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The Housing Authority's vacated Public Rental Housing (PRH) flats will be handed over to prospective tenants choosing the refurbishment allowance within two weeks following the introduction of a new Accelerated Refurbishment On-Demand Scheme from December 1 this year.
The authority's Subsidised Housing Committee today (July 27) endorsed the scheme aiming at shortening the letting cycle from 57 days to 34 days on average.
"Early intake for prospective tenants will improve customer service and reduce the vacant period of flats, therefore a better utilisation of the valuable housing resources," Chairman of the SHC Mr Michael Choi Ngai-min said.
Under the new scheme, Mr Choi said, authorised fittings in good condition such as marble or Corian sink counters and wall-mounted kitchen cabinets would be retained for the next tenant to reduce redecoration debris.
"The refurbishment working process will also be streamlined," he said.
"Housing Department's technical staff will inspect the rental flats five days before the out-going tenants move out and prepare the works orders to be issued within three days after the tenants have moved out. The contractor will accelerate the completion of the required works within 14 days after the prospective tenant has confirmed accepting the allocation and the refurbishment allowance," Mr Choi said.
It is anticipated that the refurbishment works of 5,000 flats per year can be accelerated under the streamlined work process. The estimated reduction in rent forgone due to void will be about $5.6 million. Excluding the cost of accelerated works, the authority will earn a net saving of $4.36 million per year.
Under the current Vacant Flat Refurbishment Allowance Scheme, an allowance equivalent to at least three months rent, depending on the age of the flat, is offered to prospective tenants willing to take up minor "touch up" works of their rental units themselves instead of having the works undertaken by the department's contractors.
The accelerated refurbishment process will not apply to prospective tenants who choose to have the 'touch up' works undertaken by department contractors and the refurbishment works will be processed under the existing arrangements.
Ends/Thursday, July 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:47
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