Nuisance tenants face being kicked out

Public housing tenants who litter, cause noise nuisance, and obstruct corridors three times will be kicked out as the Housing Authority will implement a more stringent marking scheme for estate management enforcement starting next Monday.

Under the stricter marking scheme, penalty points for nine misdeeds related to environmental hygiene, public safety and serious breaches of tenancy agreements will be increased.

The penalty points for littering, disposing of refuse indiscriminately, allowing animals and livestock under charge to foul public places with feces, obstructing corridors or stairs with sundry items rendering cleansing difficult, and causing noise nuisance will be increased to seven points from the current five points.

Under the marking scheme, tenants of public rental housing or interim housing who have been allotted 16 points within two years, will have their tenancy terminated.

It means tenants who breached the rules for three times within two years will be kicked out from their flats.

A heavier penalty will be imposed on four other misdeeds, including dumping or disposing of home accessories indiscriminately at refuse collection points, within building premises or in public areas; damaging sewage pipes causing leakage to the flats below; damaging or stealing public property; and using leased premises for illegal purposes. Penalty points will be increased from the current seven to 15 points.

The authority also widens the scope of two other offenses, in which "refusing repair of leaking pipes or sanitary fittings responsible by the tenant" will be amended to "failure to repair pipes or sanitary fittings for which the tenant is responsible or to rectify unauthorized alterations as demanded by the Housing Authority."

"Illegal hawking of cooked food" will be changed to "illegal hawking of commodities or services; supplying, promoting, soliciting or advertising of commodities or services that is commercial in nature but without Housing Authority's prior approval."

A spokesman of the authority called on tenants to maintain domestic and environmental hygiene in public housing estates, take good care of public facilities, and be cordial to neighbors.

"The Housing Authority will also step up publicity on the revised Marking Scheme and remind public rental housing households that they should be public-spirited and empathetic to their neighbors and build a better community together," he said.