Subdivided-flat registration reaches 42.5 percent as early bird phase ends

AI-summarized · Neutrality-checked

The Hong Kong government received 34,000 applications for subdivided flat registrations by the end of the initial six-month 'early bird' phase, reaching 42.5 percent of the 80,000 units estimated for accreditation under the Basic Housing Unit Ordinance. This legislative framework, which came into force in March to phase out substandard units, offered landlords a waiver of HK$3,000 in certification fees for the first three years of the program. Industry observers and Legislative Council housing panel deputy chairman Scott Leung Man-kwong attributed the low participation to a lack of public awareness and complexities surrounding property ownership, such as the need to resolve legal title transfers for inherited flats.

Consequences

Landlords who failed to register during the early bird phase may face higher certification costs for their units. Furthermore, the registration process will continue to necessitate the formalization of legal property ownership for many landlords, potentially delaying compliance with the new housing standards.

Sources

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