[Does your humble abode meet the standards? What does the initial survey include and what are the fees?】
Since Design House HK launched its substandard housing support services, inquiries have been non-stop. The biggest concerns for landlords or operators of substandard housing are whether their existing units meet the standards, how much the construction costs will be, and how much the certification will cost. In light of this, this article will clearly outline the entire substandard housing certification service process. The entire process consists of three parts: initial inspection, construction quotation and execution, and finally, a specified professional completes the certification report for each substandard unit.
Substandard Housing Initial Inspection | First Step to Substandard Housing Certification
For landlords or operators who are unsure whether their substandard housing meets the government's minimum standards, the initial inspection is a very important step. We will inspect what the substandard unit is lacking to meet the standards. After the inspection, we will issue a rectification report to the landlord or operator, which will list the engineering services that need to be improved and enhanced.
Inspection fee: HKD$800 per unit (regardless of the number of subdivided units, i.e., substandard units).
Substandard Housing Initial Inspection Standards
1. Structure and Interior Decoration
The primary task of the initial inspection is to verify whether the unit's structure and basic decoration comply with the regulations of the Buildings Department of Hong Kong and relevant departments. This is the baseline for ensuring residential safety.
Space Area, Lighting, and Ventilation
- Internal floor area: Must be at least 8 square meters to ensure sufficient and comfortable living space and avoid overcrowding.
- Net height requirement: The net height from the floor to the ceiling must be at least 2.3 meters, and from the floor to the bottom of the beam must be at least 2 meters, ensuring adequate indoor activity space and comfort.
- Lighting and ventilation: Must have at least one openable window facing the outdoors, with a glass area of no less than 0.1 square meters, and be equipped with an artificial lighting system to ensure sufficient light day and night; mechanical ventilation facilities must achieve an air change rate of no less than 5 times per hour to ensure indoor air circulation.
- Toilet requirements: If it is a "black toilet" (without an external window), additional artificial lighting and standard mechanical ventilation must be installed; independent toilets must be completely separated by partition walls, and the floor and walls must be covered with a waterproof layer to eliminate the risk of water seepage (a waterproof test report must be provided after inspection).
Fire and Safety Regulations
- Fire-resisting partition walls: The unit must have fire-resisting partition walls. During the inspection, the wall structure will be verified, and relevant supporting documents must be provided later.
- Open flame prohibition: Open flame cooking appliances are strictly prohibited to avoid fire hazards. This is one of the core safety requirements for substandard housing.
2. Water and Electricity Facilities
Water and electricity are the foundation of home life. The initial inspection will focus on checking the independence and safety of these facilities to ensure worry-free use.
Independent Metering Requirements
- Water and electricity meters: Must install independent water and electricity meters from the Water Supplies Department and power companies to avoid shared metering with other units and ensure clear and transparent billing.
- Toilet water and electricity configuration: An independent water supply point and basin must be installed outside the toilet, and a waterproof layer must be laid nearby. A waterproof test report must be submitted after the inspection to ensure the waterproof effect meets standards.
3. Fire Facilities
Fire regulations are paramount in substandard housing inspections, directly related to the life safety of residents. Each item will be checked during the inspection.
Corridor and Passage Safety
- Corridor width: If the original entrance fire door is retained, the corridor width must be no less than 0.75 meters; if the fire door is removed or does not meet the standards, the corridor width must be increased to at least 1.05 meters to ensure smooth emergency evacuation.
- Public area configuration: Independent fire detectors and fire extinguishers must be installed in the common areas within the relevant residential units to ensure timely detection and initial suppression in case of fire.
Unit Interior Fire Safety
- Independent fire detectors: Each subdivided unit must be equipped with an independent fire detector to monitor smoke and fire in real-time, gaining valuable time for escape.
Substandard Housing Renovation Report | Second Step of Substandard Housing Certification
Summary of Initial Inspection and Follow-up Recommendations
Taking the inspection of Fu King Building, On Fu Road, Tai Po as an example, we will issue a detailed report after the on-site inspection, clearly marking items that meet and do not meet the requirements, and providing targeted recommendations:
1. Current problem review: This inspection found that some fire and electrical items did not meet the requirements. For example, supporting documents are needed for fire-resisting partition walls and fire doors, and a test report is required for the waterproof layer.
2. Rectification direction guidance: If the partition walls meet the requirements, only fire-resistance certification needs to be supplemented; if the fire-resisting walls do not meet the standards, new partitions will be required. At the same time, the feasibility of installing new electricity meters needs to be confirmed with the power company in advance.
3. Follow-up service support: We will assist clients in preparing various supporting documents and follow up on the rectification progress to ensure the unit ultimately complies with all legal requirements for substandard housing and successfully completes the application process.
Substandard Housing Renovation Report and Preliminary Quotation
We will provide a preliminary quotation for the necessary improvement works listed in the post-inspection report, i.e., the renovation costs for the substandard housing to meet the government's basic standards for substandard housing. Landlords and operators can decide whether to proceed with the project after receiving the quotation.
Substandard Housing Renovation Project Cost
The cost of substandard housing renovation projects can only be quoted after an inspection.
Substandard Housing Certification Fee | Certification Report
Fee: HKD20,000/per subdivided unit
If the unit has completed rectification and optimization works in accordance with substandard housing requirements, Design House HK can also appoint government-specified professionals to certify the landlord's or operator's substandard housing unit and submit a certification report. The fee is determined by the number of substandard housing units. The submitted report includes:
- Report by a government-specified professional for substandard housing certification
- Structural assessment report by a government-specified professional for substandard housing certification
- Ventilation report for mechanical ventilation facilities by a government-specified professional for substandard housing certification
Please note that the substandard housing certification service fee does not include the government's substandard housing certification fee or other third-party charges.
Substandard Housing Certification Report | Completion of Substandard Housing Certification
After our renovation team completes the substandard housing renovation, the designer and the specified professionals will complete the certification report for each substandard unit. Landlords of substandard housing must attach the certification report issued by the specified professionals when submitting their certification application. However, please note that we do not guarantee the government's final approval, as the approval of substandard housing may be lost due to potential hazards in the common areas of the building, but we can ensure that the interior space meets the standards during planning.
Recommendations for Substandard Housing Operations
The application and renovation of substandard housing is a highly specialized task. The initial inspection, as the starting point, directly determines the smoothness of subsequent processes and residential safety. Design House HK's one-stop service, from inspection to subsequent document preparation and rectification guidance, provides full-process follow-up, reducing your cumbersome administrative costs. If the subdivided flat business is no longer continued in the form of substandard housing, other options can be considered, such as restoring the unit or operating it as a dormitory. Please feel free to contact our customer service for inquiries. We are happy to assist you.
