Hong Kong authorities have learned of cases of subdivided-flat tenants allegedly being evicted due to landlords renovating the homes ahead of a government clampdown on subpar housing, a minister has said. Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said it was the first time the Rating and Valuation Department had received such complaints, which were filed…
Hong Kong authorities pledged to seriously follow up on complaints of forced removal of tenants from subdivided flats, as a two-month consultation on a regulatory regime to wipe out poor quality housing started on Monday. The government earlier proposed drafting new laws that would only allow registered subdivided flats – known as “basic housing units”…
Hong Kong landlords who rent out low-quality subdivided homes could face up to three years in jail and HK$300,000 (US$38,550) in fines under a proposed government plan to wipe out such flats. Details of the proposal were revealed on Wednesday, a day after the housing minister urged landlords not to illegally chase out tenants for…
The government will take into account Hong Kong’s supply of public housing and other factors before imposing penalties on landlords who lease subdivided flats that do not meet a proposed tougher code, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun has said. A day after delivering his policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said the…
Hong Kong business leaders have described Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s latest policy address as a much-needed holistic economic blueprint as the city seeks out fresh growth opportunities, but some stakeholders have criticised efforts to combat subdivided housing as not going far enough. The blueprint covers near-term measures such as easing mortgage lending restrictions, supporting…