Housing Unit Ordinance, which closed on August 31.
The tally represented nearly 70 per cent of the city’s estimated 110,000 subdivided flats, with 42 already certified as compliant, Ho told a radio programme.
“The progress is better than I expected,” she said. “We expect that as we gradually enter the three-year grace period, as people become familiar with the certification process and find suitable renovation companies and professionals to handle it, the certification numbers will rise.”
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Certification numbers will continue to rise as landlords become more familiar with the process and secure renovation services
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific penalties apply to landlords who fail to certify their subdivided flats after the grace period?
- How will the government support low-income tenants affected by potential rent increases due to renovation costs?
- What resources are available to help landlords find certified renovation professionals?
