Hong kong: The Hong Kong government has unveiled a renovated 'model apartment for shared rentals' to guide developers and landlords in adapting spaces to new regulations, hoping to erase the image of traditional Hong Kong apartments often dubbed 'coffin rooms'.
According to Thai News Agency, following the Hong Kong National Assembly's passage of the Basic Housing Units Ordinance, which came into effect on March 1st, the Hong Kong government this week unveiled model units for subdivided flats to guide landlords and developers in adapting their spaces to meet the new regulations. The aim is to systematically improve the quality of life, safety, and sanitation for low-income residents in Hong Kong and to dispel the notorious image of cramped and deprived flats, which have been internationally dubbed "coffin rooms" or "shoebox rooms."
Under the new law, all shared rental units must meet several key criteria to be legally rented out. These include having a usable area of at least 8 square meters, a ceiling height of at least 2.3 meters, a separate private bathroom within the unit (not a shared bathroom or one with an open toilet near the cooking area), windows that allow natural light and ventilation, separate water and electricity meters for each unit to prevent landlords from overcharging, and the installation of fire-resistant doors, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers for fire safety.
The Hong Kong Housing Authority has renovated two model units from reclaimed apartments from a new development project in Kowloon City. These models are being used by landlords as inspiration for their own renovations. For apartments with relatively good existing structures, the renovation takes approximately three weeks, allowing tenants to remain inhabitable, at an average cost of HK$25,000 (approximately 115,000 THB) per unit. For apartments below the required 8 square meter size, complete wall demolition and structural changes to hallways and bathrooms are necessary, taking approximately four weeks and at an average cost of HK$50,000 (approximately 230,000 THB) per unit.
The government has given landlords until February 28, 2027, to register for free to receive a 36-month renovation grace period. Approximately 11,000 have already registered. From March 1, 2027 onwards, any landlord who rents out substandard units without registering for the grace period will be considered to have committed a criminal offense, facing a maximum prison sentence of 3 years and a fine of up to HK$300,000.
Although this measure will help eliminate the "tiny apartment" problem and improve the quality of life and human dignity for hundreds of thousands of low-income tenants in Hong Kong who currently live in dilapidated rooms, some of which are extremely hot (up to 38.5 degrees Celsius) due to the lack of windows, poor hygiene, and life-threatening conditions, some civil society groups and tenants have expressed concerns that landlords may pass on the cost of renovations by raising rents, or that some landlords may choose to close down instead of investing further. This could lead to a decrease in the number of affordable rental units on the market, forcing low-income individuals into homelessness. However, the Hong Kong government has stated that it will provide transitional housing for those who may be affected in the future.