Housing Authority to discuss raising mortgage loan ratio for families with newborns
The Housing Authority's Subsidised Housing Committee will discuss raising the maximum mortgage loan ratio to 95 per cent for white-form families with newborns, aligning with green-form applicants. It will also consider shortening the resale restriction period for 35,000 subsidised flats from 15 to 1
The Subsidised Housing Committee of the Hong Kong Housing Authority is set to meet on Friday, and is expected to discuss proposals from the Policy Address. According to sources, one proposal would raise the maximum mortgage loan ratio for white-form applicants with newborn babies from 90 per cent to 95 per cent, starting from the next Home Ownership Scheme sales exercise. This would bring them in line with green-form applicants and reduce the down payment burden. Families with a child aged three or younger as of the application deadline for the relevant HOS sale would be eligible.
The meeting is also understood to discuss shortening the resale restriction period for subsidised flats first sold between 2022 and 2025, from 15 years to 10 years. This would affect approximately 35,000 flats. If the measures are approved, the Housing Bureau will issue a notice stating that the restriction period for selling such subsidised flats on the open market has been reduced to 10 years. The land registry for each flat will be updated with an appropriate remark, so that future buyers can check the information when conducting a title search.
The proposed changes aim to provide greater support for families with young children and to increase flexibility for owners of subsidised housing. The committee's decisions are expected to be announced after the meeting.