For Subdivided Flat Tenants, No Cut In Bills Or Rent

People who are living in subdivided flats continue to pay jacked up rates for electricity and water even as their livelihoods have been hit hard by the economic downturn and many of them say they are scared to ask for a rent reduction fearing they will be chucked out by the landlords, says a survey.

Hong Kong is experiencing one of the worst economic slumps as lockdown forced by coronavirus outbreaks continue to devastate economies across the globe.

The city is also witnessing one of its worst unemployment rates due to the crisis and many poor people who reside in subdivided flats are struggling to make both ends meet.

From January to April, the Society for Community Organisation (Soco) interviewed 192 people living in sub-divided flats and found that their landlords had continued charging them unreasonably high utility rates.

For example, they paid HK$15 per unit of water on average with some paying as high as HK$20. But the official water charge is HK$12 per unit.

These tenants are also paying their landlords HK$1.6 to HK$2 for each unit of electricity though the official tariff is HK$1 per unit.

A woman surnamed Cheung said there is no supply of seawater at her old building, so she had to flush her toilet with fresh water. She said to save money, she would only flush her toilet after a few visits though she knew it is not hygienic.

She said she is paying HK$4,700 per month for the partitioned flat. She said the landlord refused to cut the rent, asking her to move out if she wants.

Another woman surnamed Au, who lives with her three kids at a unit on a rooftop, said their electricity bill shot up as they had to turn on the air-conditioner from noon to 5am. She said it is because her children are staying at home most of the time during the class suspension.

She said in order to save money; she would get up at 2am and turn off the air conditioner in her bedroom.

She said her husband is a renovation worker, and has only worked for 20 days in the past three months. She said they are using their savings to pay the monthly rent of HK$7,600, but they dare not ask if their landlord for a rent cut, worrying that they will be thrown out.

A community organiser with Soco, Chik Kui-wai, suggested that a working group recently set up by the government to study rent controls in subdivided flats should also look into the problem of excessive water and electricity charges at such places.