Urban Renewal Authority unveils building rehabilitation platform

It will provide information and technical support on redeveloping sites to building owners.

The Urban Renewal Authority has launched an all-in-one information building rehabilitation platform to provide professional and comprehensive information along with technical support on building rehabilitation to building owners, an announcement revealed.

The platform, which was built under the concerted efforts of the public, private and professional sectors, with the support of the government, public institutions, professional institutes and bodies, as well as contractor associations, was launched to officially replace the former Building Rehab Info Net.

Apart from retaining the existing information on different subsidy schemes and application functions available on the former Building Rehab Info Net, the new platform has also introduced a variety of new functions and content to offer more diversified and holistic building rehabilitation information and support services for the owners and different stakeholders.

In light of the lack of knowledge in organising building rehabilitation works amongst old building owners, a series of animations, with BRbot as the main character, under the name of “Six Steps to Rehabilitation” is also available on the platform to explain the key milestones of the building rehabilitation workflow for simple and easy understanding.

Additionally, a building rehabilitation guidebook with a broad range of information on preparatory work, appointment of consultants and contractors, as well as monitoring of works is available for download by owners to understand the work, procedures as well as legal requirements involved in each step of the building rehabilitation workflow.

With regard to the lack of professional knowledge in preparing tender and contract documents, the Urban Renewal Authority has appointed professional building and legal consultants to produce sample documents in the engagement of work consultants, registered inspectors and work contractors, as reference materials for the owners’ corporations (OCs) and individual building owners.

“The sample documents will be released in phases to tie in with the work progress of those participating buildings under the Operation Building Bright 2.0 and Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme,” the Urban Renewal Authority said, adding that the sample documents being offered on the platform include one for the use of individual owners to engage consultants for window inspection and for the use of OCs to engage consultants for the overall building inspection, management and supervision of rehabilitation works.

The Urban Renewal Authority is also exploring the feasibility of establishing an assessment system on the quality of service providers as reference for building owners.