JOINT OFFICE GUIDE
The Joint Office Guide: 3 Things to Know Before You Complain
Quick answer
The Joint Office (a joint unit of the Buildings Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department) handles neighbour-to-neighbour seepage complaints, and from 16 July 2026 runs a new pilot process (infrared thermography and moisture meters at Stage 1, with a Suggested Repair Notice possible within about 14 working days). Not every case qualifies — rain ingress through roofs, external walls or windows is normally outside its scope; and even accepted cases stop if Stage 1 moisture never reaches 35%, the seepage is mild or intermittent, or the source can't be identified. The three guides below cover the new pilot scheme, the full investigation process and its failure gates, and upstairs-leak liability.
3 guides
- The 16 July 2026 pilot scheme explained — infrared thermography, the 14-day repair notice, HK$17,000 cost recovery.
- The full 3-stage investigation process — from a 1823 complaint to Stage 3 professional testing, and the 3 gates that stop it.
- Upstairs leak liability — who's responsible, the corporation's role, and free legal-advice routes.
The 16 July 2026 Pilot Scheme
Infrared thermography, the 14-day repair notice, HK$17,000 cost recovery.
Learn moreThe 3-Stage Process and Failure Gates
From a 1823 complaint to Stage 3 — the 3 conditions that stop the Joint Office.
Learn moreUpstairs Leak Liability
Who's responsible, the corporation's role, and free legal-advice routes.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Joint Office the same as the Buildings Department?
Not exactly. The Joint Office is a joint unit of the Buildings Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — the Buildings Department handles structural aspects, while FEHD handles public-health-related testing such as coloured-water drain tests.
The Joint Office has stopped investigating my case — what now?
You can commission a private leak-detection service or a surveyor report to find the source and keep written evidence, usable at an owners' corporation meeting or in legal proceedings.