https://www.scmp.com/rss/318781/feed Latest news, features and analysis on Hong Kong housing, including policy and efforts to find a solution to the problem of a shortage of homes in the world’s most expensive property market. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong landlords who fail to fix water seepage affecting flats below face a minimum inspection bill of HK$17,000 (US$2,170) if they take no action within 28 days of notification under a pilot scheme designed to fast-track such cases. The plan, launched by a joint office under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and Buildings Department, shifts the responsibility of shouldering inspection costs from the government to flat owners who fail to address water seepage... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350088/hong-kong-landlords-face-hk17000-inspection-bill-over-ignored-water-seepage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350088/hong-kong-landlords-face-hk17000-inspection-bill-over-ignored-water-seepage?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:40:38 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Hong Kong and Singapore routinely top global rankings of unaffordable cities. Yet it is the residents of Manila, Colombo and Yangon who are far more likely to tell pollsters they cannot afford shelter. The Philippines recorded the world’s highest share of people reporting difficulty affording housing in a new survey from US-based firm Gallup, with 55 per cent saying they had struggled to pay for shelter in the past 12 months. Sri Lanka followed at 54 per cent, Myanmar at 49 per cent and Thailand... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349725/forget-hong-kong-and-singapore-philippines-housing-least-affordable-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349725/forget-hong-kong-and-singapore-philippines-housing-least-affordable-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:00:21 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye While Hong Kong developers have accelerated project launches following the Easter holiday, primary home sales are settling into a measured phase following an earlier surge in demand. The shift is evident at La Mirabelle I in Tseung Kwan O, where Sino Land and its partners released a third batch of units on Sunday. Buyers snapped up 71 of the 261 units on offer, pointing to less urgent demand than in earlier rounds. The latest batch comprises 33 one-bedroom units, 178 two-bedroom units and 50... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3349784/hong-kong-home-sales-outlook-firm-even-demand-ebbs-tseung-kwan-o-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3349784/hong-kong-home-sales-outlook-firm-even-demand-ebbs-tseung-kwan-o-project?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:30:17 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Landlords of more than 5,500 subdivided homes in Hong Kong have applied for a three-year grace period to meet size, safety and hygiene requirements following a new law on basic housing standards taking effect six weeks ago. Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said on Saturday that the government had received applications for 5,557 subdivided units in 1,370 flats. That accounted for around 5 per cent of all subdivided units in Hong Kong, mostly located in Yau Tsim Mong district, followed by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349745/landlords-5557-subdivided-homes-seek-3-year-grace-period-fix-flats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349745/landlords-5557-subdivided-homes-seek-3-year-grace-period-fix-flats?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:36:22 +0000 Leopold Chen,Matthew Cheng,Brian Wong Leopold Chen,Matthew Cheng,Brian Wong This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. An independent committee examining the causes of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades completed its 10th day of evidential hearings on Friday. The session focused on the Fire Services Department’s handling of shutdown notices for the fire safety systems at Wang Fuk Court, the Tai Po housing estate where 168 people were killed in the catastrophic blaze last... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349567/tai-po-probe-switching-fire-system-power-elementary-mistake-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349567/tai-po-probe-switching-fire-system-power-elementary-mistake-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:50:02 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developers are preparing to launch nearly 1,300 units in the coming days and weeks, with some edging up prices amid improving homebuying sentiment. On Sunday, 261 units at La Mirabelle I will be released, with average prices ranging from HK$15,335 (US$1,958) to HK$19,613 per square foot after discounts of up to 15 per cent, according to Sino Land, one of the project’s developers. The pricing marks a 1 per cent increase on the previous batch, which Sino said reflected the quality of the... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349556/hong-kong-developers-roll-out-1300-homes-prices-edge-firmer-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349556/hong-kong-developers-roll-out-1300-homes-prices-edge-firmer-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:00:09 +0000 Edith Lin,Emily Hung Edith Lin,Emily Hung A redevelopment proposal representing the interests of more than 400 fire-displaced residents has been submitted to the Hong Kong government, claiming that a partial redevelopment of Wang Fuk Court could generate a HK6.4 billion (US$816.7 million) surplus. The 47-page proposal, alongside two letters, was sent to the Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, housing minister Winnie Ho Wing-yin, and home... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349373/wang-fuk-court-administrator-rejects-request-hold-owners-meeting-email-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349373/wang-fuk-court-administrator-rejects-request-hold-owners-meeting-email-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:32:37 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong homebuyers flocked to the second round of new flat sales at the La Mirabelle I project in Tseung Kwan O on Tuesday, underscoring continuing demand for property amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Of the 168 units offered via a price list, 152 had been sold as of 6.40pm, according to Sino Land. A further 86 flats were made available by tender. Sino is one of the project’s co-developers. The launch generated more than HK$1.1 billion (US$140 million) in revenue, the developer... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349223/hong-kong-property-launch-sees-brisk-sales-buyers-unfazed-trumps-iran-warning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349223/hong-kong-property-launch-sees-brisk-sales-buyers-unfazed-trumps-iran-warning?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:26:19 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developers are raising prices of new homes this week following sold-out launches in recent days, further testing the appetite of homebuyers amid geopolitical and interest rate uncertainties. Henderson Land Development put another 39 units at its Chester project in Hung Hom on sale on Monday, with 25 homes finding buyers, according to agents. With an average discounted price of HK$22,198 (US$2,831) per square foot, the units were priced 4.57 per cent higher than the 123 units that sold... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349172/hong-kong-developers-test-homebuyers-modest-price-increases-after-sell-outs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349172/hong-kong-developers-test-homebuyers-modest-price-increases-after-sell-outs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:30:44 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s property transactions crossed 7,000 for the sixth consecutive month in March – the first time in four years that monthly volumes stayed above this level – despite a slight fall last month, according to official data. Residential transactions declined by about 5.3 per cent to 6,316 from a month earlier, while their month-on-month value decreased by 4.19 per cent to HK$55.18 billion (US$7.04 billion), according to data from the Land Registry on Thursday. New and lived-in home sales... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348739/hong-kongs-property-deals-exceed-7000-6-straight-months-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348739/hong-kongs-property-deals-exceed-7000-6-straight-months-march?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:24:36 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Veteran Hong Kong sports administrator Lawrence Yu Kam-kee is selling his Kowloon Tong home of over 50 years for about HK$190 million (US$24.2 million), after waiting patiently for market conditions to improve. “I had wanted to sell for a long time but waited until the market improved a bit to get a better price,” Yu told the South China Morning Post. He added that he had moved out of the house about a year ago as it was too large for a single occupant. The sale agreement had been signed and a... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348677/hong-kong-home-bought-52-years-ago-fetches-owner-252-times-return?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348677/hong-kong-home-bought-52-years-ago-fetches-owner-252-times-return?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Tai Po blaze in November has left a deep scar on Hong Kong – not only because of the heavy loss of life and property, but also because of the sense of displacement among those who watched helplessly as their homes went up in flames. Meanwhile, the government continues to deal with the aftermath, including the daunting challenge of arranging for thousands of survivors to return to their fire-ravaged flats to retrieve belongings and bid farewell to their homes and to loved ones who... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348523/hong-kong-fire-survivors-returning-destroyed-flats-offers-closure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348523/hong-kong-fire-survivors-returning-destroyed-flats-offers-closure?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong homebuyers snapped up new launches on Tuesday as developers accelerated sales amid concerns over slower rate cuts and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. By about 3.50pm, all 254 flats released at the La Mirabelle project in Tseung Kwan O had been sold, according to market agents. “Today’s positive sales results at La Mirabelle is a vote of confidence for the Hong Kong residential market,” said Daryl Ng, chairman of Sino Group. “The Hong Kong residential market fundamentals are... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348547/hong-kong-homebuyers-pile-new-launches-despite-rate-jitters-and-middle-east-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348547/hong-kong-homebuyers-pile-new-launches-despite-rate-jitters-and-middle-east-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:49:52 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The traumatic memories of Hong Kong’s deadliest high-rise inferno are being revived as an independent review of the November tragedy gets down to business. The harrowing details of the blaze presented in the first few public hearing sessions are disturbing as are the contributing human factors and systemic failures identified. The rigorous fact-finding process should continue with full support from all parties concerned so that lessons are learned and reforms are undertaken to tackle an array of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348139/time-confront-uncomfortable-truths-about-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348139/time-confront-uncomfortable-truths-about-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:15:20 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hongkongers Oscar and Stella Chan, a couple in their late 60s, have little interest in moving into a traditional residential care home. The retired civil servants rent a flat in Ma On Shan in the New Territories and, while they acknowledge that ageing at home is not always “as straightforward as it sounds”, they believe conventional care homes can “feel restrictive”. “If my financial situation and health allow, I would much prefer not to stay in a residential care home for the elderly,” Oscar... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348254/hong-kongs-ageing-challenge-singapores-kampung-admiralty-model-answer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348254/hong-kongs-ageing-challenge-singapores-kampung-admiralty-model-answer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Homebuyers continued to signal confidence in Hong Kong’s residential market on Saturday, brushing off global economic risks tied to the Middle East conflict and expectations of slower interest rate cuts, as a new project by Henderson Land Development sold out within hours. All 123 units at Chester, the fifth phase of the Midtown South redevelopment in Hung Hom, were snapped up, according to property agents. “About 60 per cent of buyers are end users while about 40 per cent are investors and... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3348249/hung-hom-flats-sell-out-hong-kong-homebuyers-brush-aside-middle-east-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3348249/hung-hom-flats-sell-out-hong-kong-homebuyers-brush-aside-middle-east-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:40:15 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developers on Friday released 222 new flats in Kowloon, the city’s largest batch of units on a single day since buyers were warned about the uncertain direction of interest rates. K&K Property launched 122 one-bedroom units at foto+, a single residential tower in Mong Kok close to Olympic station, while Wang On Properties put 100 units up for sale at the Connext project in Wong Tai Sin. By 7pm Friday, 103 of the foto+ units had found buyers. Sales at Connext, meanwhile, kicked off at... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348175/hong-kong-developers-test-market-222-units-released-amid-interest-rate-uncertainty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348175/hong-kong-developers-test-market-222-units-released-amid-interest-rate-uncertainty?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:30:11 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s lived-in home prices rose 1.6 per cent in February, marking the 11th straight month of positive movement for the residential property segment, as the city’s rents scaled another peak, according to official data. Since reversing a downward trend in April, second-hand home prices had climbed nearly 8 per cent so far, bringing the official index to a 22-month high, according to data released on Friday by the Rating and Valuation Department. The latest monthly increment was also larger... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348081/hong-kong-home-prices-surge-near-two-year-high-iran-war-clouds-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348081/hong-kong-home-prices-surge-near-two-year-high-iran-war-clouds-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:04:50 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin A section of Hong Kong Island’s southwest coast at Aberdeen will be revamped into a new marina with 200 berths, a clubhouse and about 250 private flats by 2032 as part of government efforts to boost yacht tourism. The Development Bureau said on Wednesday that it aimed to launch a tender in the first half of next year – the first for a marina in nearly 40 years. It also noted there was strong market interest in the project. To clear the 1.16-hectare (2.8-acre) seaside site near Po Chong Wan, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347892/new-200-berth-marina-clubhouse-planned-hong-kong-revamp-aberdeen-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347892/new-200-berth-marina-clubhouse-planned-hong-kong-revamp-aberdeen-site?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:51:23 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong’s legislature will retain the power to scrutinise boundary changes for the Northern Metropolis megaproject proposed by the executive branch, the city’s development chief has said, addressing concerns over proposed laws to fast-track the scheme. Under proposed legislation comprising six main subsidiary laws designed to remove bottlenecks in the massive scheme near the border with mainland China, the city’s leader and the Executive Council will be empowered to adjust its boundaries,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347760/northern-metropolis-boundary-changes-will-need-legco-approval-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347760/northern-metropolis-boundary-changes-will-need-legco-approval-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:19:01 +0000 Adele Brunner Adele Brunner French artist Elsa Jeandedieu has never been afraid of change. Having moved nearly a dozen times in the past 17 years, she has now spent three years in her current Mid-Levels apartment – a 1,266 sq ft, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home she shares with her husband, Joseph, and their son, Noam, now four. The combination of a great location, light and the character of this particular block and its other residents has persuaded her to stay put – at least for now. “My son used to be in the main... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3347246/elsa-jeandedieus-hong-kong-home-canvas-constant-flux?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3347246/elsa-jeandedieus-hong-kong-home-canvas-constant-flux?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Major Hong Kong developers Henderson Land Development and Kerry Properties both reported mixed 2025 results, with stronger home sales partly offsetting softer rental income and a subdued commercial property market. The earnings underscored how the city’s developers are shifting focus towards projects that can still generate cash flow, mainly high-end housing in Hong Kong and top-tier mainland cities, while waiting for offices and retail to recover. Recent geopolitical tensions, including the... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3347616/hong-kongs-henderson-land-trims-dividend-iran-clouds-outlook-china-slump-lingers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3347616/hong-kongs-henderson-land-trims-dividend-iran-clouds-outlook-china-slump-lingers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:51:28 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Regal Hotels International Holdings and its units have sold the 494-room Regal Oriental Hotel for about HK$1.52 billion (US$194 million) to the real estate investment arm of Centaline Group, which operates one of Hong Kong’s largest property agency networks, to be converted into a student hostel. Regal Hotels and affiliates Century City International Holdings and Paliburg Holdings agreed to dispose of the 17-storey hotel on Sa Po Road, including two basement floors, the group said in a filing... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347571/regals-us194-million-hotel-sale-highlights-investor-push-hong-kong-student-housing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347571/regals-us194-million-hotel-sale-highlights-investor-push-hong-kong-student-housing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:13:39 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hongkonger Katie Chan was hoping to buy a flat to live in, and although the 37-year-old accountant was in no rush, the potential longer pause in interest rate cuts could delay her decision. For Chan, the ideal mortgage would be if the one-month Hong Kong interbank offered rate (Hibor) fell below 1.95 per cent, but this year the key driver for local mortgage costs and corporate borrowing rates had only dropped to as low as 2.02 per cent, according to data tracked by the Hong Kong Association of... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347469/potential-rate-cut-pause-geopolitical-tensions-may-cloud-hong-kong-property-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347469/potential-rate-cut-pause-geopolitical-tensions-may-cloud-hong-kong-property-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:30:16 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The performance of the new Legislative Council continues to draw scrutiny. The recent call from Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang for Legco to deliver more “practical outcomes” that align with the city’s actual conditions and Beijing’s expectations under the executive-led system has prompted more soul-searching on ways to enhance governance. The aspiration for better results under the new approach is evident. It has been suggested that Legco borrow tools from the mainland. Drawing inspiration from the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347322/legco-could-refer-mainland-experience-boosting-efficiency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347322/legco-could-refer-mainland-experience-boosting-efficiency?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:15:15 +0000 William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s Baptist University placed a big bet when it told the government in 2023 that it was interested in moving its campus from the upmarket Kowloon Tong residential area to a proposed new academic town near the mainland Chinese border. The 70-year-old university’s move to the Northern Metropolis megaproject will mean giving up a prime site for a spot where most of the land has yet to be prepared for construction, although its proximity to mainland tech hub Shenzhen and the Lok Ma Chau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Proposed designated laws to streamline land-use approval procedures for the Northern Metropolis megaproject will not undermine the authority of Hong Kong’s town planning body, some experts have argued, while urging the government to establish clear key performance indicators (KPIs) to strengthen market confidence. Observers were responding to a package of six subsidiary laws unveiled on Tuesday by the Development Bureau, designed to remove bottlenecks in the New Territories project. A key... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong authorities have proposed designated laws to streamline procedures for changing land use in the Northern Metropolis megaproject, cutting the process from typically nine months to just two. Unveiled by the Development Bureau on Tuesday, the proposed designated legislation comprises six main subsidiary laws designed to remove bottlenecks in the massive scheme near the border with mainland China. They include the establishment of statutory firms and measures to speed up land resumption... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346930/measures-streamline-northern-metropolis-land-use-procedures-unveiled?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346930/measures-streamline-northern-metropolis-land-use-procedures-unveiled?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:38:49 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Luxury residential property on Hong Kong’s Peak Road owned by businessman Chan King-wai has been put up for sale by public tender, several years after he acquired it from companies linked to CK group. Marketing agent JLL said on Monday that the adjoining sites at 86, 88 and 90 Peak Road are being offered for joint sale by tender. The residential lots have a combined area of about 28,620 sq ft. The site could attract bids of about HK$70,000 (US$8,939) to HK$100,000 per square foot, said Joseph... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346780/hong-kong-businessman-expected-take-loss-peak-properties-he-bought-us255m?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346780/hong-kong-businessman-expected-take-loss-peak-properties-he-bought-us255m?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:53:05 +0000 Emily Hung,Fiona Chow Emily Hung,Fiona Chow Some Hong Kong residents displaced by the deadly Tai Po fire remain in limbo as they complained of rude or unhelpful officers on a government outreach team who failed to answer their questions about authorities’ long-term resettlement plan. The 100-strong engagement team, which started operations on March 2 along with an inquiry hotline, was tasked with contacting nearly 2,000 Wang Fuk Court homeowners to address questions arising from the government’s rehousing plan, which includes a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346603/wang-fuk-court-residents-resettlement-limbo-slam-unhelpful-engagement-officers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346603/wang-fuk-court-residents-resettlement-limbo-slam-unhelpful-engagement-officers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 11:00:18 +0000 Peggy Ye,Cao Li Peggy Ye,Cao Li Buyers snapped up most of the nearly 400 new homes released for sale in Hong Kong on Saturday, offering an early gauge of housing demand in one of the biggest launches since the Chinese New Year holiday. As of 7:30pm, about 310 of the 360 units released at Chinachem Group’s Zendo House in Tsim Sha Tsui and Wing Tai Properties’ Cloudview in Sheung Shui had been sold, according to Centaline Property. Louis Chan Wing-kit, vice-chairman and president of the agency, said confidence in Hong Kong’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346584/developers-roll-out-360-flats-two-hong-kong-projects-amid-improving-sentiment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346584/developers-roll-out-360-flats-two-hong-kong-projects-amid-improving-sentiment?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 05:40:16 +0000 Nicole Chan Nicole Chan Across Asia’s densest cities, the milestones of adulthood are quietly shifting. Couples share kitchens with parents. Some wait years on public housing lists. Others secure a flat before thinking about a ring. In some cases, keys come before vows. Increasingly, love moves in step with property. Square footage, mortgage approvals and ballot results shape decisions that once felt spontaneous. At first glance, falling fertility rates might look like a purely economic or demographic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3346224/when-homes-are-small-and-costly-dreams-having-family-shrink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3346224/when-homes-are-small-and-costly-dreams-having-family-shrink?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Housing in Hong Kong is expensive and, according to various international surveys, the city ranked among the world’s most unaffordable places to live in 2025. Despite this, property agencies remain prolific, especially in Hong Kong’s more affluent districts, and their shop windows are always covered with posters of new tower blocks set against beautiful, computer-generated backdrops. However, the local property market has not always been like this, as a new, unusual exhibition shows. “Memories... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3346171/affordable-hong-kong-homes-look-past-colourful-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3346171/affordable-hong-kong-homes-look-past-colourful-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Only one landlord in Hong Kong has sought certification approval for subdivided flats since a new law on minimum housing standards took effect about two weeks ago, while applications for a grace period have been submitted for more than 1,100 homes, according to authorities. The Basic Housing Units Ordinance, which took effect on March 1, stipulates that only subdivided homes that meet minimum standards and are certified by building professionals can be legally leased. Non-compliant landlords... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346249/only-1-hong-kong-landlord-seeks-subdivided-flat-approval-new-law-kicks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346249/only-1-hong-kong-landlord-seeks-subdivided-flat-approval-new-law-kicks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:22:34 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye A Singapore-rooted property family has put a rare residential estate in Hong Kong’s Southern district up for tender at about HK$300 million (US$38.4 million), testing demand for trophy homes as the city’s luxury housing market shows early signs of recovery despite soft prices. The tender for Belvedere, a low-density compound in Chung Hom Kok, would close at noon on April 28, according to marketing agent JLL. The property had been held by Remadour Estate since 1993, Land Registry records... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346004/singapore-property-clan-puts-rare-hong-kong-estate-us384-million-tender?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346004/singapore-property-clan-puts-rare-hong-kong-estate-us384-million-tender?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Developers in Hong Kong are testing the housing market’s recovery by nudging prices up or paring discounts as improving sentiment and a rebound in transactions boost confidence in the city’s property sector. But analysts said the moves remained uneven, with many newly launched projects still offering sizeable concessions as developers continued to prioritise clearing unsold inventory accumulated during the market downturn. New World Development plans to cut the discount offered under the 120-day... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3345774/hong-kong-developers-test-home-market-recovery-raising-prices-trimming-discounts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3345774/hong-kong-developers-test-home-market-recovery-raising-prices-trimming-discounts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 01:30:11 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye From Sydney to Hong Kong, wealth migration is reshaping the global super-luxury property market as activity picks up after two subdued years – though the dominance of relative newcomer Dubai is now being tested by the war in the Middle East. In Sydney, Peter Li, general manager at Plus Agency, said commission revenues on super-luxury homes had risen about 20 per cent from a year earlier. The firm, which handles more than US$300 million in annual sales, has hired six new staff members since... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345695/worlds-wealthy-relocate-rewriting-property-map-will-hong-kong-win-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345695/worlds-wealthy-relocate-rewriting-property-map-will-hong-kong-win-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 03:00:16 +0000 Peggy Sito Peggy Sito The recovery in Hong Kong’s property market has begun attracting overseas investors back to the sector, with the Hang Seng Properties Index rising more than 20 per cent this year. International investors, who have had limited exposure to Hong Kong property stocks over the past two to three years, had begun revisiting the sector and adding positions since the start of 2026, according to Citi. At a recent global investor conference hosted by the US bank, participants said they were showing greater... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3345537/global-investors-revisit-hong-kong-property-stocks-housing-market-recovery-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3345537/global-investors-revisit-hong-kong-property-stocks-housing-market-recovery-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:38:00 +0000 Edith Lin,Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Edith Lin,Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong should enhance its role as an international financial hub by strengthening its offshore renminbi business and supply chain services, and speed up the Northern Metropolis megaproject, according to the nation’s next five-year plan. Beijing set out its expectations for the city in a draft of its 15th five-year plan, submitted on Thursday to the National People’s Congress, the country’s legislature. The plan outlines China’s economic and social development targets for 2026 to 2030. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345521/beijing-tasks-hong-kong-fast-tracking-northern-metropolis-boosting-integration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345521/beijing-tasks-hong-kong-fast-tracking-northern-metropolis-boosting-integration?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:23:52 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Landlords or operators of subdivided flats in Hong Kong that meet new government living standards can apply to CLP Power for smart meter installation. The smart meters, which now cover 90 per cent of residential households supplied by CLP Power, are open for application following the Basic Housing Units Ordinance taking effect on March 1. CLP, the city’s largest power supplier, provides electricity to Kowloon and the New Territories, including Lantau and Cheung Chau. Equipped with advanced... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345480/smart-meters-available-hong-kong-subdivided-flats-meeting-new-living-standards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345480/smart-meters-available-hong-kong-subdivided-flats-meeting-new-living-standards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:35 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It says something about Hong Kong’s housing woes that a new law mandating basic living standards finally came into effect this month. The ban on “substandard” subdivided flats must be carefully implemented so that it serves the purpose of providing safe and decent living spaces for low-income tenants rather than triggering mass evictions and homelessness. The shock waves triggered by the Basic Housing Units Ordinance were already being felt before the law came into effect as renovations by... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345230/hong-kong-must-ensure-law-basic-housing-serves-its-intended-purpose?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345230/hong-kong-must-ensure-law-basic-housing-serves-its-intended-purpose?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A government lawyer has said that an environmental study on the impact of building 12,000 public flats on part of Hong Kong’s oldest golf course holds “no legal effect”, as authorities appeal a court ruling that may send the project back to the consultation stage. The Court of Appeal began hearing oral arguments on Tuesday over an environmental impact assessment report for the public housing project on 9.5 of 32 hectares (23.5 acres) that the government reclaimed from the 172-hectare golf course... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345312/hong-kong-government-says-golf-course-flats-study-has-no-legal-effect-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345312/hong-kong-government-says-golf-course-flats-study-has-no-legal-effect-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:13:15 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Minna Honkanen could not have anticipated the seismic events that would grip Hong Kong after she decided to try her luck there in early 2019. Two months after she arrived, unprecedented social unrest engulfed the city, followed immediately by the coronavirus pandemic, which shut borders and restricted travel for more than two years. Least of all did the Finnish national imagine she would become a luxury property agent in one of the world’s most expensive real estate markets, securing exclusive... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3344931/hong-kong-luxury-real-estate-how-european-agent-won-us3045-million-penthouse-listing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3344931/hong-kong-luxury-real-estate-how-european-agent-won-us3045-million-penthouse-listing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:30:16 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li A subsidiary of state-owned conglomerate China Resources (Holdings) has acquired a Hong Kong hotel and plans to convert it into student housing amid a wave of investments driven by rising demand after the city raised the cap on non-local students. CR Longdation signed an agreement to buy four-star hotel Hotel Cozi Oasis in Kwai Chung, a major industrial and residential area in the southwestern New Territories, for HK$953 million (US$122 million), said Colliers and Knight Frank, which advised on... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345026/china-resources-subsidiary-acquires-hong-kong-hotel-student-housing-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345026/china-resources-subsidiary-acquires-hong-kong-hotel-student-housing-project?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:00:14 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hongkonger Chan Sai-chiu considers the 60 sq ft subdivided flat he rents to be home, going out of his way to make the cramped space in Sham Shui Po’s ageing Yee Wa Building more liveable by repainting the walls and setting up his own kitchen. The 72-year-old considers the flat’s HK$3,000 (US$383) rent to be a perfect fit for his tight budget, as he lives off about HK$5,000 from social security payments and receives a rental subsidy of HK$2,500. The building also suits the retiree, who is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344967/are-new-hong-kong-subdivided-flat-standards-triggering-wave-evictions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344967/are-new-hong-kong-subdivided-flat-standards-triggering-wave-evictions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Some anxious residents of fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court have urged Hong Kong authorities to help them climb stairs using makeshift aids when they return to their high-rise homes to collect personal belongings next month. Some lawmakers also proposed on Saturday that the government deploy wearable walking robots, stair-climbing trolleys or wheelchairs to assist elderly residents of the Tai Po estate devastated by the inferno that claimed 168 lives and displaced nearly 5,000 people in November. They... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344993/hi-tech-aids-proposed-help-elderly-climb-stairs-fire-ravaged-tai-po-flats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344993/hi-tech-aids-proposed-help-elderly-climb-stairs-fire-ravaged-tai-po-flats?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:03:36 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Some Hong Kong landlords have spent millions renovating their subdivided flats to be among the first to meet the new standards coming into effect on Sunday, but many others remain taken aback by the high costs and are unsure whether to proceed. Building experts have also warned of the challenges facing landlords seeking certification under the new law, including meeting waterproofing and fire safety requirements, which will require professional advice and supervision. Matthew Lau Chi-kwong, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344935/hong-kong-landlords-split-over-costly-upgrades-meet-subdivided-housing-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344935/hong-kong-landlords-split-over-costly-upgrades-meet-subdivided-housing-law?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong will offer nine residential sites to developers under the government’s land sale programme for the coming financial year, providing about 6,650 flats, after authorities said in the latest budget that the property market had stabilised. Combined with other land sources, such as urban redevelopment, private development and projects linked to railway properties, the potential supply of new flats is estimated to reach an eight-year high of about 22,580 in the 2026-27 financial year. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344926/hong-kong-land-sale-scheme-offer-9-residential-sites-developers-2026-27?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344926/hong-kong-land-sale-scheme-offer-9-residential-sites-developers-2026-27?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:40:30 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Major Hong Kong developer Sino Land posted a steady net profit for the six months ended December, propped up by early gains from a recovery in the city’s residential property market. Sino Land reported a net profit of HK$2.22 billion (US$284 million) in the first half of its current financial year – excluding revaluation losses on investment properties – that was slightly down from HK$2.24 billion a year earlier, according to its Hong Kong stock exchange filing on Friday. The company’s revenue... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3344915/hong-kong-developer-sino-land-posts-steady-profit-points-clear-market-improvements?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3344915/hong-kong-developer-sino-land-posts-steady-profit-points-clear-market-improvements?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:53:21 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Edwin Leong Siu-hung, chairman of Tai Hung Fai Enterprise Group and long dubbed Hong Kong’s “king of shops”, has sold a flat in the ultra-exclusive Mount Nicholson enclave on The Peak, saying weak rental returns did not make it worthwhile to hold the property any longer. Land Registry records showed Leong sold the 4,566 sq ft four-bedroom flat for HK$323 million (US$41.3 million), or about HK$70,740 per square foot. He bought the property in 2016 for about HK$312 million. While the selling price... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3344861/hong-kongs-king-shops-edwin-leong-sells-home-peak-us413-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3344861/hong-kongs-king-shops-edwin-leong-sells-home-peak-us413-million?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:28:24 +0000