Govt recovers 800 PRH units from well-off tenants, an eightfold increase

The number of public rental housing (PRH) units recovered by the Housing Authority under the Well-off Tenants Policy has increased eightfold year-on-year, according to Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin.

In response to a lawmaker's inquiry on Wednesday, the housing chief noted that 20,440 units were retrieved by the Housing Department for various reasons in the 2024/25 year, representing an over 50 percent increase compared to the previous year.

It was highlighted that tenants of 800 units moved out due to failure to return the required declaration form on income and assets, or because their family income or total household net asset value exceeded the limits set by the policy.

Around 340 tenants who owned domestic properties in Hong Kong voluntarily surrendered their units during the year, a threefold rise compared to 90 tenants in the previous year.

Meanwhile, the government recorded a total of 40,040 well-off tenants, marking a 16 percent increase compared to last year. 

Among them, 34,710 are required to pay 1.5 times the net rent plus rates, as their income exceeds two times but no more than three times the prevailing income limits.

An additional 5,330 households whose income exceeds three times but no more than five times the prevailing income limits will pay double the net rent plus rates.

Furthermore, the Housing Authority reported 5,820 recovered units where principal tenants purchased subsidized sale flats, a 50 percent increase compared to the 2020/21 fiscal year.

About 1,700 units were recovered due to tenants breaching tenancy agreements, marking a 70 percent surge compared to four years ago.