Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho on Saturday expressed confidence that owners of shoebox flats will have plenty of time to make necessary changes to their properties to meet new minimum standards currently being considered in Legco.

She noted that owners of flats that aren't up to scratch have a total of four years to register their flats and make the needed renovations to comply with new requirements such as a minimum size of eight square metres, the provision of windows and an individual toilet.

"Because we currently have a one-year registration period and a three-year grace period, there is a total of four years for everyone to discuss and digest the situation," Ho told an RTHK programme.

"We have teams of social workers available to help anyone who needs it. I certainly hope that within these four years, everyone will feel they have enough time to handle the situation -- if they'd put up too many partitions and they have to renovate, surely four years is enough time to renovate a flat, right?"

Ho also stressed that even landlords who don't plan to rent out their subdivided units face prosecution if they fail to register their properties.

The housing chief urged owners to apply quickly to take advantage of government waivers of a proposed HK$3,000 accredition fee per unit for early birds.

Ho also brushed aside suggestions that these upgraded 'basic housing units' will result in higher rents, saying she actually expects rents to go down as housing supply increases.

"In early 2025, compared to early 2024, the average rent for subdivided units in Hong Kong dropped by two percent, while general rents have increased. As we all know, market rents are rising, with an overall increase of eight percent," she said.

"Rents for subdivided units not only didn't rise, but fell by two percent, creating a gap of 10 percent. We have the land to build and complete public housing so people are moving in. Also, as more light public housing become available, people may choose to stop renting [shoebox flats], which will also have an impact."