Hi all,
I'm curious to know if anyone here knows the specifics of HK's housing/tenancy laws and might be able to help me out with a problem.
I live in a 1st floor studio apartment with a large outdoor terrace. I have been renting the apartment for around 10 months, and this week, work started on building renovation (bamboo scaffolding, etc.), which will continue for the next 3 months.
This scaffolding is enormously intrusive (it's literally on the terrace outside my back door), removing all privacy (now have to keep the curtains closed). It also means that the two awnings on the terrace (which were vitally important for me to store items out of the rain that won't fit in the tiny flat) can no longer be used, leaving my possessions open to the elements.
I informed my landlord, who stated that since these were building management issues and were out of their control, there was nothing that could be done regarding terms of contract during the works.
Frankly, knowing HK and how it favours property owners, I suspect this is true, and that I've not got a leg to stand on in terms of rebuttal, but if anyone more in the know believes that I have the right to pursue this further, I'd love to hear from them!
Essentially, these works have cut the liveable size of my flat in half, and yet I'm expected to maintain full payment for the duration of the works — during which time items of mine might well be destroyed by the rain.
Is there any viable route open to me here?
Many thanks