Section B: Estate Management and Rent Policy Chapter 10: Policy on Household Splitting Previously, any public rental housing (PRH) tenants having serious and deep-rooted disharmony among family members or other reasons deserving sympathetic consideration, the Housing Department (HD) will consider their requests for household splitting on individual merits subject to the recommendation of the Social Welfare Department (SWD). To handle the requests for household splitting more effectively, the Housing Authority revised the Policy on Household Splitting on 23.1.2001 as follows- Sharing households from compulsory categories Splitting requests raised by sharing households originated from the compulsory categories (single persons affected by clearance or redevelopment, who were arranged by HD or had chosen to share accommodation with unrelated or distantly related members) on grounds of need (e.g. overcrowding or inconvenience to flats sharer(s) brought by addition of family members, disputes, etc.) will be considered and treated with priority by the Department. The arrangements are as follows- (1) Upon establishment of genuine need, the applicants will not be required to undergo the comprehensive means test (CMT) but the party wishing to move to another PRH flat will have to pass the Domestic Property Test (DPT), i.e. during the period from the date of application up to the date of signing up a new tenancy for the additional flat allocated, all family members must not own any domestic property in Hong Kong. (2) Upon approval of splitting, the splinter household may be allocated another PRH flat, or he/she may choose to purchase a flat under any subsidized home ownership schemes (SHOS) using Green Form status (valid for one year) in lieu of the offer of a PRH flat. (3) Both the main and the splinter households will be subject to the Housing Subsidy Policy (HSP) and the Policy on Safeguarding Rational Allocation of Public Housing Resources (SRA) in normal turn. Sharing households on voluntary basis and family households Splitting requests raised by sharing households on voluntary basis and family households will be subject to the following arrangements- (1) Applying households should satisfy the following criteria- (a) the main and splinter households should be separately subject to the CMT with income and asset limits pitched at the Waiting List levels; and (b) both the main and splinter households should pass the DPT, i.e. during the period from the date of application up to the date of signing up a new tenancy for the additional flat allocated, all family members must not own any domestic property in Hong Kong. (2) If both the main and splinter households pass the above tests, the splitting request will be referred to the Integrated Family Service Centres (IFSCs) operated by SWD or subvented Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for assessment. Upon SWD's recommendation, the splinter household will  be offered a refurbished flat in the New Territories (NT). If the case is recommended by SWD and approved by the Chief Manager/Management, the splinter household may be offered a refurbished flat in urban/extended  urban area. They may choose to purchase a flat under SHOS by using Green Form status (valid for one year) in lieu of the offer of a PRH flat. (3) Upon allocation of another PRH flat, both the main and splinter households are required to declare their household income/assets every two years irrespective of their length of residence in PRH. Households paying normal or one and a half times net rent plus rates should declare their household income biennially. Those paying double net rent plus rates should declare their household assets biennially. Households with tenancies granted under the Policy on Grant of New Tenancy should continue to declare their household income and assets every two years. (4) No additional PRH flat will be offered if any party fails the CMT and/or DPT. The failing party should move out of the existing PRH flat. However, if the party passes the DPT but fails only the CMT, it may apply for a one-year temporary stay in the NT interim housing. Upon approval, the period of temporary stay should not exceed one year. During this period, market licence fees will be charged. (5) If application for splitting is rejected for failing the stipulated eligibility criteria, but one party is adamant to split from the household and it deserves sympathetic consideration, HD may refer it to SWD directly for consideration of  Compassionate Rehousing or other housing assistance, as appropriate. (6) If either or both parties fail the CMT and/or DPT, the household may be allowed to withdraw the splitting application and make its own accommodation arrangement. Related Issues (1) If under-occupation arises upon the departure of the main or the splinter household, the stayput household is required to transfer to a flat of suitable size. (2) This website provides general information for reference purpose only. For details, please contact the respective estate office/ property management office/ property services management office/ district tenancy management office.

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