The HK Home Improvement Guide

What is the Co-ordinated Maintenance of Buildings Scheme launched by Buildings Department?

Since November 2000, Buildings Department (BD), in association with six other government departments, including Home Affairs Department (HAD), Fire Services Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Water Supplies Department and Environmental Protection Department, has launched a Co-ordinated Maintenance of Buildings Scheme (CMBS) in various districts throughout Hong Kong to assist building owners and owners' corporations (OCs) in pursuing a comprehensive building management and maintenance programme. From 2005 onward, Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) which is a non-government organization is invited to provide free advice to the owners concerned (the last paragraph refers).

BD will co-ordinate actions of these departments to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness, with minimal inconvenience to owners and OCs. For the selected target buildings, BD will be responsible for -

• conducting, in association with other government departments, a survey of the target buildings and determining the scope and nature of improvement works required;

• arranging, through the relevant District Office, a meeting with the building owners or OCs to advise them of the results of the survey and explaining to them in detail the requisite maintenance and repair works and the technical issues involved; and

• initiating joint enforcement action with the other government departments, should the building owners or OCs not proceed with the required works within a reasonable period of time.

To further our assistance and facilitate the satisfactory completion of the improvement works, HAD will also advise building owners and OCs on management matters and proper OCs operations in order to assist them in resolving management problems.

HKHS will assist building owners and OCs in co-ordinating the required repair and improvement works, and to assist building owners who are in need to apply for low-interest loans under the Building Safety Loan Scheme to fund the required improvement works.

Can I apply for a loan under Building Safety Loan Scheme if my flat is co-owned?

Yes. One of the co-owners could act as the applicant for loan, with written consent from the other co-owner(s).

Can I apply for a loan under Building Safety Loan Scheme if my flat is a negative asset?

All registered owners of private buildings can apply for loans irrespective of the value of his property. He may be offered a loan and the loan amount would be determined by the approved cost of the repair project and the means of apportionment among owners who contribute towards the cost.

Can the OC of my building applies for loans under Building Safety Loan Scheme on behalf of the owners of the building?

At present, OCs are not empowered to borrow loans from the Building Safety Loan Scheme. Owners should submit applications for loans on an individual basis.

How long does it take to process a loan application under Building Safety Loan Scheme? Is there any pledge to respond to written enquiries?

Subject to provision of all required supporting documents, an applicant will normally be informed of the result or progress of the application in two weeks' time for the removal of Unauthorized Building Works and three weeks for repair works.

For written enquiries, an interim reply will be sent if a substantive response cannot be made in ten days. For complex cases, the response time may be extended by a further 30 days.