To address the needs of subdivided unit (SDU) households facing imminent rehousing needs (such as those in urgent need of temporary accommodation due to the landlords’ repossession of the units), and to utilise housing resources more effectively, starting from 1 July 2026, the Housing Bureau (HB) will, under very exceptional circumstances, provide temporary accommodation for SDU households affected through the allocation of “reserve units” so as to allow them sufficient time to identify other suitable accommodation.
This arrangement applies to transitional housing (TH) projects in the urban and extended urban areas (excluding the three projects using rooms in guesthouses as TH in the urban area). The availability of “reserve units” may vary depending on the actual turnover of units in the TH projects.
SDU households with imminent rehousing needs in need of “reserve units” are required to undergo a review by the District Service Teams (DSTs) appointed by HB to verify their imminent rehousing needs. Following the review, DSTs will forward the application forms to the Task Force on Transitional Housing for coordination and approval. Eligibility criteria and application details for “reserve units” are set out in the Application Form 
. “Reserve units” cannot be applied through the “TH-E” platform of transitional housing.
The emergency transitional period for staying in “reserve unit” is three months, during which tenants will pay the same rent as “Category A/B tenants”. In addition, the relevant operating organisations may charge an additional cleaning/administration fee (though this fee will not exceed half a month’s rent for the relevant unit, and will be clearly stated in the tenancy agreement) depending on the circumstances of individual projects. The relevant operating organisations will assist tenants, during their stay, in applying for formal admission to TH as “Category A/B/C tenants”. Successful applicants can continue to reside in TH under the tenancy for “Category A/B/C tenants”. Given that the tenants have already received immediate support for their imminent housing needs under exceptional circumstances, those who are verified as ineligible as general TH tenants must move out upon expiry of the three-month emergency transitional period and seek alternative accommodation. The relevant operating organisations will assist them in relocating to other accommodation, such as transit centres or suitable accommodation in the private market.
Please contact the relevant DSTs via the information provided on the following webpage if necessary:
https://www.hb.gov.hk/eng/policy/housing/policy/tenancy_control/dist_serv_teams.html