The Housing Panel of the Legislative Council discussed the results of the PRH rent review today (8th) and proposed a 1.17% rent increase.
Chen Xuefeng, a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of the People's Republic of China, questioned the delay in the investigation of the rent review of public housing, and hoped that the bureau would grant rent-free to 24 months.
The Secretary for Housing, Ho Wing-yin, said that the 1.17% rent increase this time is already very mild. He also pointed out that the 12 rent waivers will reduce the HA's collection of about 262 million yuan in the current and next financial years.
The lag in the questioning mechanism of parliamentarians does not reflect the current situation
The HA reviews public housing rents every two years, and adjusts the rents by calculating the changes in the income index during the first and second periods of the rent review. Only calculating the housing income of PRH in 2019 and 2021 has delayed the PRH rent review survey and questioned that the survey failed to reflect the current economic situation of the public.
He also pointed out that "the bureau is only doing half the good" and only waived the rent for the first 12 months. He believes that the government can temporarily waive the first 12 months, and wait 12 months to see the economic situation at that time to decide whether to Continue to waive.
Leung Man-kwong, a member of the Legislative Council who is also a member of the Subsidized Housing Committee of the HA, also believes that the survey on the PRH rent review is lagging behind, and that the factors considered in it are not comprehensive enough. and many more.
He also suggested that for a period of time in the future, it should be discussed whether the HA can re-use the powers conferred by Article 17 of the Housing Ordinance.
However, Liberal Party member Li Zhenqiang believes that the rent increase is moderate, with an average rent increase of 26 yuan per household. If relief is still provided, he is worried about setting a precedent.
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Ho Wing-hsien: Rent growth is moderate
Ho Wing-yin, director of the Housing Bureau, said that the income data for 2021 is a positive reflection of the income impact of tenants under the epidemic from 2020 to 2022.
She pointed out that inflation is often linked to the consumer price index, but consumer prices are related to commercial services. "The income of the tenants is not the same as the income of the tenants."
She also said that Article 17 of the Housing Ordinance has provided the HA with flexibility in rent increases, and the relief measures have taken into account the social situation under the epidemic, while balancing the HA's financial pressure.
She stressed that according to the HA's budget, there will be a deficit of nearly $600 million in 2023-24. If the relief is passed, a total of about $262 million will be reduced.
She mentioned that more public housing will be completed in the future, so it is necessary to balance the financial needs.
Rent increase of 1.17% under the proposed epidemic of public housing % Chen Xuefeng proposes a 24-month rental rebate