Hong Kong concern group accuses officials of failing to enforce new tenancy control law for subdivided flats
- The law, which went into effect in January, contains provisions aimed at preventing vulnerable tenants being taken advantage of by landlords
- But one advocate says: ‘Not much has changed for tenants now compared to before the law was implemented’
A concern group has accused frontline Hong Kong officials of misunderstanding a new tenancy control law covering subdivided flats, and of failing to intervene in cases of rule breaches affecting some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.
The Alliance Monitoring the Government’s Implementation of Tenancy Control on Subdivided Units said the new law was not properly protecting residents due to a lack of enforcement by the Rating and Valuation Department.
The law, which came into effect on January 22, covers about 92,200 of the tiny homes across the city, many of which are located in rundown buildings. Many low-income households have no choice but to live in subdivided units during their long wait for public housing.
Under the legislation, occupants and landlords of subdivided flats are required to sign a standard tenancy agreement setting out the rent amount, a deposit, utility charges and fees for any breach of the contract, and nothing else.
But the alliance’s Kenny Ng Kwan-lim said: “Not much has changed for tenants now compared to before the law was implemented. Some landlords are still overcharging their tenants for water and electricity.
“It is a vicious cycle because tenants face the dilemma of signing a lease that does not comply with the regulations, but at the same time they also fear offending their landlord and losing their home.”
A subdivided flat tenant surnamed Lau voiced frustration at the lack of help from authorities after she reported being overcharged for utilities.
Her family of four lives in a 100 sq ft flat in Tsuen Wan for which she pays HK$5,800 (US$741) per month in rent. They have waited seven years for public housing.
