Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority will examine whether legislation should be introduced requiring landlords to create periodic maintenance plans for their blocks and ensure sufficient funds for the work.

The study would also cover the possibility of creating a new statutory body to supervise building restoration and maintenance, according to the authority’s retiring head, Wai Chi-sing.

Wai stressed the importance of “preventive maintenance” by homeowners while also pledging the authority would play a “facilitator’s” role to study ways to extend the lifespan of buildings.

He outlined the ideas in a blog entry published on the authority’s website on his final day as the authority’s managing director on Saturday.

Wai said the authority would embark on a study for the New Strategy for Building Rehabilitation 2.0 this year, following the completion of the previous one in 2020.

“Specifically, we will explore whether to require landlords to formulate periodic maintenance and repair plans for their buildings, and to formulate arrangements for budgeting and contributions to maintenance funds through making laws or amending relevant regulations related to building maintenance,” Wai wrote.