STRATA-titled ownership of property is such a common feature in Hong Kong that everyone takes it for granted. To most homeowners, their home is a flat in a multi-storey building constructed on a site many times smaller than the building's total floor area.
It is a far cry from the notion of a detached house on a lot solely owned by the homeowner, who can demolish and rebuild it at will.
The owner of a unit in a multi-storey building consisting of hundreds of units is in a much more complex situation.
Although he owns his unit, he certainly cannot demolish or rebuild it as he wishes because its four walls are shared with adjoining units and all the units share a common structure.
Above all, the building is built on a lot with only one title and what individual unit owners own are just a number of 'equal undivided shares' in the lot.
The law requires that all the unit owners share a common responsibility to maintain the building. The consent of all owners is needed before redevelopment can take place.
