FAQ
• Holder of valid Hong Kong Identity Card
• Owner of a residential flat in a private domestic building or composite building
• Residing in the applied property with his/her spouse (if married)
• Fulfill either one of the following criteria:
→Aged 60 or above and comply with the income and net asset limits
→Recipient of Old Age Living Allowance
→Recipient of Disability Allowance and comply with the income and net asset limits
→Recipient of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA)
• Not undischarged bankrupt person
Upon the completion of work, the applicant should notify the Application Team of Urban Renewal Authority (URA) which will then arrange a site inspection by URA staff and/or its representatives. He/She is also required to provide the supporting documents (e.g. a completion certificate). After verification of completion of work, URA will release the grant to the applicant.
If grants are applied for conducting maintenance works in residential units, eligible Applicants will have to submit application forms before the maintenance works. And if grants are applied for conducting maintenance works for common parts of buildings, eligible Applicants will have to submit applications forms before the issues of compliance letters confirming the completion of the maintenance works of the buildings.
• Any private residential or composite buildings of any age (based on Occupation Permit, also known as "OP" data) (including buildings held by a Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Society (“CBS”));
• The building must have an Owners' Corporation has been formed, or held by Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Society, or property management
services is provided by a Property Management Services Authority licensed company, or the manager who engaged for providing services to the building under DMC (“DMC manager”);
• The average annual rateable value of all residential units in the building meets the requirements of the rateable value limit, for details, please refer to item 2(b) of Annex 1 of the "Integrated Building Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme";
• Not included in the redevelopment projects announced by the Urban Renewal Authority;
• Application shall be submitted before the tendering procedure of Authorized Person (“AP”);
• The building has never received subsidies from this scheme before; and
• Does not include (a) buildings with single ownership, and (b) buildings that are 3 stories or less or New Territories Exempted Houses.
For buildings with an owners’ corporation (“OC”), the OC shall be the applicant who submits the application to the URA. The applicant must submit a copy of the notice and the minutes of the owners' meeting together with the application form. For details of the resolutions that need to be passed, please refer to the application form.
For buildings owned by cooperatives or buildings provided with property management services by property management companies with a valid property management company license, the building owners should, depending on the situation, appoint and authorize the relevant persons to act as the applicant's representative, responsible for handling all matters related to the application and subsidy scheme. Please refer to Annex 1 " Application Notes for building without Owners’ Corporation" in the application form. However, for arrangements to apply for "this Scheme" through passed meeting resolutions, building owners can refer to the terms and requirements of the "Deed of Mutual Covenant" or the said Rules or related CBS by-laws.
First stage subsidy – Preparation of Building Maintenance Manual:
Number of units in the building |
Level of Subsidy |
Cap |
20 or less |
50% of the cost of hiring an Authorized Person to produce a building maintenance manual. |
HK $15,000 |
21 to 49 |
HK $20,000 |
|
50 or over |
HK $30,000 |
Second stage subsidy – Set-up of Special Fund:
Number of units in the building |
Level of Subsidy |
Cap |
20 or less |
Ten percent (10%) of the total amount of contributions in the first three years starting from the date of issuance if the contribution schedule (The contribution amount in the special fund account must reach at least eighty percent (80%) of the contribution amount approved by the owners’ meeting, otherwise the subsidy shall not be released)
|
HK $2,000 per unit |
21 to 49 |
HK $1,500 per unit |
|
50 or over |
HK $1,000 per unit or HK $200,000(whichever is the lower) |
Schemes
Upon receipt of claim form, the Urban Renewal Authority will grant the subsidy subject to the verification of completed works. Then the subsidy will be released to OC’s bank account. OC should resolve the disposal arrangement of the subsidy at an owners’ general meeting.
Individual owner can apply the Building Safety Loan Scheme from BD for the loan of his/her contribution amount of works contract.
The total amount of subsidy for CAS is based on the number of units including residential and commercial units.
The URA will provide technical support and commission independent building surveyor consultants (BSC). BSC will assess the survey report, tender documents and works contract provided by the IO's consultant to provide 3rd party professional opinions. Moreover, BSC will provide building rehabilitation costs assessment so that owners have more understanding on the costs.
Works item fulfils the criteria of Green Item Subsidy include: External wall paint comply with the guideline of the scheme; or certified materials, products or fixings, etc being used for building repairs or new installation
No, it cannot. OC should submit the application form prior to the commencement of repair works and the appointment of Authorized Person or Qualified professional.
BMGSNO and HRLS are two separate schemes with different eligibility criteria. For an applicant who has received grant under BMGSNO, he/she may also apply for HRLS to repair the windows of his/her property if he/she meets the eligibility criteria. But, each repair work item can only be granted subsidy or loan once.
Owner-occupier is the owner of a residential unit in a building under OBB 2.0 and the unit is solely for the purpose of self-occupation by him/her or his/her immediate family members.
If there has been no owners’ corporation formed for a building, all owners collectively shall be the Applicant who submit the application to the URA. Please refer to the “Application Notes for building without Owners’ Corporation” in Annex I to the “Integrated Building Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme” Application Form for detailed information.
The beneficiaries of the OBB2.0 are owner-occupiers. If the units are rented, owners of such units will not receive subsidies under the OBB 2.0. However, if the buildings are eligible for the Common Area Repair Works Subsidy, owners of the rented units can receive subsidies under the Common Area Repair Works Subsidy.
Yes, they are. As long as a unit is occupied by the owners themselves or their immediate family members, its owners will be eligible for the OBB2.0 as owner-occupiers. If a unit is co-owned by elderly owner-occupier(s) and non-elderly person(s), its owners are also eligible for the level of subsidy designated for elderly owner occupiers, namely, 100% of the cost of the inspection and repair works for common parts of the unit, subject to a cap of $50,000 per unit.
If owners wonder whether the average annual rateable values in 2022/23 of the buildings that their units belong to meet the eligibility criterion related to the average annual rateable value for the subsidy scheme, they can call the URA at 31881188 for enquires.
When owners receive letters from the BD, the URA will also send notification letters to inform owners to apply for the OBB2.0.
For an individual owner-occupier of a unit in a Category 1 building, he/she should submit an application within two months from the date of issue of the “Approval-in-Principle Letter” by the URA to the building concerned or within two months from the date of issue of the first letter “Contribution Schedule for Works for the Common Areas of the Building” issued by the owners’ organisation to the owners, the later of which shall be regarded as the application deadline. For an individual owner-occupier of a unit in a Category 2 building, he/she should submit an application within six months from the date of issue of the letter by the Buildings Department notifying the engagement of consultants for inspection and supervision of repair works for the building concerned, or within two months from the date of issue of the notification letter regarding the engagement of contractors for repair works for the building concerned, the later of which shall be regarded as the application deadline.
Besides, the URA will send notification letters to owners of buildings which approved for participating in OBB2.0.
To meet the eligibility criteria for the OBB2.0, for one thing, the average annual rateable value of all domestic units as of 2022/23 in a building should not exceed $187,000 in urban areas (including districts of Shatin, Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan) and $143,000 in the New Territories. If the building mentioned above is located at urban areas and its average annual rateable value is lower than $187,000, then it meets this eligibility criterion.
With regard to the OBB2.0, as long as the residential units are occupied by owners themselves or their immediate family members, owners of such units will be eligible for the OBB2.0 as owner-occupiers. However, owner-occupiers aged 60 or above will receive larger amounts of subsidies.
To meet the eligibility criteria for the OBB2.0, for one thing, the average annual rateable value of all domestic units as of 2022/23 in a building should not exceed $187,000 in urban areas (including districts of Shatin, Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan) and $143,000 in the New Territories. Please note that we will only decide whether a building meets this eligibility criterion or not depending on the average annual rateable value of all its domestic units. Therefore, the rateable values of shops on ground floors will not affect the eligibility of buildings.
If there has been no owners’ corporation formed for a building, all owners collectively shall be the Applicant who submit the application to the URA. Please refer to the “Application Notes for building without Owners’ Corporation” in Annex I to the “Integrated Building Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme” Application Form for detailed information.
If there has been no owners’ corporation formed for a building, all owners collectively shall be the Applicant who submit the application to the URA. If owners fail to hold an owners’ meeting and pass the resolution of participating in this subsidy scheme within the application period due to practical difficulties, owners can appoint two owners as owners’ representatives to submit an application form to the URA first and hold an owners’ meeting later, at which the relevant resolution shall be passed. The minutes of the meeting shall be submitted to the URA later.
If the Applicant owned more than one eligible unit in applying for OBB 2.0, he/she may only apply for subsidy with his/her occupied unit, i.e. the number of unit limits at one. Where an Applicant has received subsidy under the OBB 2.0 for a certain unit, he/she shall not be entitled to any subsidy under the OBB 2.0 again even if he/she subsequently moves to another eligible building under Category 1 or Category 2 of OBB 2.0.
If there has been no owners’ corporation formed for a building, all owners collectively shall be the Applicant who submit the application to the URA. Please refer to the “Application Notes for building without Owners’ Corporation” in Annex I to the “Integrated Building Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme” Application Form for relevant application requirements.
The statutory executive departments of fire safety directions are the FSD and the BD, and they are responsible for fire service installation and equipment and fire safety construction respectively. The subsidy of the “FSWS” is only applicable to works carried out at the common parts of buildings required for complying with the “Directions” and/or its related “Fire Safety Directions”. Please refer to Section 4, the “Use of Subsidy”, of the Application Notes for detailed information to learn about the coverage of the subsidy.
Please note that if Applicants can’t provide the compliance letters issued by the FSD and the BD, which confirm that the required fire safety improvement works listed in the “Directions” have been completed and have met the requirements of the “Directions”, the subsidies to be disbursed may be cancelled.
According to Section 1.1 (iii) under the Eligibility Criteria of the Application Notes of the “FSWS”, one of the criteria that applicable buildings should meet is that building owners have received “Directions” for the common parts of the building and / or its related “Fire Safety Directions” issued by the FSD and the BD, but compliance letters confirming the completion of all fire safety improvement works required by the “Ordinance” had not been issued as of 11 October 2017.
Therefore, if the building has not received “Directions”, it is not eligible for the “FSWS”.
The “FSWS” is only applicable to the improvement work projects for the common parts of buildings. As to the works for the private parts, eligible owners can apply for subsidies under the “BMGSNO” provided by the URA. The improvement works for the fire service and building safety of individual units are also covered in this scheme.
The works must be carried out by registered contractor. Owners have to provide the Business Registration Certificate of the contractor and the quotation listing all repair works item and respective costs breakdown. Repair works must be complied with the related regulations. For example, certificate of completion of works submitted to the Buildings Department (BD) from appointed Minor Works Contractor and subsequent confirmation letter from BD. For details, please refer to the Application Note.
Applicant must submit income proof and asset declaration. Applicant is also required to make a statutory declaration to confirm that all information and evidences provided are genuine and correct.
Upon the completion of work, the applicant should notify the Application Team of Urban Renewal Authority (URA) which will then arrange a site inspection by URA staff and/or its representatives. He/She is also required to provide the supporting documents (e.g. a completion certificate). After verification of completion of work, URA will release the grant to the applicant.
If grants are applied for conducting maintenance works in residential units, eligible Applicants will have to submit application forms before the maintenance works. And if grants are applied for conducting maintenance works for common parts of buildings, eligible Applicants will have to submit applications forms before the issues of compliance letters confirming the completion of the maintenance works of the buildings.
The grant is capped at HK$80,000 for each application and every eligible applicant can apply for a maximum of 4 times within 10 years, counted from the date of the first successful application.
The owner can apply if he/she meets the eligibility criteria. The grant of BMGSNO can be used to repay the eligible applicant’s outstanding loan(s) from BD, Hong Kong Housing Society or URA in relation to building repair works. The amount of the outstanding loan will be counted as of the day of submission of BMGSNO application.
Yes, assets of the property owner and his/her spouse (if married) will be assessed.
A maximum grant of HK$80,000 is available for each eligible owner-occupier. Eligible applicant can decide to use the grant on building safety related maintenance works in a residential flat and/or in building common areas. The grant can also be used to repay the eligible applicant’s outstanding loan(s) from Buildings Department, Hong Kong Housing Society or URA in relation to building repair works.
Elderly aged 60 or above, recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) and recipients of the Disability Allowance (DA) who are owner-occupiers and comply with the income and asset limits can apply for the “BMGSNO”. For Applicants aged 60 and above, the asset limits are three times of the asset limit for Normal Old Age Allowance (Normal OALA), namely, $1,164,000 for singletons and $1,767,000 for couples (April 2023 edition). The asset limits for recipients of the DA are linked to their asset limits for applying for public rental housing units from the HKHS. Please refer to the “Income & Asset Limits and Rateable Value Limit Table” for detailed information.
The Applicants can contact the application group of the HKHS (Enquiry Hotline: 2839 7166) to enquire about the materials that you had submitted to the HKHS for application and the amount of grants that you had received.
The tenant is not eligible for the application because the applicant must be an owner-occupier of a residential flat in a private domestic building or composite building.
The applicant should submit a copy of the spouse’s death certificate and declare his/her assets (the asset limit is the same as that for singleton).
• Holder of valid Hong Kong Identity Card
• Owner of a residential flat in a private domestic building or composite building
• Residing in the applied property with his/her spouse (if married)
• Fulfill either one of the following criteria:
→Aged 60 or above and comply with the income and net asset limits
→Recipient of Old Age Living Allowance
→Recipient of Disability Allowance and comply with the income and net asset limits
→Recipient of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA)
• Not undischarged bankrupt person
The Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) will review your application for the BMGS. After the completion of the repair works of buildings and the inspection of the HKHS, the maximum amount of grant receivable by eligible Applicants is $40,000. If the cost of the repair works for the common parts of the building that you need to pay exceed $40,000, please call the URA at 3188 1188 for enquiring about the “Building Maintenance Grant Scheme for Needy Owners” (BMGSNO).
For applicant who has already received grant under BMGSEO, he/she may also apply for BMGSNO if he/she meets the eligibility criteria. However, the total grant amount received under the two schemes will not exceed HK$80,000.
To demolish unauthorized building works is not a requirement of the “BMGSNO”. However, the grant should be used to improve the disrepair states of buildings so as to solve their safe and sanitary problems. Therefore, eligible Applicants can apply for the BMGSNO to dispose of and demolish unauthorized building works.
Such case will be referred to and handled by the application team of Urban Renewal Authority.
The owner is not eligible for the application because the applicant must be an owner-occupier residing in the applied property with his/her spouse (if married).
Applicant should submit photocopies of related license of registered contractor and completion certificate(s) as required by legislation(s). Applicant who fails to provide the required supporting documents or to arrange flat/building inspection for URA staff and/ or its representatives, will delay the processing of his/her application and may affect the approved grant amount.
While applying for the “BMGS” processed by the HKHS, the eligibility of the Applicant and his/her legal spouse and whether he/she complies with the income and asset limits will be reviewed. The Applicant of the upgraded BMGSNO is also required to be the owner himself/herself together with his/her spouse. Therefore, as to the above-mentioned case, after deducting the grant of $20,000 received under the “BMGS”, the eligible Applicant and his spouse can still apply for a subsidy subject to a cap of $60,000.
The administrator or executor (i.e. the holder of Letters of Administration (LA) or Probate) is eligible to apply as the owner of the residential flat. The applicant has to meet other eligibility criteria of BMGSNO. Before the release of grant, the LA or Probate must be registered on the land register of the applied property, and the applicant must still remain as the administrator or executor of applied property for URA to process the application.
The scope of works covers building safety related maintenance works in a residential flat and/or in building common areas. Please refer to the application notes for details.
Under normal circumstances, the applicant will receive a notification letter about the result after the submission of all relevant documents and the completion of assessment of the repair work items and expenses by Urban Renewal Authority (URA). Applicant who fails to provide the required supporting documents or to arrange flat/building inspection for URA staff and/or its representatives, will delay the processing of his/her application.
Beside the BMGSNO, eligible owner-occupiers also can apply for the “Home Renovation Interest-free Loan” of the URA or the “Building Safety Loan Scheme” of the BD. However, each maintenance project will only be subsidised or get loans once. Owners can apply for several allowance/loan schemes with only one “Integrated Building Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme” Application Form (applicable to individual flat owners).
The amount of grant will be calculated in proportion to the share of ownership of the property owned by the eligible applicant. For example, if the applicant owns 50% share of ownership of the property, the maximum grant he/she can get is HK$40,000 (HK$80,000 x 50%).
Water Safety Plan for Buildings (“WSPB”) provides a systematic and effective management framework for the internal plumbing system which includes conducting risk assessments, implementing measures for controlling water safety risks, regular checkings, inspections and maintenance of the internal plumbing system, as well as audits of implementation and reviews of WSPB.
For details of the WSPB, please visit Water Supplies Department ("WSD") webpage “Water Safety Plan for Buildings”.
Application for Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme (“WSPSS”) is on a per building basis. The ceilings are calculated based on the average annual rateable value of all the domestic units of a building as of 2022/23. Buildings completed after 2022/23 will be considered by WSD on a case-by-case basis. Applicants of those buildings can make applications for WSD's consideration.
Village houses are generally of three storeys or less. As the internal plumbing systems of these buildings are relatively simple and the portions of communal parts are insignificant, the water safety risk of their internal plumbing systems is relatively low. Hence, WSPSS does not cover those buildings with three storeys or less. The drinking water safety of these buildings could be enhanced by making reference to the relevant measures available at WSD’s webpage.
Implementation of WSPB involves the internal plumbing system of the whole building, which requires the concerted efforts of property owners. Therefore, buildings with OCs, owners’ committees or CBSs should be more competent in implementing the various measures as required under WSPB due to their better organisation abilities. For buildings without OCs, owners’ committees or CBSs, WSD will consider on a case-by-case basis.
Buildings without OCs, owners’ committees or CBSs can provide information of the contact person in the application form for contact purpose. WSD will consider the application on a case-by-case basis.
WSD’s social service team will also offer assistance to those property owners of buildings in need.
Please refer to the table below:
Type of Owners’ Association | Applicant | Applicant’s Representative |
Owners’ Corporation (“OC”) | OC | 1. Two authorised committee members of the Management Committee of the OC; or 2. the Manager2. |
Owners’ Committee1 | Owners’ Committee | 1. Two authorised members of the Owners’ Committee; or 2. Two authorised members of the Owners’ Committee and the Manager2 as co-representatives. |
Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Society (“CBS”) | CBS | 1. an authorised member of the CBS Committee. |
- appointed in accordance with Deed of Mutual Covenant (“DMC”)
- appointed in accordance with the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) and the DMC
For details, please refer to paragraph 3 of “Application Notes for Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme”.
WSPSS is operated on a first-come-first-served basis with a view to encouraging property owners of eligible buildings to formulate and implement WSPB as early as possible.
For details, please refer to paragraph 2.4 of “Application Notes for Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme”.
Qualified persons (“QPs”) provide WSPB related services to property owners and management agents, including water safety risk assessment for formulation of WSPB and specific checkings on internal plumbing system of the building. It would require around 2 to 3 man-days for a building with general internal plumbing layout, whereas it may take a longer time for a more complicated internal plumbing system. We organise training sessions and workshops on WSPB via accredited training institutions to train up QPs.
All new and renewal applications of Quality Water Supply Scheme for Buildings – Fresh Water (Management System) (“QMS”) submitted on or after 1 July 2020 shall require a QP, who is on the List of Qualified Persons Trained in Water Safety Plan for Buildings and passed the assessments, to certify the relevant parts of the documents. For enquiry of the list of trained QPs, please refer to this link: List of Qualified Persons Trained in Water Safety Plan for Buildings.
For details of the QPs, please visit WSD webpage “Qualified Persons”.
Applicant can apply for subsidies under different subsidy schemes for carrying out building rehabilitation / rectification works for buildings (including rectification works of internal plumbing systems), e.g. “Common Area Repair Works Subsidy” launched by the Urban Renewal Authority, etc. If the building rehabilitation / rectification works concerned are measures recommended in the water safety risk assessment with an aim to control water safety risks, additional subsidy from WSPSS can be granted for carrying out the rectification works. However, the applicant shall avoid receipt of double benefit, i.e. receipt of subsidy or grant on the same works item from both WSPSS and other schemes. For works item already having subsidy or grant approved under other scheme, subsidy for the same works item will not be approved under WSPSS.
To encourage property owners and management agents to implement WSPB, WSD launched QMS in November 2017 to issue certificates to recognise the property owners and management agents’ efforts in the implementation of WSPB.
For details of the QMS, please visit WSD webpage “Quality Water Supply Scheme for Buildings – Fresh Water (Management System)”.
WSD has paid particular attention to property owners’ affordability during the formulation of the scheme and thus believed that implementing WSPB would not cause great burden on the property owners. Except for water safety risk assessment and annual specific checkings on internal plumbing system which have to be conducted by QP, other measures under WSPB can actually be integrated into the routine operation and maintenance works in property management of the building.
Rectification works may be required for internal plumbing system as recommended in water risk assessment and the cost of such works depends on the scale of the works recommended. Normally, the works required for controlling water safety risks are of limited scale, which generally include addition of meshes to overflowing pipes, replacement of tank covers, replacement of plumbing fittings (non-return valves), etc. The cost to be involved is unlikely to be significant. Despite this, we have allowed subsidy provisions under the scheme for the need of carrying out larger scale plumbing works, e.g. replacement of aged pipes, water tanks, etc. The cap of the relevant subsidy under WSPSS should generally be able to subsidise wholly the rectification works required for implementation of WSPB. However, in case largescale plumbing works are required to be implemented, the property owners should have to bear the cost in exceedance of the subsidy cap.
The applicant shall apply to WSD by submitting the duly completed claim form and all necessary documentary proofs, including but not limited to: bank statement within nearly 3 months, original payment receipts or invoices, and copy of payment vouchers, etc. , for the release of subsidies upon completion of the relevant items under WSPSS. WSD will release the subsidies to the applicant after verification of all the documentary proofs of the relevant items, e.g. WSPB, actual works programme indicating the completed recommended items of rectification works. As long as the claim amount does not exceed the corresponding subsidy cap, an item can be fully reimbursed.
For details, please refer to paragraph 6 of “Application Notes for Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme”.
Implementation of WSPB is voluntary and mainly focuses on the control of water safety risks of the building rather than unveiling non-compliance in the internal plumbing system. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the property owners to properly manage and maintain the internal plumbing system and take appropriate corrective actions against any non-compliance found.
WSPB audit is for the sake of continuous improvement. It shall be carried out at least once every two years and conducted by an independent party who have not participated in the formulation or implementation of WSPB for the building to be audited. The independent party can either be an outside party engaged solely for the task or a person already immersed in the day-to-day property management of the building. Preferably, the independent party shall have undergone training related to internal audit of quality management system. WSPB audit aims to verify the effectiveness of its implementation and identify areas for improvement so as to enhance its implementation in future.
Participating buildings under WSPSS are obliged to implement WSPB properly. Except for very special circumstances, WSD reserves the right to recover any subsidises released for building withdraws from WSPSS during the subsidy period.
WSD will engage consultants to examine the scope of rectification works recommended by QPs in the water safety risk assessments. Moreover, WSD will randomly select participating buildings for checking whether there are any omissions in the WSPBs formulated by QPs. Property owners and management agents can also lodge complaint to WSD on the professional performance of the QPs. WSD will conduct necessary investigation and follow up action.
Under the WSPSS, the applicant can only apply for the release of subsidies for the relevant items in implementation of WSPB after obtaining a valid certificate for QMS.
Applicants of those buildings can submit a written letter with brief description of relevant reasons for granting extension of time for our consideration. It will be considered by WSD on a case-by-case basis.
The applicant shall additionally engage a QP for conducting water safety risk assessment on the newly identified defective internal plumbing system and suggesting new scope of rectification works for submission to WSD. WSD will arrange a consultant for assessing the new scope of recommended items. As long as the subsidy amount of those new recommended item(s) does not exceed the corresponding subsidy cap, those item(s) can be fully reimbursed.
Generally, the applicant could apply release of the approved subsidy amount of the recommended items of rectification works in stages (frequency not less than one month) in the form of reimbursement according to the actual progress of works. Upon completion of all the approved recommended items of rectification works, the applicant could apply for an accumulated maximum payment of 80% of the subsidy amount for the completed recommended items of rectification works. The applicant could only apply for release of the remaining 20% of the approved subsidy amount after completion of all the recommended items of rectification works. The applicant shall submit the actual works programme for indicating the completed recommended items of rectification works, duly completed claim form and all necessary documentary proofs, including but not limited to: bank statement within nearly 3 months, original payment receipts or invoices, and copy of payment vouchers, etc. . WSD will release the subsidies regarding the recommended items after verification of all the documentary proofs. As long as the claim amount does not exceed the corresponding subsidy cap, the items can be fully reimbursed after completion of all the recommended items of rectification works.
- Any private residential or composite buildings of any age (based on Occupation Permit, also known as "OP" data) (including buildings held by a Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Society (“CBS”));
- The building must have an Owners' Corporation has been formed, or held by Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Society, or property management services is provided by a Property Management Services Authority licensed company, or the manager who engaged for providing services to the building under DMC (“DMC manager”);
- The average annual rateable value of all residential units in the building meets the requirements of the rateable value limit, for details, please refer to item 2(b) of Annex 1 of the "Integrated Building Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme";
- Not included in the redevelopment projects announced by the Urban Renewal Authority;
- Application shall be submitted before the tendering procedure of Authorized Person (“AP”);
- The building has never received subsidies from this scheme before; and
- Does not include (a) buildings with single ownership, and (b) buildings that are 3 stories or less or New Territories Exempted Houses.
The release of subsidy in the second-stage requires that within 54 months from the day a resolution was passed at the owners' meeting / CBS General Meeting to set up a special fund, the amount of contributions collected in the special fund account must is at least 80% of the amount of contributions that should be made during this three-year period, as approved by the owners' meeting, and cannot exceed the maximum subsidy amount set according to the number of units.
If within 54 months from the day of the resolution to set up the special fund, the total remaining balance in the special fund has not reached 80% of the total contribution amount, it will not meet the requirements for the release of subsidy of the second-stage. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants carry out full contributions according to the planned maintenance as estimated in the Building Maintenance Manual.
However, the cap of the subsidy amount needs to be determined according to the number of units in the building.
- Applicant must use the sample document and according to the guidelines issued by the Urban Renewal Authority to appoint the consultant, and use the "E-Tendering Platform" provided by the Urban Renewal Authority to appoint an "Authorized Person" to coordinate the production of the building maintenance manual for the building, and submit an application before starting the tendering process to appoint the AP.
- Unless the applicant has already commissioned an "Authorized Person" or started the relevant tendering process before April 1, 2024, the relevant procurement process needs to be confirmed by the Urban Renewal Authority to comply with the requirements of the Building Management Ordinance (Chapter 344) and the Deed of Mutual Covenant (if applicable). Otherwise, the applicant must use the "E-Tendering Platform" provided by the Urban Renewal Authority.
Yes, if a building has not formed an Owners' Corporation, the building should be held by a Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Society or have property management services provided by a licensed property management company. And the applicants must be the Civil Servants’ Co-operative or all owners.
Once the applicant has set up a special fund, there is no restriction on the applicant withdrawing deposits from the special fund during the fundraising period. However, in order to meet the requirements for the release of subsidy in the second stage, the amount of contributions collected in the special fund account must reach 80% of the contribution amount that should be made during this three-year period as passed by the owners' meeting.
However, building owners under the Urban Renewal Authority need to set up arrangements for the use of the special fund in accordance with the requirements of the Building Management Ordinance (Cap 344), specifying that the special fund should be used to pay for the cost of repair work for the building.
The subsidies of this "Scheme" will be divided into two stages:
- Provide subsidy to eligible applicants to appoint an "Authorized Person" to review and collect data on the structure, equipment, and facilities of the common parts of the building in accordance with the requirements of this Scheme, including the necessary ancillary work, and to produce a building maintenance manual using the template provided by the Urban Renewal Authority.
- Provide incentive subsidy to eligible applicants to encourage the set up of a special fund for their building, and to make regular contributions according to the estimated expenditure of the maintenance items in the building maintenance manual for future payment of related costs.
Under this "Scheme", the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) will process applications according to various factors including building conditions and building organization. These include 1) age of the building, 2) number of units, 3) building management conditions, and 4) whether the building has finished comprehensive rehabilitation work and regular maintenance work, etc.
The "Scheme" suggests that the applicant should open a new bank account for the special fund to facilitate the operation of the account and provide the account balance to the Urban Renewal Authority for approval when applying for the release of subsidy in the second-stage.
First stage subsidy – Preparation of Building Maintenance Manual:
Number of units in the building |
Level of Subsidy |
Cap |
20 or less |
50% of the cost of hiring an Authorized Person to produce a building maintenance manual. |
HK $15,000 |
21 to 49 |
HK $20,000 |
|
50 or over |
HK $30,000 |
Second stage subsidy – Set-up of Special Fund:
Number of units in the building |
Level of Subsidy |
Cap |
20 or less |
Ten percent (10%) of the total amount of contributions in the first three years starting from the date of issuance if the contribution schedule (The contribution amount in the special fund account must reach at least eighty percent (80%) of the contribution amount approved by the owners’ meeting, otherwise the subsidy shall not be released)
|
HK $2,000 per unit |
21 to 49 |
HK $1,500 per unit |
|
50 or over |
HK $1,000 per unit or HK $200,000(whichever is the lower) |
Yes, if the applicant of this "Scheme" to appoint an “Authorized Person” to produce a building maintenance manual for the common areas of the building, and the consultant fee is obtain the subsidy from other schemes, the Urban Renewal Authority will deduct the subsidies or allowances obtained from other scheme for the same service item to ensure no double subsidies are granted.
For buildings with an owners’ corporation (“OC”), the OC shall be the applicant who submits the application to the URA. The applicant must submit a copy of the notice and the minutes of the owners' meeting together with the application form. For details of the resolutions that need to be passed, please refer to the application form.
For buildings owned by cooperatives or buildings provided with property management services by property management companies with a valid property management company license, the building owners should, depending on the situation, appoint and authorize the relevant persons to act as the applicant's representative, responsible for handling all matters related to the application and subsidy scheme. Please refer to Annex 1 " Application Notes for building without Owners’ Corporation" in the application form. However, for arrangements to apply for "this Scheme" through passed meeting resolutions, building owners can refer to the terms and requirements of the "Deed of Mutual Covenant" or the said Rules or related CBS by-laws.
The "Scheme" began accepting applications in April 2024 and there is currently no application deadline. However, the Urban Renewal Authority encourages owners to make financial arrangements for the next maintenance cycle as soon as possible. Establishing a special fund and making regular contributions can effectively achieve interest accumulation and compounding effects, so it is recommended to apply as early as possible.
The subsidy will be released in stages
- First stage subsidy – Preparation of Building Maintenance Manual
To appoint "Authorized Person" to produce a building maintenance manual. At the owner's meeting, a resolution must be passed to establish a special fund and make regular contributions for the cost of the maintenance works mentioned in the building maintenance manual. Applicants must submit the First Stage claim form along with relevant documents to the Urban Renewal Authority office in person or by mail.
- Second stage subsidy – Set-up of Special Fun
Within 6 months after the third year of the date of the contribution schedule, applicants must submit the Second Stage claim form along with relevant documents to the Urban Renewal Authority office in person or by mail.
The amount of subsidy from the "Scheme" will be released to the applicants in lump sum by stages. If all documents are in order, applicants generally receive the subsidy within a month.