WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1992.
WHERE NECESSARY, THE SECRETARY SAID THEY WOULD SEEK CLARIFICATION AND SUPPORTING EVIDENCE FROM THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT (RVD), AND ADJUSTMENTS IN RESPECT OF CASES THAT WERE JUSTIFIED WERE MADE AS A RESULT OF THOSE CONSULTATION PROCESS.
"EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT LIAISON BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE, HE SAID.
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MR YEUNG SAID UNTIL RECENTLY, NEITHER THE HA NOR THE RECEIVED ANY OBJECTIONS OR APPEALS AGAINST RATES FROM PUBLIC TENANTS.
RVD HAD HOUSING
HE SAID THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RENT INCREASE FOR 69 POST-1973 ESTATES HAD GENERATED SOME CONCERN OVER THE RATES ISSUE.
"IT HAS THEREFORE BEEN DECIDED THAT THE RATES NOTICE AND EXPLANATORY NOTES WILL BE DISPLAYED WITHIN EACH HOUSING BLOCK FROM MARCH 1992 ONWARDS, SO AS TO GIVE TENANTS SUFFICIENT NOTICE AND TO ENABLE THEM TO LODGE AN OBJECTION, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER IT WOULD BRING ABOUT ANY DIRECT GAIN TO THEM IN RELATION TO THEIR INCLUSIVE RENT, HE SAID.
H
IF INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS FELT AGGRIEVED, THE SECRETARY SAID THEY MIGHT TAKE THEIR OBJECTION TO THE COMMISSIONER RATING AND VALUATION IN APRIL AND MAY EACH YEAR.
OF
"IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, IN ITS CAPACITY OF A LANDLORD, TO LODGE AN APPEAL AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S FINAL ASSESSMENT SINCE ITS VIEWS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT," MR YEUNG SAID.
IN ASSESSING THE RATES OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION FOLLOWS THE SAME PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA AS IN ASSESSING PROPERTIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
MR YEUNG EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE RATING ORDINANCE, THE RATEABLE VALUE OF A PROPERTY WAS AN ESTIMATE OF ITS OPEN MARKET RENTAL VALUE.
"THIS REMAINS THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY OWNER-OCCUPIED, RENTED AT FULL MARKET RENT OR AT CONCESSIONARY RENT, OR SUBJECT TO STATUTORY CONTROL, HE NOTED.
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IN ARRIVING AT AN ASSESSMENT, MR YEUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE COMMISSIONER TOOK INTO ACCOUNT FACTORS WHICH AFFECTED THE RENTAL VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING ITS LOCATION, FACILITIES, ENVIRONMENT AND MANAGEMENT.
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