01 view
Written by: Commentary Editing Room
2020-08-20 06:00
Last update date: 2020-08-20 06:00The housing problem in Hong Kong is serious. Among them, more than 200,000 people need to live in subdivided housing. Although the government has begun to study the feasibility of implementing subdivided housing rent control, rent is only part of the problem of subdivided housing, and its poor environment is not an appropriate housing option. . However, Liang Yongxiang, chairman of the Research Working Group on Subdivided Housing Rent Control, believes that even if the long-term supply of public housing increases, there will always be a need for subdivided housing. However, whether sub-divided housing is really a necessary evil depends more on the citizens' choices.
Liang Yongxiang accepted an interview from the Public Housing Association, in which he published his "stance" on sub-divided housing. He believes that both the landlord and the public have the same feelings. The former must consider whether the rent level is affordable and acceptable to the public, and should not only pursue rent maximization, and the latter should not feel that operating a subdivided house is a "charitable" act. It is also hoped that the rent should be as low as possible, and it is emphasized that owners should have reasonable returns as an incentive for business operations, and should not let the market "never have any sub-divided houses" and let the public lose their housing options. In his view, sub-divided housing is a housing option that is inferior to public housing without a better choice. However, the public must feel that sub-divided housing is also "acceptable."
Leung Wing Cheung is the Chairman of the Estate Agents Authority. (Photo by Liang Pengwei)
In the short term: subdivided housing is a necessary evil
Sub-divided housing is certainly an unsuitable housing option, but it is still necessary to solve the problem of basic housing in the short term. It is the truth that cannot be avoided. According to the Housing Authority's figures, the average waiting time for public housing units at the end of June this year has reached 5.5 years, and the number of public housing constructions in the future will be even more "faulty". Current data predict that the number of public housing completions in 2024-25 will fall to 5,500 units. This is a new low since the reunification. In the next five years, 130,000 units will have to be built to "catch up" to achieve the housing production target of the "Long Term Housing Strategy". Therefore, if the government fails to catch up, the supply of public housing in the next few years will only be quite tight Unfortunately, the grassroots have no choice but to live in subdivided housing.
In the short term, subdivided housing is a necessary evil, and the government has to intervene in regulation. Liang Yongxiang believes that a reasonable return must be provided to the owners to prevent the supply of subdivided houses from reducing and damaging the interests of the grassroots. This is quite ideal. However, many subdivided house owners have always been accustomed to making huge profits. If they want to maintain a reasonable return on their investment, they can prevent the owners from exiting. In the market, this idea of relocating employers is likely to cause interest tilt. In the end, even if rent control is implemented, it is difficult to help protect the interests of tenants. In fact, in addition to encouraging the group, it must also consider the implementation of tougher measures, such as the implementation of a second-hand property vacancy tax to reduce the opportunity for owners to not rent out idle subdivided houses. This will more effectively protect the supply of subdivided houses and avoid sacrificing tenants The benefit of relocating the employer.
In the long run: the "monopoly" of sub-divided housing must be broken
However, Liang Yongxiang believes that even if the supply of public housing is sufficient, subdivided housing will continue to exist in the long run because there are many reasons why people live in substandard housing. For example, tenants are not eligible to apply for public housing (if their income exceeds the relevant threshold), there is a need for short-term housing, Wait for work. This argument is naturally opposed by many groups. They have always been subdivided housing and initially suitable housing. They believe that it is necessary to ban substandard housing in the long run.
Whether or not there should be sub-divided housing, this dispute simply ignores the more core issue behind it. In the final analysis, what is the subdivision? It is not only a partitioned room with a harsh environment, but also a housing option that monopolizes the living choices of people with limited affordability. Many tenants are forced to live in sub-divided houses without better options (mostly economic). Liang Yongxiang put it right, sub-divided housing is by no means just a basic-level housing. It is not difficult to find that in recent years, more people whose income exceeds the public housing application threshold, and can even be called middle-class citizens, are living in sub-divided housing. The reason for moving may be related to personal choice. (Such as the desire to live close to work place, the pursuit of personal space, etc.), but the more fundamental reason is its limited affordability. Under the high cost of buying and renting a private property, whether it is for saving or saving for home ownership, Or simply because of the limited disposable income, more non-grass citizens are forced to choose residential housing. However, it is precisely because of the distortion of the property market and even the entire housing structure that landlords can exploit tenants and make huge profits through the use of subdivided housing. The fact that the public has no choice in affordable housing is the key to the subdivided housing problem.
Therefore, compared with whether sub-divided housing still exists in the future, the issue worthy of concern is whether Hong Kong's housing structure still lacks sufficient affordable housing options in the future, forcing more people to sacrifice the quality of housing to reduce rent expenditure. The government must reorganize the local housing structure in the future. In addition to building different types of subsidized housing and public rental housing (including middle-class public housing) according to citizens of different affordability, the overall residential rental market must also be regulated. Protect people's rental rights and let all citizens have affordable choices in housing. It is true that there is still a market for houses with smaller area and lower rents, but it cannot completely monopolize the housing choices of middle- and low-income citizens. The government only needs to regulate the housing environment standards in Xiaozhong. .
Electric shock caused tragedy in sub-district houses
Subdivided rent management research work progress is not satisfactory
Subdivided housing owners can legislate to set up independent water and electricity meters for overcharging utilities
01 depth
Subdivided rent control, public housing subsidized housing 01 view
