Public tenants on higher floors and with better views and environment will face higher rents under a new public housing rental scale being proposed by the Housing Department.
A department source said yesterday the plan was to divide each public housing block into rental zones according to their height.
Tenants in the upper levels would be charged as much as 10 per cent more than those living in the middle levels, while those with flats in the lower levels would pay 20 per cent less than the middle-level tenants.
Further adjustments would be made according to the overall environment of the flat. For example, flats located next to waste stations would be cheaper, while those with sea views or mountain views would be more expensive.
The source also revealed measures to enhance public housing estates. These include lift modernisation in 31 estates costing $318 million over the next five years, new plumbing at 155 blocks in 38 estates for $280 million in four years, and installing condensation drainpipes for air conditioners in 334 blocks in 78 estates, costing $90 million over four to five years.
The measures will be discussed at a special meeting of the Subsidised Housing Committee. Also on the agenda will be changes to the rent assistance scheme. The source said the department did not support the option of waiving rent or introducing an across-the-board rent cut, but proposed widening eligibility for rent assistance. An estimated 33,800 households would benefit.