The average waiting time for public rental housing in Hong Kong has decreased to 5.5 years for general applicants, as per the latest government data. This improvement is a result of the Housing Authority’s efforts to combat tenancy abuse and streamline the allocation process.
In the past 12 months, the average waiting time for a public rental unit dropped by 0.2 years to 5.5 years by the end of June. Additionally, the wait for elderly one-person applicants decreased to 3.7 years during the same period. The second quarter of the year witnessed the allocation of approximately 7,000 public rental units to general applicants, marking the highest number since the third quarter of 2022. Among these units, around 900 flats were designated for single seniors.
Furthermore, about 500 flats were allocated to non-elderly singles under the quota and points system, which prioritizes older single applicants who have not yet turned 60. The authority attributes the reduction in waiting time to an “advance allocation scheme,” which involves providing flats to applicants before the entire development project is completed in housing estates like Cheung Tsing Estate and Yip Wong Estate.
The crackdown on “rich tenants” who exploited the public housing system has also contributed to the availability of subsidized flats. Since the 2022-23 fiscal year, the authority has recovered approximately 5,000 flats, including 700 units reclaimed between April and June. These flats were occupied by tenants who owned property in the city, mainland China, or overseas, or had assets and income exceeding the limit for public housing tenants.
Chief Executive John Lee aims to reduce the average waiting time for public rental housing to four and a half years within four years. The authority anticipates that the waiting time will either stabilize or slightly decrease in the second half of the year due to the completion of new housing estates, leading to an increased supply of public rental units.
Additionally, the completion of 30,000 “light public housing units,” part of a transitional housing initiative proposed by Lee in 2022, is expected to further bolster the supply of public rental units starting from early 2025. This initiative aims to address the long waiting times for public housing units and alleviate the housing shortage in Hong Kong.
Overall, these developments signify positive progress in reducing the waiting time for public rental housing in Hong Kong, benefiting applicants in need of affordable housing solutions. The government’s continued efforts to streamline the allocation process and crack down on abuse within the system are crucial steps towards ensuring equitable access to public housing for all eligible individuals.
