Only 1 Hong Kong landlord seeks subdivided flat approval as new law takes effect

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Vivian AuMarch 11, 2026 at 01:22 PM

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A new law in Hong Kong, the Basic Housing Units Ordinance, took effect on March 1, requiring subdivided flats to meet minimum housing standards and be certified for legal leasing. The law aims to improve living conditions by setting minimum size and facility requirements for these units. Landlords who fail to comply face significant fines and potential imprisonment. As of this week, only one landlord has applied for certification approval, while 316 applications covering approximately 1,160 subdivided flats have been submitted for a grace period. This grace period allows landlords until February 2030 to rectify non-compliant properties while continuing to lease them legally.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Basic Housing Units Ordinance 70% Hong Kong ×290%

Keywords

subdivided flats 100% housing standards 80% grace period 70% new law 70% certification approval 70% minimum standards 60% landlord 60% legal leasing 50% basic housing units ordinance 50% non-compliant landlords 40%