The 8 gates certification must pass —
see each one clearly first.

Schedule 1 of the Basic Housing Units Ordinance sets out the minimum living-environment standards for subdivided units. Below we break down the most common gates one by one — what the standard is, where units usually get stuck, and what we look at when assessing. Final compliance must be certified on site by a Specified Professional.

Standard 01

Minimum Area

Each subdivided unit's internal floor area must be no less than 8 sq m (including the toilet).

Common blocker: borderline cases of rooms between 7–8 ㎡. What we look at: whether partitions can be altered or units merged as a remedy, or whether the room count must be reduced.

Standard 02

Ceiling Height

The clear ceiling height must be no less than 2.3 m, measured at the lowest point (e.g. the underside of a beam or false ceiling).

Common blocker: beams, false ceilings or pipes in older buildings lowering the clear height. What we look at: whether the ceiling or pipe routing can be adjusted.

Standard 03

Ventilation

Each unit must have an openable window, or a mechanical ventilation system meeting the standard.

Common blocker: no window (windowless room), insufficient opening area, or a wrongly formatted mechanical ventilation calculation. What we look at: which option carries a lower risk of rejection.

Standard 04

Separate Toilet

Each unit must have a separate toilet, containing a flushing toilet, wash basin, and a bathtub or shower.

Common blocker: shared toilets, a wash basin placed outside the toilet, or drainage changes involving unauthorized building works. What we look at: whether the drainage and waterproofing route is compliant.

Standard 05

Separate Water & Electricity Meters

Each subdivided unit must have a separate water meter and a separate electricity meter.

Common blocker: undivided pipes in older buildings, insufficient meter positions, or requiring owners' corporation consent. What we look at: which utility company supplies it and the direction of remediation cost.

Standard 06

Fire Protection & Escape Routes

FD30 fire doors, independent smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and compliant corridor width and escape routes.

Common blocker: insufficient corridors in tong lau, single-staircase buildings, or poorly positioned room doors. What we look at: whether the fire safety assessment requires adjusting the partitions.

The interior and facility photos above are illustrative references used to explain the standards; actual unit conditions are subject to the site. The certification authority is the Housing Bureau, and final on-site certification must be carried out by a Specified Professional (Registered Architect, Engineer or Building Surveyor).