A. Common Area Repair Works Subsidy
The Common Area Repair Works Subsidy is a maintenance subsidy provided to encourage owners or owners’ corporations to carry out comprehensive maintenance works to the common areas of buildings.
Eligibility
The Subsidy aims primarily to assist owners of private residential or composite (i.e. commercial and residential) buildings at least 30 years old. One further criterion is that the average rateable value per residential unit at the building must not exceed $187,000 per annum for properties in the urban area (including Shatin, Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan) or $143,000 per annum for properties in the New Territories. The buildings under the Subsidy must concurrently join “Smart Tender” Building Rehabilitation Facilitates Services which is subsided by Government. Buildings with single ownership or of three storeys or below are not eligible for the Subsidy.
Buildings with or without an owners’ corporation
For buildings with an owners’ corporation, the management committee has to pass a resolution resolving to apply for the Common Area Repair Works Subsidy and to authorize a representative to sign the relevant documents. The owners’ corporation should be the applicant submitting the application to the Urban Renewal Authority.
For buildings without an owners’ corporation, the Government considers applications from owners on a case-by-case basis. Generally speaking, the owners of the building should hold a meeting to resolve to apply for the Subsidy and to authorize at least two representatives to sign the relevant documents.
Use of the Subsidy
The Subsidy is to be applied to common areas works relating to structural safety, sanitary facilities and environmental friendly provisions.
The maximum amount of the Subsidy depends on the total number of units in the subject building:
|
Number of units |
Subsidy amount |
|
20 units or below |
30% of the approved cost of works, up to $150,000 |
|
21 – 49 units |
20% of the approved cost of works, up to $150,000 |
|
50 or above |
20% of the approved cost of works, or maximum $3,000 per unit, capped at $1,200,000 for each owners’ corporation |
If the maintenance works include green/ environmental friendly works, the building will enjoy the following subsidy (the Green Item Subsidy):
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Number of units
Subsidy amount
20 units or below
30% of the approved cost of green items and related consultancy fee, up to $75,000
21 – 49 units
20% of the approved cost of green items and related consultancy fee, up to $75,000
50 or above
20% of the approved cost of green items and related consultancy fee; or not more than $1,500 per unit, up to $600,000