The government has proposed new measures to improve the inspection process for water seepages as part of an attempt to encourage property owners to carry out repair work as early as possible.

The Joint Office for Investigation of Water Seepage Complaints, formed by the food and environmental hygiene and buildings departments, addresses complaints in private buildings.

Last year, the joint office completed 15,600 inspections and issued approximately 5,000 nuisance notices to units confirmed to be the source of leaks.

Over 99 percent of the nuisance notices involved units directly above the complainants' flats, with nuisance notices taking an average of 71 days to be issued.

The government has proposed adopting thermal imaging to fast-track preliminary water-seepage inspections.

That will ensure there is no need to physically enter the units suspected of causing the problem.

The joint office will then send a notification letter to the owners of the flat that is the suspected source of the seepage, suggesting they conduct a self-inspection and carry out repairs.

If no improvement work is done within 28 days of receiving the letter, the department will enter the unit concerned to conduct comprehensive, professional tests.

If the unit concerned is confirmed to be the source of the seepage, a nuisance notice will then be issued to the owner, requiring them to carry out repair works. Those who fail to comply may face prosecution.

The government also plans to recover the testing fees from the owner of the unit causing the nuisance.

A spokesman said the fee is expected to be around HK$17,000, but stressed that the goal is not to cut costs for the government.

Instead, the new arrangements are intended to ensure responsibility on the part of owners of upstairs units and that they address seepages sooner, he said.

The measures will be discussed by legislators at a joint meeting of the food safety and environmental hygiene and development panels next Tuesday.

The government hopes the new arrangements can take effect by mid-2026.

The joint office also said it would enhance public education in this regard, including publishing a list of professionals providing water seepage testing and maintenance services on its website this year.

Eligible owners who receive an improvement notice can also apply for loans from the Buildings Department and subsidies from the Urban Renewal Authority to support repair works.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden