HK landlords spend half million only to find devil in details near completion
發佈日期: 2026-03-31 20:34
TVB News
Since the implementation of the Basic Housing Units Ordinance on March 1, more than 850 units have already been registered for the three-year grace period.
While many landlords are racing to upgrade their subdivided units, some have overlooked critical technical details required by law as their projects near completion.
The Basic Housing Units Ordinance mandates that only units verified by building professionals as meeting minimum living standards can be leased.
While some landlords exit the market, others remain bullish on the rental prospects.
Mr Wong has spent half a million dollars to renovate his flat but found that "the devil is in the details", when he was preparing to hire a professional for certification.
For instance, he mistakenly installed electricity metres that actually should be supplied directly by the power companies.
His water facilities are in trouble too -- the water metres he set up need to be approved by the Water Supplies Department.
Mr Wong said "I followed my own ideas and also referred to the government's guidelines, but maybe I missed some of the details. The renovation process has been exhausting as I have to supervise every single step."
He said he hopes the government can give more explanation of the requirements.
Benton Chan, who has worked in the housing sector for 16 years, runs a consultancy to offer owners tailor-made renovation plans.
He noted that many landlords are not fully aware of the technical requirements and complex procedures.
He said the work involves a combination of water, electricity, fire safety and things like ventilation and lighting. Landlords have to coordinate with different professionals for design, planning and inspections.
When the units are ready for recognition, landlords have to hire specific professionals to confirm compliance with the minimum standards.
While it cost Mr Wong 28,500 dollars to certify his unit, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors said recognition should cost around 15,000 dollars for a 500-to-600 square foot flat, depending on its complexity.
Kenny Tse, Vice President of Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors said, "Subject to the market competition, the flat conditions, the capacity and also the number of flats, I think the starting fee for certification is about 15,000 dollars. But of course it excludes some additional service fees such as the minor works and the structural assessment fee. So I also recommend the owners to do more comparisons about it."
As the Basic Housing Units Ordinance takes effect, we are seeing a new industry of consultants emerge to help owners navigate the new legal requirements.
