Landlords and property owners urged to pay more attention to building safety

Problem of sub-divided units in tenements is worsening.

The Hong Kong Institute of Housing said landlords or property owners of so-called "three-nil" buildings should be made aware of the importance of proper management and maintenance to achieve adequate safety levels and reduce risks and hazards.

Hong Kong defines three-nil buildings as those without Owners' Corporations (OCs), residents' organizations or Property Management Companies (PMCs).

HKIH urges property owners to form OCs and recommends owners employ professional property managers to safeguard the properties, assets and lives of their tenants.

In the event that property owners need financial or technical support, they are advised to apply for the Integrated Building Maintenance Assistance Scheme currently offered by the Urban Renewal Authority.

HKIH believes that forming OCs and employing professional property managers will ultimately avoid the use of unauthorized structures or sub-divided units. It supports government inspections of three-nil buildings at soon as possible to prevent problems and hazards caused by unauthorized sub-divided units.