The Government welcomed the passage of the Basic Housing Units Bill by the Legislative Council today, which sought to introduce a regulatory regime for the letting of subdivided units (SDUs) in residential buildings.

The bill aimed to ensure the provision of safe and reasonable living conditions in SDUs, thereby tackling the issue of substandard SDUs in an orderly and comprehensive manner.

The Basic Housing Units Ordinance will be gazetted on October 3 and come into effect on March 1 next year.

The ordinance requires SDUs in residential buildings to comply with a set of minimum standards of living conditions, including minimum area, minimum height, fire safety, structural safety, separate toilet, water supply requirements, lighting and ventilation, as well as separate water and electricity meters, and to obtain Basic Housing Unit (BHU) recognition before they are allowed to be let out for habitation.

There will be criminal liability on the person who lets out unrecognised SDUs, while the tenants concerned will not be held liable, the Housing Bureau said.

Upon commencement of the ordinance, the bureau will start accepting applications for BHU recognition.

As a transitional arrangement to implement the BHU regulatory regime progressively, the bureau will concurrently launch a 12-month registration system for existing SDUs to make applications for registration to enjoy a 36-month grace period from March 1, 2027, which will enable necessary alteration works to be carried out gradually and applications for BHU recognition to be made.

To encourage SDU owners and/or operators to submit registration and recognition applications as early as possible, starting from March 1 next year, the Government will provide an "early-bird" reduction/waiver on recognition fees, i.e. application fees will be fully waived for early registration/application.

Upon completion of the registration period, the Government will begin to take orderly enforcement actions against the illegal letting of unregistered and unrecognised SDUs from March 1, 2027.

It will also provide appropriate temporary rehousing assistance to the affected households in need.

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho said the Government will implement the BHU regulatory regime in an orderly manner, with a view to gradually resolving the deep-rooted social issue of substandard SDUs in Hong Kong and ensuring that members of the public can enjoy safe, hygienic and reasonable living conditions.