Over 70 per cent of tenants of subdivided flats in Hong Kong can only afford a rent increase of less than five per cent if the government’s proposed regulation of substandard housing drives up rental prices, according to a survey.
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The Federation of Public Housing Estates revealed its findings on Thursday after interviewing tenants of 151 households in subdivided flats earlier this month on the coming overhaul of Hong Kong’s shoebox homes.
The survey found that 59 per cent of respondents hoped that the regulation would not drive rents up “massively”, while 45 per cent called for a rental subsidy from the government.
About 71 per cent of respondents said they could only tolerate a rent increase of less than five per cent, while another 18 per cent said they could bear a rise of five to 10 per cent at most.
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Only six respondents said they could manage a rent increase of over 10 per cent, while the rest offered no comment.
Around 78 per cent of respondents were paying HK$7,000 (US$892) or less per month for their subdivided home.