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More than 70% of sub-divided households say that the ceiling for rent increase is too high, hoping that the government will control it within 5%

2021-08-10T00:05:56.304Z


The problem of subdivided housing in Hong Kong is serious. Last month, the deadly fire of subdivided housing in Tai Po once again caused the public to pay attention to unsuitable housing. A few days ago, the government announced that subdivided housing rent control would be implemented as soon as the end of this year or early next year. Some groups will implement it in Tai Po and North District.


The problem of subdivided housing in Hong Kong is serious. Last month, the deadly fire of subdivided housing in Tai Po once again caused the public to pay attention to unsuitable housing.

A few days ago, the government announced that subdivided housing rent control would be implemented as soon as the end of this year or early next year. A group conducted a survey in Tai Po and North District and found that nearly 75% of the respondents believed that after the end of the two-year lease, the rent will increase by 15%. The ceiling is too high, making it unaffordable for them.

Some tenants believe that the original intent of rent control is good, but there is still a lot of room for improvement in the protection of tenants. I hope the government can adjust it to less than 5% to meet their needs.


The Christian Hong Kong Lutheran Church last month conducted a survey on the situation of 150 subdivided households in Tai Po and North District and their views on rent control through telephone, face-to-face interviews and questionnaires. Among them, 24 respondents conducted a focus group with the survey group. To express a more detailed view.

Most of the subdivided households surveyed have two to three people living in them, and the dwelling units are mainly sub-divided units with an area ranging from 81 to 120 square feet.

89% of the interviewees stated that rent currently accounts for more than 30% of the total household income, and 49% of the interviewees’ rent expenditure is more than half of their total income. It can be seen that the main source of economic pressure for the interviewed households is rent.

The survey showed that nearly half of the sub-household households interviewed (49%) did not know that the government had completed the feasibility study report on rent management.

After the interviewees learned about the rent management details, 67% disagreed with the proposal of a "2+2" 4-year lease under the rent management, and 75% believed that after the end of the 2-year lease, the rent increase would be 15% The ceiling is too high for them to afford.

73% of the interviewees thought that it would be ideal to keep the increase below 5%.

The survey also found that sub-divided households have different worries about rent management. They are mainly worried that the landlord will increase the rent during this period (50%) and the need to move (21%) due to the increase in rent.

Subdivided households have to relocate due to rent and environmental issues

Alan, who lives in a sub-divided house in Dapu, moved three times in four years due to the landlord’s rent increase and residential environment problems.

Alan pointed out that the environment of the previous two residences was not ideal. One of them had a small unit area and was more infested with rats.

Although the environment is poor, the Alan family can only endure due to economic conditions.

After the lease expired, the landlord immediately increased the rent, which was closer to 20%. In the end, she could only find another place to relocate.

Alan and his two daughters used to live in a rodent-infested sub-house.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Afterwards, Alan moved to a sub-district unit on the third floor in the same district.

Because the residence is above the dining room, oil smoke will rush into the unit, and the windows cannot be opened for a long time, the environment becomes scorched, and the lack of air circulation makes the children easy to get sick.

Alan decided to move again, but because the owner complained that the children smeared the walls, he confiscated all Alan's three-month deposit and the previous rent of about 18,000 yuan to restore the walls.

Alan is very hesitant, because she needs to get the deposit back in order to pay the corresponding fees for the next lease.

Alan finally restored the wall with the assistance of a friend and successfully retrieved the deposit from the owner.

At present, Alan and his two daughters live on the 9th floor of the rooftop. The monthly rent for a unit less than 100 square feet is 6,100 yuan.

Although the living environment has improved, Alan still needs to face many problems in daily life.

After the outbreak of the epidemic last year, in order to reduce the frequency of going out, many citizens would choose to purchase a large amount of daily necessities at once. Alan is no exception. However, she lives on the 9th floor of the rooftop and needs to carry a large amount of food and heavy objects on average 4 days a week. Stairs to go home.

Over time, Alan's hands were strained.

Urge the authorities to take household relocation fees into consideration

Alan is worried that after the lease ends next year, he will need to move out again due to rent problems. "Because my rent is due to the epidemic, the landlord is willing to flat the rent, but he has said that he will definitely increase the rent after the rent is over."

Regarding the rent management, Alan believed that the original intention was good, but for the maximum increase of 15%, she said, "The increase is too high, and a 900 mosquito increase!" If the tenant chooses to move out, the relocation fee will also be another burden. The last time Alan moved as an example, it would also cost 3,800 yuan to stay in a location nearby in the same district. Therefore, she hopes that the authorities can take these factors into consideration and control the rent increase within 5%.

Another sub-household tenant is a family of three living in Alin, which is less than 100 feet away.

In the past, Alin’s rent increased from 3,600 yuan to 4,300 yuan. In June of this year, she moved to the same unit next door, but was overcharged by an intermediary for a 1,000 yuan renewal fee.

Alin pointed out that in the past every two years when the contract was renewed, the intermediary would charge a renewal fee.

Even so, because the rent of the unit is cheap, she is also worried that the relocation will incur other expenses, so she has always lived in the same place.

At present, a family of three needs to sleep on bunk beds. The eldest son who sleeps on the upper floor is even more troubled by the leakage of smallpox and dust. He has allergies and requires regular follow-up consultations and medication.

Subsidiary room extension board is full of large electrical wires, which is a fire hazard

In Alin's home of less than 100 feet, there are two extension boards full of electrical appliances, one of which is full of electrical wires for large appliances, such as refrigerators, battery stoves, and washing machines.

Alin is worried that the pallet will cause a fire due to excessive load, so she will also be vigilant at night, "I will not close the wooden door for a long time.

Alin stated that he did not welcome the implementation of rent control, and believed that the 15% increase in rent was too high. She believed that there were many hidden dangers to the environment and safety of subdivided housing. She hoped that the government could allocate more resources to help improve the problems of residents and establish corresponding systems to ensure the safety of residents. .

Ms. Liu, the landlord who took over the management of the property from her deceased father and owns 18 subdivided suites in Tai Po District, said frankly that the introduction of rent management had little effect on her because she did not increase rent frequently in the past. Her tenants averaged seven to eight years. The rent will be increased once, and each time the increase is not large.

She believes that tenants only need to be honest and pay the rent on time, and the rate of increase can be negotiated. "There are old tenants, and the increase is done once every ten years. It is because the rent is too flat and there is no way to increase it. a little".

Currently, Ms. Liu holds an average lease of more than 4,000 yuan for the subdivided houses. The refurbished units will have higher rents, but they are also lower than the market prices in the district. I'm embarrassed, but when I see it's difficult, I don't want to say anything at all."

However, Ms. Liu learned that some landlords would increase the rent once a few months or a year depending on the market conditions. She thinks that after the implementation of rent control, these situations may be reduced, but it is inevitable that some landlords will increase the initial rent. , And increase the 15% ceiling when renewing the contract.

Ms. Liu, the owner of subdivided houses, believes that the existence of subdivided houses stems from social problems.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Ms. Liu believes that the existence of sub-divided houses stems from social problems. She described sub-divided houses as a type of transitional housing, but its safety is worth paying attention to.

She recalled that many years ago, a tenant of a rental unit used a gas stove and accidentally caused a fire. Fortunately, the tenant was not injured in the end.

Afterwards, she realized the danger of using gas stoves in the unit.

From the beginning, she provided battery stoves to all units and stated in the contract that gas stoves could not be used to reduce the risk of fire. She also reminded residents not to put debris in the fire escape.

Organize and urge the government to promote more on rent management

Huang Xinzhu, director of the Taihe Youth Comprehensive Service Center of the Christian Hong Kong Lutheran Church, said that during the investigation, it was found that many sub-residents did not know that the government had completed the research report on sub-private rent control, nor did they understand the contents. "You say an increase of 15%. In fact, you don’t know how much it is. When we talk about 1,000 mosquitoes and 150 mosquitoes, they will have a concept."

She suggested that the government should make more publicity on rent control, and should conduct explanations in areas with dense sub-district housing, and hold private consultation meetings to provide a platform for sub-prime tenants to express their opinions.

Huang Xinzhu, director of the Taihe Youth Comprehensive Service Center of the Christian Hong Kong Lutheran Church, said that during the investigation, it was found that many sub-divided households did not know that the government had completed the research report on sub-divided rent control, nor did they understand the contents.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Regarding the rent of subdivided housing, Huang Xinzhu believes that the rent adjustment should be limited to no more than 10%, and the average data of various units of the Rating and Valuation Department should be referred to to formulate a starting rent reference level that can balance the interests of landlords and tenants. Avoid a situation where landlords increase rents significantly before the regulations come into effect.

The lease should also specify who is responsible for various situations, such as repairs and maintenance, and set up corresponding mechanisms to follow up.

Huang Xinzhu mentioned that in the past, sub-divided house owners cleverly set up names and overcharged miscellaneous fees from time to time.

Among them, utility bills are the most common.

She explained that because most of the sub-districts share the same water and electricity meters, the residents have no way of knowing the actual consumption, so the owners are encouraged to install independent water and electricity meters and charge them in a fairer way of reimbursement.

Interviewees in the cubicle and bed rent management survey are "comrades" with the interviewees: I live worse than me!

Subdivided rent management | Unregulated rent increase has been initiated by the Social Association to set the initial rent: It is not easy to try the rent management

01Community

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2021-08-10

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