Free Mediation Service Scheme for Building Management *

Introduction

Building management may be complicated and tedious. Owners, tenants, owners' corporations (OCs) and property management companies may have different views on day-to-day building management and maintenance work. Ineffective communication and coordination may lead to disputes or even litigation.

In order to assist relevant parties in resolving disputes over building management more promptly and effectively, and to save the cost and time incurred in legal actions, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) launched the“Free Mediation Service Pilot Scheme for Building Management” in collaboration with the Hong Kong Mediation Centre and the Hong Kong Mediation Council since March 2015 for a period of two years. Accredited professional mediators were deployed to assist the parties concerned in resolving disputes through mediation.

Free Mediation Service Scheme for Building Management

To further promote mediation services in the community, the HAD and the two mediation organisations agreed to regularise the Pilot Scheme and jointly implement the“Free Mediation Service Scheme for Building Management” from March 2017. The scope of service will be expanded to cover disputes between OCs and commercial operators over the management of common parts of composite commercial/residential buildings. The HAD will arrange for professional mediators to provide a maximum of 15 hours of free mediation services for those parties intended to resolve their disputes over building management through mediation, with a view to assisting them in reaching a settlement agreement.

Commencement Date

1 March 2017

Venue and Time for Formal Mediation Meetings

District Venue Time
Wan Chai HAD Meeting Rooms
(31/F, Southorn Centre,
130 Hennessy Road,
Wan Chai, Hong Kong)
Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays)
(Meeting time to be arranged by the mediators)
Yau Tsim Mong Meeting Rooms of Urban Renewal Resource Centre
(6 Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon)
Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays)
(Meeting time to be arranged by the mediators)
Remark: Venue of the meeting will be arranged by the HAD depending on the actual situation

For details, please refer to the Application Form, Application Guide and Publicity Poster, or click here to register. HAD will acknowledge receipt within 10 working days and notify respective District Office for follow up.

Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact the 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.