HK Govt urged to resurrect rent control

A"cagedhome"isputondisplaytohighlighttheplightofthepoorbyanactiongroupalongapavementindowntownHongKongonApril29,2009.(AFPPHOTO/MIKECLARKE)

(CHINADAILY)

HONGKONG-Communityserviceorganizationsareurgingthegovernmenttobringbackrentcontroltoprotectlow-incomeresidentsfrombeingoverchargedbyprivatehousinglandlords.

Owingtothelengthywaitingtimeforpublichousingallocations,low-incomefamilieshavetoforkoutalotofmoneytotakeshelterinprivatehousingtillthetimetheirapplicationsareapproved.Buttheever-increasingrentdemandedbyprivatelandlordscreatesanothergreatstrain.

AsurveyconductedbyCaritasHongKongCommunityDevelopmentServicefromlastDecembertoJanuary2016revealedthatnearlyhalfofthe434low-incomeresidentsinterviewedhadcomplaintsaboutunseasonableincreasesinrent.Themedianincreaserateamountedto10percent–farabovetheinflationrate.

Apartfromexorbitantrent,theresearchfindingsshowedwaterandelectricityfeesinsubdividedflatsarehigherthantheaverageexpenditurerecordedbytheWaterSuppliesDepartmentandutilitycompanyCLP.

Untilfiveyearsago,AhChun,herhusbandandsonusedtoliveinacage-likeflatmeasuringjust100inchesacrossinEasternDistrict,pricedatHK$3,500rentpermonth.Twoyearslaterwhenshegavebirthtohersecondchild,herlandlordmorethandoubledtherenttoHK$7,600.

Despitetheenormouspressureonthefamily,withherAhChun’shusbandbeingthesolebreadwinner,theymanagedtocovertherent.Toherdismay,thelandlordputitupafurtherHK$2,000lastyear–whichwaswellbeyondtheirmeans.Thefamilyhadnochoicebuttomoveout.

AhChunispregnantagain;herthirdchildisdueinthreemonths.Sheconstantlyfretsabouttheever-increasingrentaswellasherchildren’swell-being,whichshefeelsisadverselyaffectedbycrampedlivingconditions.

Tokeeppotentiallydrasticrentincreasesincheck,RegisteredSocialWorkerofCaritasLeeSiu-kanurgedthegovernmenttointerveneintherentalissuebyre-launchingtheRentalControlschemethatwasscrappedin2004.Healsosuggestedtheschemeshouldrequirelandlordstonotifytenantsaboutanyintentiontoraiserentsatleasttwomonthsbeforearentalcontractexpires.Thatwaytenantscouldhavemoretimetolookforalternativeaffordablehousing.

Leestressedthatstifferregulationwouldmakelandlordslesslikelytoincreaserentsindiscriminately–sothatpeopleonthewaitinglistforpublichousingcouldliveamorecomfortablelifeandhavefewerworries.