Free Legal Advice Service on Building Management *

Introduction

In the course of daily building management, owners may encounter various legal matters, e.g. the interpretation of the Building Management Ordinance (Cap.344) and the Deed of Mutual Covenant, the powers and responsibilities of an owners' corporation, apportionment of maintenance fee and management fee, etc. To provide assistance to owners and concerned bodies, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) has, in collaboration with the Law Society of Hong Kong, launched the Free Legal Advice Service on Building Management (the Service) to offer verbal legal advice by appointment free of charge.

Commencement Date

2 January 2015

Scope of Services

• Legal advice on building management
• Meeting will be arranged by HAD for the solicitor volunteer to meet with the applicant for the Service

Targets

• Owners' Corporations
• Owners' Committees
• Members of Management Committees/Executive Committees of owners/residents organisations
• Owners
• Tenants/Occupiers

Venue and time for interview with solicitor volunteer

District	Venue	Time
Wan Chai	Meeting Room, HAD 31/F., Southorn Centre 130 Hennessy Road Wan Chai	Mondays and Thursdays (except public holidays) (1st session : 6:30pm – 7:15pm) (2nd session : 7:30pm – 8:15pm)
Yau Tsim Mong	Meeting Room Urban Renewal Resource Centre 6 Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui Kowloon	Tuesdays and Fridays (except public holidays) (1st session : 6:30pm – 7:15pm) (2nd session : 7:30pm – 8:15pm)

Points to note

• The applicant shall approach the respective District Office of the concerned building. He/she has to complete the application form and to submit relevant information and documents if he/she wishes to seek legal advice under the Service.
• Application will not be processed if the applicant fails to provide sufficient information and documents.
• The applicant can meet the solicitor volunteer with a maximum of three other persons. The duration of each interview would not be more than 45 minutes.
• Applications will not be entertained under the following circumstances:
  • the applicant has been granted legal aid by the Legal Aid Department;
  • the applicant has engaged legal professional(s) to deal with the case;
  • the questions intended for advice have been made by another applicant from the same building;
  • the applicant has received the Service in the preceding 3 years from the date of his/her present application ; and
  • the questions intended for advice have been made by the applicant in his/her previous application(s).
• The applicant agrees and understands that under no circumstances shall HAD be liable to the applicant or any other person in respect of the Service or any advice or opinion given under the Service.
• The applicant agrees and understands that the advice given by the solicitor volunteer does not represent the viewpoint of the HAD.

Please refer to the Application form for details. Interested person may return the completed application form together with necessary documents to respective District Office, or may click here to register. Upon receipt of the completed application e-form, HAD will acknowledge receipt within 10 working days and notify respective District Office for follow up.

Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact District Building Management Liaison Teams of the respective District Offices.

* The service will NOT accept applications unrelated to disputes concerning the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) (BMO), the Codes of Practice under the BMO or the Deed of Mutual Covenant of the building, nor applications concerning water seepage.