URA calls for active participation for joint property management

Success in the Joint Property Management Scheme hinges on active participation from property owners, alongside essential collaboration among district organizations, according to the Urban Renewal Authority managing director Wai Chi-sing.

In his blog on Sunday, Wai said that a team formed by the URA and the Hong Kong Institute of Housing trialed the scheme in two aged buildings in Kowloon City in 2022, successfully hiring the same property management company for joint management services last year.

“Owners from both buildings are satisfied with the property management company’s performance and have noticed a significant improvement in the management conditions,” Wai said.

He reported that the authority submitted a summary to the government earlier this month, noting that over half of the city’s 23,000 buildings lack property management companies, with more than 30 percent classified as “three-nil” buildings.

Learning from the trial program in Kowloon City, Wai believes that successful implementation of “joint property management” depends on not just owners’ participation but also on collaboration from the government, professional organizations, community groups, and district councilors.

“Their proactive efforts will be crucial for ensuring the smooth implementation of the scheme and for effectively tackling the long-term management challenges faced by buildings in aged communities,” he noted.

He added that the government should leverage district organizations and councilors to proactively engage owners in aged districts, encouraging their participation and enhancing their building management and maintenance capacity.

Furthermore, Wai believes that establishing owners’ corporations is a crucial part of promoting the scheme. 

“Only with an owners’ corporation can a building sign a management service contract with a property management company.” 

He suggested that the government should consider incorporating the Joint Property Management Scheme into the Building Management Professional Advisory Service Scheme to help these buildings improve management efficiency and enhance living conditions.

On the regulatory front, Wai noted that the government could consider relaxing the requirement for unanimous consent from all owners to amend the Deed of Mutual Covenant, thus increasing participation.

(Cheng Wong)