Heads up tenants: Housing Authority announces rates concession starting April

Domestic tenants will receive $1.176b whilst non-domestic tenants will get $16.6m.

The Housing Authority declared the rates concession for the first two quarters in 2023 to 2024 to domestic and non-domestic tenants starting April.

In a statement, the housing authority was announced in the 2023 budget. 

The government will distribute $1.176b to domestic tenants whilst non-domestic tenants and licensees will receive a maximum of $16.6m.

Domestic tenants’ rates from 1 April to 30 September will be waived on a monthly basis subject to a 1,000 cap per quarter. A pro-rata basis will be used for tenancies that last for less than a month.

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The rates concession passing-on arrangement will apply to interim housing licensees as well. The rates concession for the authority’s non-domestic properties, except car parks, will also be passed on to non-domestic tenants or licensees.

Their monthly rates will be waived subject to a ceiling of $1,000 per quarter for each rateable non-domestic property, the government said.

For the authority's 18 single-operator markets, the operators will pass on the rates concession to their licensees in full, it also reminded.

These markets are in the estates of Ching Long, Choi Fook, Chun Yeung, Hoi Tat, Hung Fuk, Kwai Chung, Lei Muk Shue, Mun Tung, On Tai, Pak Tin, Queens Hill, Shek Mun, Shui Chuen O, Tin Yan, Yan Tin, Ying Tung, Kai Chuen and Ping Yan.