New tactic on water seepage can help keep Hong Kong buildings safe

Hong Kong’s limited urban space and large population have steadily pushed the city’s buildings ever higher, but maintenance of far too many structures has not kept pace with decades of wear and tear. Meanwhile, the authorities are often overwhelmed trying to enforce laws that should keep building owners and managers focused on upkeep.

Last year, a joint office under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and Buildings Department investigated about 15,600 water seepage complaints – usually traced to faulty pipes, sanitary fittings or drains. The authorities said 99 per cent of the leaks were traced to flats directly above where complaints were made. While most were fixed by upper-flat owners themselves, the office had to issue about 5,000 statutory nuisance notices.

The notices mandate repairs under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, but they are only issued after officers can do a full examination to confirm the source. The process can take 71 days, leaving neighbours with a mess and often property damage.

The trial scheme proposed to start midyear would have officials issue notification letters to owners around 14 working days after preliminary evidence points to an upper-floor flat as the possible source. Landlords who fail to fix seepages will face a minimum bill for inspections if they do not act within 28 days of notification.

The initial inspections would use electronic moisture meters as well as infrared thermography that is currently reserved for later stages. Once a source is confirmed, the joint office will recover inspection costs, estimated at not less than HK$17,000 (US$2,170) and “higher than market rate”. Seepages need to be fixed in a specified period to avoid fines.