Author: Xie, Jinshui
Title: A study of subdivided units in Hong Kong from a supply-side perspective
Advisors: Yu, Tit Wan Ann (BRE)
Degree: M.Sc.
Year: 2021
Subject: Low-income housing -- China -- Hong Kong
Lodging-houses -- China -- Hong Kong
Landlord and tenant -- China -- Hong Kong
Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations
Department: Department of Building and Real Estate
Pages: viii, 76 pages : color illustrations
Language: English
Abstract: Hong Kong has been renowned as an international city full of many ultra-wealthy people. However, more and more low-income households have been forced to reside in extremely small houses known as subdivided units (SDUs) due to increasing rentals in the private market and the long waiting list for public rental housing (PRH). Tenants living in SDUs have to endure potential health and safety risks, but they also suffer from heavy rental pressures. The SDUs problems need to be solved immediately and intelligently. Apart from studies commissioned by the government, many scholars and social parties have conducted research on SDUs. Although numerous studies have revealed the deplorable conditions of SDUs and provided a lot of suggestions on how to tackle this problem, little research has been done to interpret supply-side activities. The purpose of this study is to have a comprehensive understanding of SDUs in Hong Kong and reveal how the landlords of SDUs capture the profits. The research methods include a literature review, archival research, in-depth interview and case study. The study's key findings are in the following folds. Firstly, various individuals and organisations with intricate relations contribute to the materialisation of SDU. Subsequently, the results unravel how the landlords convert their flats into SDUs from the inception stage to the operation stage. Last but not least, estate agents and organisations imparting systematic know-how about property division play a vital role in the whole process of SDU conversion. This study is a pioneer attempt to analyse the supply side of SDUs. These significant results fill the knowledge gap of SDUs research and enrich our understanding of the SDUs phenomenon.
Rights: All rights reserved
Access: restricted access

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