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Hong Kong’s coming subdivided housing shake-up

Illustration: Brian Wang


News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong aims to wipe out notorious subdivided flats but will new rules help or hurt tenants?

 Illustration: Brian Wang

Yu Yu-fen shares a kitchen and a bathroom with 30 other tenants. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong has 10,170 subdivided flats that are less than 70 sq ft. Photo: Sam Tsang

A subdivided flat with wire cages in Tai Kok Tsui. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Concerning Subdivided Units Alliance member Isaac Lin has urged the government to consider setting the minimum size requirements at 280 sq ft. Photo: Edmond So

One-person households accounted for the highest proportion of subdivided homes in 2021. Photo: Edmond So

Some people have no choice but to live in subdivided space, an academic says. Edmond So

Tiny living spaces are part of daily life for 215,700 tenants, but some worry over impact of task force proposals to set minimum standards.


Will Hong Kong’s proposed subdivided housing shake-up put landlords out of business?

Illustration: Brian Wang

A family moving into a temporary flat in Ngau Tau Kok under a scheme to house residents waiting for public rental homes. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

April Wong says she pays about HK$7,000 a month for a 170 sq ft flat. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Charles Ho, from the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, says the government must set aside time and manpower to prepare affected residents for the big changes. Photo: Jonathan Wong

A “light public housing” flat built by the government. The homes are for families who have waited for public rental housing for three years Sun Yeung

Plans for shake-up have also left some tenants living in subdivided flats worried about finding new homes due to ineligibility for temporary housing.


Can Hong Kong’s community living rooms transform the lives of subdivided flat tenants?

Homemaker Ng Yuk-fung (right), her husband and their eight-year-old son Alvin share a 100 sq ft space with only room to sit on the bedding. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

The community living rooms give families in subdivided flats the space to rest, cook and do laundry without paying any steep fees. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Social worker’s idea grows into network of centres offering respite to families living in tiny homes.


The three-part series looks at how the shake-up might take shape, its potential impact on tenants and landlords, and how the city can further improve the quality of life for occupants likely to remain in the confined spaces.
 


Series

Hong Kong’s coming subdivided housing shake-up

The three-part series looks at how the shake-up might take shape, its potential impact on tenants and landlords, and how the city can further improve the quality of life for occupants likely to remain in the confined spaces.

Hong Kong aims to wipe out subdivided flats but will new rules help tenants?

Tiny living spaces are part of daily life for 215,700 tenants, but some worry over impact of task force proposals to set minimum standards.

Will Hong Kong’s proposed subdivided homes shake-up put landlords out of business?

Plans for shake-up have also left some tenants living in subdivided flats worried about finding new homes due to ineligibility for temporary housing.

Can Hong Kong’s community living rooms transform subdivided flat tenants’ lives?

Social worker’s idea grows into network of centres offering respite to families living in tiny homes.