The Government today launched a stakeholder consultation on the proposed regulatory regime for Basic Housing Units (BHUs) that will run until February 10, 2025.

The 2024 Policy Address announced to put in place a system on the renting of substandard subdivided units (SDUs) in residential buildings. SDUs meeting the required standards will be named BHUs.

The Government proposed that SDUs must comply with a set of minimum standards before they are allowed to be rented out in the future. There would be criminal liability on the part of landlords to rent out a substandard unit, while the tenants will not be held liable.

A registration system is planned for pre-existing SDUs under rental, with a grace period to allow landlords of registered SDUs to carry out necessary alteration works within a reasonable period of time and apply for recognition of the units as BHUs.

New SDUs will only be allowed to be rented out after applications are made and recognised as BHUs that comply with the required standards.

Views on the proposals can be emailed to bhu_consultation@hb.gov.hk, faxed to 2129 3829, or posted to the Dedicated Team on Subdivided Units, Housing Bureau, Housing Authority Headquarters, 33 Fat Kwong Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon.