Building and home maintenance: management, inspections, contractors and environment
Find the relevant records, responsibilities and official channels for management fees, inspections, minor works, drainage, pests, air and water.
Start with the task you are preparing for and work through the next steps.
Start with these three stages
A household problem may involve a flat, common parts, estate management or government enforcement. Identify that level before deciding whom to contact. This collection connects building records, contractor registers, maintenance and environmental tools. First recognise any immediate danger, then review notices, contracts and management documents for responsibilities. A report received by a department or a contractor appearing on a register does not establish that the defect has been repaired.
Record the location, observation date, impact and previous action and preserve notices, photos and bills. For fees and owners' corporations, examine the relevant management documents and records. For an inspection notice, identify the building, scope, deadline and responsible person. Mandatory building and window inspection are distinct procedures. Age alone or a neighbour's experience is insufficient to determine the notice or work needed in your own case.
Before work, identify its scope, required professional and contractor registration category. Match the person or company, status and permitted class against the official register. Obtain a quotation covering work, materials, payment and completion records. Avoid treating an unresolved alteration as ordinary decoration. For suspected unauthorised work, report the location and observations through the Buildings Department's channel without entering the property or attempting removal yourself.
Follow drainage, air-conditioner dripping and pests according to the actual source and relevant service channel, retaining changes and treatment records. For air-quality and water information, examine monitoring location, date and scope before deciding what to ask. These tools neither diagnose an individual's health nor establish the condition at every tap. Explain particular household needs to the appropriate professional service when the general information does not answer them.
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13 guides found
Checking a management-fee increase: budget, shares and accounts
Separate monthly management fees, reserve contributions and special levies, using the budget and your unit records to explain the difference.
Law and rightsOwners' corporation meetings: agenda, proxies and certified minutes
Check your role and meeting type, obtain the correct forms, and request specific records in writing with delivery evidence.
Housing and movingA mandatory building-inspection notice: inspector, scope and submissions
Appoint a Registered Inspector for the notice, check common parts, external walls and projections, and track repairs and formal certificates.
Housing and movingChecking a minor-works contractor: number, class, type and item
Match the proposed work to BD's register, distinguish company and individual registration, and retain the current check and submissions.
Housing and movingReporting suspected unauthorised works: location, records and safety
Record observable facts for BD's reporting channel, and check approved plans and minor-works records when assessing your own premises.
Housing and movingHome drains smell or run slowly: water seals, checks and maintenance
Record odours, blockage and visible defects, maintain floor-drain water seals using BD guidance, and arrange suitable inspection.
Everyday servicesAir-conditioner dripping: timing, location, FEHD and repair checks
Safely document dripping and its impact, involve management and use FEHD's official channel; owners check drainage connections and blockage.
Housing and movingSuspected bedbugs at home: identification, belongings and pest-control quotes
Record mattress and furniture evidence, organise belongings with FEHD guidance, and check professional treatment scope and follow-up.
Healthcare servicesUsing AQHI: general stations, roadside stations and outdoor plans
Check EPD's latest time, station and forecast, then read official advice for the person's group and activity intensity.
Housing and movingChecking drinking-water concerns: supply data, building plans and your tap
Distinguish WSD monitoring from the building's plumbing, record unusual conditions and request water-safety and maintenance records from management.
Housing and movingBuilding water-seepage complaints: the 2026 investigation process and repair evidence
Record the location and timing, identify the manager's, owner's and Joint Office's roles, and follow official letters and tests.
Housing and movingReceiving a mandatory window-inspection notice: qualified persons, quotations and completion
Use the notice's scope and deadline, verify the qualified person and repair contractor, and confirm formal submission beyond payment.
Home and everyday safetyCheck renovation contractors: minor works, electrical work, contracts and defects
Check the registration relevant to the actual work, then agree materials, payments, changes and defects; business registration alone does not establish competence.
Written for the next step
Compiled by HomeHK with context, practical steps, and official sources. Guides distinguish Hong Kong, Macao, and mainland arrangements. Dates describe the content's preparation, not daily official verification.
Check the official page before acting
Fees, eligibility, capacity, and timetables change. Each guide links to official information for a final check. Seek appropriate individual advice for legal, tax, or medical decisions.