Hong Kong presses ahead with plans to regulate notorious subdivided flats

Hong Kong landlords of subdivided flats will be able to register their properties for rectification to official standards as early as March next year, with authorities planning to enforce a new law in 2027, the city’s first legal regime to govern the notorious shoebox housing issue.

The Housing Bureau submitted its regulatory proposals to the Legislative Council on Thursday. This paves the way to eradicate substandard housing, allowing properties that achieve official accreditation to remain on the rental market.

Authorities have also introduced measures to prevent landlords from rectifying their properties at the last minute.

The law was expected to help improve Hong Kong’s image, a bureau spokesman said.

“The government is determined to press ahead with the regulation in a practical manner; the new law is not just cosmetic works,” he said.

To make it work, the authorities had lengthened the grace period and allowed some proper windows facing a light well, he said.