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Hong Kong Passes Law Setting Minimum Standards for Subdivided Flats

Officials plan a staged rollout with penalties to lift living conditions.

Overview

  • Registration for existing subdivided units opens in March 2026, with landlords given until February 2027 to file for rectification.
  • A 36‑month grace period runs from March 2027 to February 2030 before full enforcement against noncompliant rentals.
  • Units must be at least 86 square feet with a 2.3‑meter ceiling, an openable window, an enclosed toilet, and exclusive fire detectors.
  • Violations carry penalties of up to HK$300,000, three years in prison, and daily fines for ongoing offenses.
  • Authorities will waive the HK$745 registration fee; about 220,000 residents live in roughly 110,000 such units, with an estimated 33,000 needing major renovations, and the government plans some transitional housing as tenants voice rent and displacement concerns while dormitory‑style bed spaces remain regulated separately.