Proposed changes to a scheme which allows needy Hongkongers to rent spare rooms may cover almost 400,000 subsidised flats
- The response to the scheme launched in September has been lacklustre
- Only 13 owners have applied to rent out their spare rooms
Almost 400,000 subsidised flat owners could be allowed to rent their flats to needy families under a modified scheme aiming to help low-income Hongkongers living in dismal conditions and waiting for a public flat.
A Housing Society scheme allows about 13,000 residents who have owned their subsidised flats for 10 years or more to rent spare rooms to low-income families who have been in the queue for public rental housing for at least three years.
The response to the scheme by the city’s second-largest public housing provider has been lacklustre since its launch last September. Only 13 owners have applied and it has failed to match any owners with tenants mainly due to the co-living requirement.
The society agreed to two major changes: to allow an entire flat to be sublet – as opposed to just spare rooms – and to allow NGOs to be in charge of the arrangement, according to a source familiar with the matter.
“This will give landlords more options … and increase the attractiveness of the scheme,” the source said.
