Hong Kong records 75,000 subdivided-unit registrations under new bedspace rules
Hong Kong's Housing Bureau said over 75,000 subdivided units have been registered under the new bedspace regime, about 70 per cent of the estimated 110,000 such units. The bureau detailed enforcement plans from March 2027, including transitional housing support, and said it does not expect a sharp s
Hong Kong's Housing Bureau has received registration applications covering more than 75,000 subdivided units under the new bedspace accommodation regime, representing about 70 per cent of the estimated 110,000 such units citywide, officials told the Legislative Council on 28 October 2026.
The bureau said 53 subdivided units have already been certified as bedspace accommodation after passing minimum safety and hygiene standards. A further 250 certification applications have been received, most in recent months, suggesting the market is adapting to the new requirements.
According to consultant research commissioned by the task force on subdivided units, about 30 per cent of the city's 110,000 subdivided units have relatively poor living conditions and may require major renovation to meet minimum standards. The remaining 70 per cent need only simple alterations. The bureau said it does not expect a sharp short-term reduction in rental supply, citing the 48-month transition period and economic incentives for landlords.
To demonstrate feasible renovation costs, the bureau set up two model bedspace flats in Kowloon City in May 2026. Their conversion cost 25,000 to 50,000 Hong Kong dollars per unit, excluding professional certification fees. The bureau has hosted over 50 site visits for more than 800 stakeholders.
Criminal enforcement against unregistered, uncertified subdivided units will begin on 1 March 2027. The bureau said it will not take a blanket enforcement approach but will act pragmatically based on risk factors including safety hazards, the number of non-compliant units in a building, and the availability of public housing including '简约公屋' (simplified public housing) and transitional housing.
Six regional service teams will provide affected tenants with relocation assistance, including access to traditional public housing, simplified public housing, transitional housing and single-hostel accommodation. Since October 2025, a new '丙类租户' (Category C tenant) classification has allowed subdivided-unit tenants affected by renovation or enforcement to access transitional housing without being on the public housing waiting list, with relaxed income and asset limits.
The bureau said it has organised or participated in more than 130 briefing sessions, seminars and outreach activities since the task force was established, reaching over 9,000 participants. Over 50 events specifically targeted subdivided-unit landlords, including workshops to help elderly or less mobile owners complete registration forms.
