One problem Hong Kong has failed to tackle over the years is the case of deadbeat renters. I remember seeing a mini documentary on how professional deadbeat renters or "租霸"s, take advantage of legal loopholes and terrorize small-time landlords. They refuse to pay rent, refuse to vacate the property, and when they do finally leave, they destroy existing appliances and facilities. Did I mention they don't pay rent?
The law "allows" these people to wreck such havoc because the law is designed to protect renters. They didn't want to see people being put on to the street because they were late with a rent payment.
Are landlords powerless? They can go to court and have a judge force the renter to leave and pay up the owed rental fees. However, this application process can take up to six months. The deadbeat renter often gets off with about one year's worth of free housing. They may pay the first two month's worth of rent, then just stop paying after that. The landlord doesn't realize it's a problem until perhaps a month after that, and pretty soon it gets to be a year before a judge forces the renter to leave. Of course, the deadbeat renter will destroy everything they possibly can in the apartment, including sinks, toilet bowls, air conditioners, and even the walls.
Just a few weeks ago, an incident happened which was similar to the documentary I saw five years ago. The government has done nothing to improve this situation, and these issues never make front page news.
Where are gangsters when you need them?
What non-lethal actions could a landlord possibly do to make the tenant leave on their own?
Call the cops - not only do the police have no power over these disputes, they often don't bother to step in between a landlord and a tenant.
Cut the power - this has not worked, as the renter would simply have the power reconnected under his/her own name.
Secretly let loose cockroaches/mice/foul smelling stuffs into the apartment - this might actually work, but the owner will have to do it strategically. First it must be on a day when no one is home. It can prove to be tricky, as even deadbeat renters hire domestic helpers. Lock picking may be required, as renters like this are overly suspicious and install their own locks. The owner must also let the loose only a couple at a time, as not to cause suspicion.
In the end, new legislation is ultimately required to solve the issue once and for all.
The law "allows" these people to wreck such havoc because the law is designed to protect renters. They didn't want to see people being put on to the street because they were late with a rent payment.
Are landlords powerless? They can go to court and have a judge force the renter to leave and pay up the owed rental fees. However, this application process can take up to six months. The deadbeat renter often gets off with about one year's worth of free housing. They may pay the first two month's worth of rent, then just stop paying after that. The landlord doesn't realize it's a problem until perhaps a month after that, and pretty soon it gets to be a year before a judge forces the renter to leave. Of course, the deadbeat renter will destroy everything they possibly can in the apartment, including sinks, toilet bowls, air conditioners, and even the walls.
Just a few weeks ago, an incident happened which was similar to the documentary I saw five years ago. The government has done nothing to improve this situation, and these issues never make front page news.
Where are gangsters when you need them?
What non-lethal actions could a landlord possibly do to make the tenant leave on their own?
Call the cops - not only do the police have no power over these disputes, they often don't bother to step in between a landlord and a tenant.
Cut the power - this has not worked, as the renter would simply have the power reconnected under his/her own name.
Secretly let loose cockroaches/mice/foul smelling stuffs into the apartment - this might actually work, but the owner will have to do it strategically. First it must be on a day when no one is home. It can prove to be tricky, as even deadbeat renters hire domestic helpers. Lock picking may be required, as renters like this are overly suspicious and install their own locks. The owner must also let the loose only a couple at a time, as not to cause suspicion.
In the end, new legislation is ultimately required to solve the issue once and for all.
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