The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) endorsed in 2000 to provide Structural Safety Guarantee (SSG) to the owners (Note 1) of newly constructed flats and the flats completed then under the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) and the Private Sector Participation Scheme (PSPS). Also, HA endorsed in 2016 to provide SSG to owners (Note 1) of newly constructed flats under the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH).
Coverage
The HA guarantees the structural stability and integrity of the building as a whole and undertakes all structural repairs (Note 2), including repair to concrete spalling and cracking, to any or all of the structural components (Note 3) deemed necessary to uphold the overall structural stability and integrity (Note 4) of the building (Note 5) within the 10-year SSG period (a 20-year SSG period for HOS courts in Tin Shui Wai Area).
Works of repairs not falling within the above-defined scope shall not be covered by this SSG, for example:
(1)
water seepage through ceilings, windows or walls, cracks in plaster and rendering, defects in wall and floor tiling and any other defects not related to the structural stability and integrity of the building;
(2)
defects arising from structural alterations, additions or changes within flats or improper usage of the building; and
(3)
defects arising from the following special risks, including:
explosions caused by inflammable gas;
outbreak of war, fire, earthquake or landslide;
acts or omission of a person for whom the HA is not responsible.
Submission of Application
Structural Safety Guarantee Repair Application Form, obtainable from the estate management office, should be duly completed and returned, together with proof of ownership (such as Demand Note for Rates) and photographs illustrating the defects, to the estate management office for follow-up within the guarantee period.
Workflow of Application Processing
The Housing Department (HD) will process all applications promptly. We will conduct site investigations and record the findings. Having scrutinised the findings, we will inform the owners or the estate management office in writing of whether the repairs fall within the scope of SSG. Should the repairs be covered by SSG, we will arrange repair works as soon as possible.
Standard of Reinstatement
Structural repair works will be carried out to reinstate the affected parts in the flat to their original standard at the time of building completion, with minimal alterations to the owner’s original decoration, furniture and fittings in the flat.
Owners’ Responsibility
To ensure that the HA can implement and perform its obligations under the SSG, owners shall allow the HA or its authorised personnel, upon production of their authorisation proof, to enter the premises concerned or any part thereof at reasonable times for inspection or carrying out related inspection and repair works.
Within the guarantee period, if the owners note that it is necessary for the HA to carry out structural repairs under SSG, they must inform the HA in the first instance. Otherwise, the HA may not be able to fulfill its obligations under SSG.
For enquiries, please contact the staff of the estate management office concerned.
HOS / PSPS Courts Sold Before 2007
For the HOS/PSPS courts sold before 2007, HA offers a 10-year SSG for each of these HOS/PSPS buildings (HOS / PSPS courts in Tin Shui Wai Area have a 20-year SSG). The guarantee period is counted from the date of building completion (Note 6). At present, the guarantee periods of all of the HOS/PSPS courts sold before 2007 have expired.
HOS / PSPS Courts Sold from 2007 and before 2014
HA ceased the sale of HOS/PSPS flats in 2003. However, from 2007 onwards, it launched again the sale of surplus unsold HOS / PSPS flats, among which were 28 brand new HOS/PSPS blocks (Note 7). HA offers a 10-year SSG for each of these HOS / PSPS buildings (HOS courts in Tin Shui Wai Area have a 20-year SSG). Their respective guarantee period is counted from the commencement date of ‘Flat Selection Period’ of the first sale phase of each block which are listed in chronological order as follows:
The Government announced the resumption of HOS in 2011. To address the public aspiration, HA launched HOS sale exercises in 2014 and GSH sale exercises since 2016 respectively. Amongst all, HA provides a 10-year SSG from the commencement date of the ‘Flat Selection Period’ for Tin Lee Court . For the remaining new HOS/GSH courts, 10-year SSG from the date of the building completion (Note 8) are provided as follows:
"Owners" refers to the legitimate owners of the domestic flats protected by this guarantee.
Note 2
While carrying out the repair works, the HA is only responsible for reinstating the affected parts of the flats to the original standard at the time when the building was completed.
Note 3
"Structural components" refers to the components (for example, columns, beams, load bearing walls and floor slabs) as specified clearly on the building structural plan. Concrete racks or walls not specified (for example, air-conditioner hoods / platforms, some external walls and internal partition walls, etc.) are not covered by this structural guarantee.
Note 4
"Structural stability and integrity" refers to the load bearing capacity of the building's foundation and structure as required by the design.
Note 5
"Building" excludes exterior works and subterranean water pipes, sewers, roads, ground surfaces and all other facilities in the external area.
Note 6
For HOS/PSPS flats completed before 2014, "the date of building completion" for the purpose of SSG refers to the date of completion certificate issued by the HD's Chief Architect for HOS flats.
Note 7
Among the 28 brand new HOS/PSPS blocks, the Structural Safety Guarantee periods of 25 blocks have already expired.
Note 8
For HOS/GSH flats completed in 2014 and onwards, "the date of building completion" for the purpose of SSG refers to the date of the Occupation Permit issued by the Independent Checking Unit under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Housing in respect of the buildings concerned.
