The government recently revised the legislative proposal for regulating Basic Housing Units. The registration period is suggested to be changed to 12 months, with a grace period extended to 36 months after the registration period ends. Additionally, applicants for Basic Housing Units certification will also need to pay a certification fee to the government.
Housing Bureau Secretary Winnie Ho stated in a recent radio interview that charging Basic Housing Units certification fees to owners of subdivided units is based on the consideration that they earn rental income from these units, and the government should recover administrative costs from the owners rather than burden taxpayers.
She noted that the fee level would be around several thousand dollars and that whether to implement a tiered system or whether owners applying for certification for multiple Basic Housing Units would face different fees for each unit still requires careful study. She encouraged owners to complete certification as soon as possible, as the earlier they register with the authorities, the lower the fees they would need to pay, and it could even be free. Delaying certification would result in higher costs. The authorities initially conceived a system based on time, with the lowest certification fee in the first year of a three-year grace period, a slight increase in the second year, and the highest fee for certification in the third year.
Regarding the new proposal that mentions a provision to set a 6-month "countdown period," He explained that during the last 6 months of the 36-month grace period, owners who have registered but not obtained certification cannot enter into new lease agreements. She clarified that this approach aims to prevent owners from delaying until the last moment to renovate their units, encouraging them to utilize the grace period effectively and submit their documents for certification sooner. Thus, this measure serves as a "final deadline" for the owners.
Related News:
Raymond Lam's concert at HK Coliseum coming in May, priority ticket booking at noon today
Authority to continue to listen to feedback before implementation of healthcare reform, HA's CE says
Comment