China News Service, Hong Kong, January 22 (Reporter Zhang Xiaoxi) The Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, which regulates the leasing of subdivided housing (subdivided units) in Hong Kong, came into effect on the 22nd, specifying the lease term and rent , tenancy security and other provisions.
Several members of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region who are concerned about the relevant situation expressed in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency that they hope that the SAR government will continue to strengthen the publicity and explanation of the content of the regulations, so that the regulations can be implemented, and the rights and interests of citizens, especially grassroots citizens, can be further protected.
According to the Ordinance, the regulatory period for subdivided unit leasing shall consist of two consecutive regulated leases, with a lease term of two years; the tenant of the first lease of subdivided flats is entitled to be granted a second lease, and enjoys four-year tenancy guarantee; The rent shall not be increased during the lease term; the rent increase of the second lease shall not be higher than the percentage change of the relevant period of the RVD's territory-wide rent index, with a ceiling of 10%.
The ordinance also stipulates that the landlord shall not overcharge the tenant for miscellaneous charges or specify the repayment of utilities and services, including water and electricity charges, and the landlord must submit a tenancy notice to the Valuation Department within 60 days after the lease begins.
The Rating and Valuation Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (RVD) is responsible for the implementation of the ordinance. The department's new team assists the public in understanding the regulatory system of the new ordinance, handles enquiries, provides free consultation and mediation services on tenancy matters, and implements the new ordinance. Afterwards, the declared subdivided housing rent information will be released, and appropriate enforcement actions will be taken.
The SAR Government has entrusted NGOs to set up six regional service teams to assist the Valuation Department in publicizing the new legislation on the implementation of subdivided tenancy control at the district level, helping landlords and tenants to understand their respective rights and obligations under the ordinance, and Handle general inquiries.
On the 17th of this month, members of the "Farewell to Subdivided Housing Action" jointly established by the Hong Kong Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong and all walks of life met with the Secretary for Transport and Housing of the SAR Government, Chen Fan, and suggested that the SAR Government should increase efforts to publicize the implementation of the new regulations, which will take effect when the law takes effect. Afterwards, a random check was conducted to see if there were still tenants who were overcharged with water and electricity bills and failed to enforce the regulated new tenancy agreement.
Zheng Yongshun, the convener of the "Farewell to Subdivided Housing Action" and a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency on the 22nd that strengthening the regulation of subdivided housing in Hong Kong has always been an important topic of concern to the DAB. The entry into force of the Customer (Consolidation) (Amendment) Ordinance is an important step, and we look forward to the implementation of the content of the Ordinance. The SAR Government has also made efforts before the Ordinance takes effect to enhance the understanding of the new regulations by tenants and landlords.
However, Zheng Yongshun also pointed out that since the ordinance is still a new one, the SAR government should continue to do more publicity and explanation work, and take the initiative to inspect whether there are any violations.
He also said that the entry into force of the new ordinance is a new beginning. He hoped that the SAR government and all sectors of the society will continue to do a good job in related work, and make a good balance, so as to protect the rights and interests of the citizens and not overly affect the market situation.
Huang Guo, a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, told reporters that rent management of subdivided housing is a topic of great concern to the Federation of Trade Unions, because it is closely related to the rights and interests of grassroots citizens and workers.
He pointed out that he hoped that the new ordinance could be implemented and play a role, especially the regulation of rents and rent increases in sub-tenancy, etc., to protect the rights and interests of grassroots citizens, and also hoped that the SAR government would strengthen supervision.
"Now due to the impact of the epidemic, the lives of grassroots citizens and workers have been greatly affected, and it is even more necessary for the SAR government and the law to protect their rights and interests." Huang Guo said that he would continue to pay attention to the situation of subdivided housing rent management, and hoped that the SAR government would do a better job of protecting their rights and interests. good policy implementation.
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