Social News
Written by: Wang Jieen and Zhang Jiamin
2021-07-06 16:01
Last update date: 2021-07-06 16:31
The government has appointed a subdivided rent control research working group to study the feasibility of implementing subdivided rent control. The group has submitted a report to the government earlier, including a proposal for a "2+2" four-year tenancy right and a 15% ceiling increase. Mechanism etc.
The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Chen Fan, held a press conference today (6th) to explain the implementation of the amendments to the subdivided rent control.
Chen Fan pointed out that the team has submitted a report. After careful consideration, the government agrees with the measures and framework recommended by the working group, and believes that it can provide reasonable protection to sub-tenant tenants. The government accepts the report's recommendations in principle and will amend regulations to implement controls.
He said that the drafting of the law has been completed and will be gazetted on July 9th, and it will be read for the first time on July 14. It is expected that if the draft is passed in this legislative year, the rent control can be as soon as the end of this year or next year. Early implementation.
Chen Fan said that the bill is not a law that integrates subdivided housing in industrial buildings. It also emphasizes that when rent control is implemented, it will not affect the enforcement actions of relevant departments in accordance with existing laws.
He also pointed out that the proposed rental management framework mainly includes mandatory requirements for sub-house owners and tenants to sign leases; four-year tenancy protection for sub-house tenants; and to regulate the rent increase when renewing the contract, refer to the data of the Evaluation Department. The ceiling is 15%; the landlord is prohibited from overcharging the tenants for utilities.
It is recommended to cover sub-district housing in industrial buildings but not squatter housing
As for how to fix the sub-divided housing?
Director of the Transport and Housing Bureau (special duty) Chen Jiaxin said that it is recommended to refer to the building plan or the deed of mutual covenant to understand the definition of "unit". If only part of the whole unit is leased out in the lease, it can be included in the scope of rent control. .
He emphasized that industrial and commercial units and residential units will not be specified. As long as there is a deed of mutual covenant of the building, it can be included in the scope of rent control.
However, if the house does not have a plan or a deed of mutual covenant, it cannot be classified as a "unit" and therefore cannot be included in the ordinance.
In other words, squatter houses and village houses are not protected by rent control.
As for rooftops or platforms, Chen Jiaxin said that they can be designated as "units" on the plans, so rooftop houses can be controlled.
However, since it is difficult to define the back lane as a "unit", such illegal structures may not be regulated by law.
There must be a written lease within 30 days, otherwise the tenant can deduct the rent
The government also proposes to standardize the lease agreement for "regulated lease". The proposed terms include a fixed lease term of 2 years. During the lease term, the rent cannot be increased, but the landlord can reduce the rent; as long as the tenant is entitled to the first 12 months of the lease term After that, the lease is terminated and the owner can be given 1 month's notice.
The government also suggested that if there are no independent electricity or water meters installed by the two power companies or the Water Supplies Department in the sub-divided houses, the landlord must provide the tenant with a copy of the bill and account when requesting the tenant to repay the utility charges. The sum of the payments shall not exceed the amount in the bill of payment.
Chen Fan said that 15,000 transitional houses have reached the standard and the rent management material will be implemented as soon as early next year
Subdivided rent management | Non-government urges attention to fire-fighting equipment and subdivided households only know that the fire extinguisher expires when a fire alarm occurs
Subdivided rent management | Black toilets, sewers, chaotic retreats, and social innovation apps use technology to reveal subdivided house chaos
Scholars of the first private consultation committee after the sub-rental management report: social enterprises should be subsidized to protect the rights and interests of tenants
Subdivided rent management｜The government submits a bill to the Legislative Council this year for implementation as soon as the first quarter of next year
01News
Subdivided House Rental Control
