JOINT OFFICE PILOT
The Joint Office's 16 July 2026 Pilot Scheme: Faster, but Still Some Open Questions
Quick answer
Per the government's press release (issued 17 June 2026) and the Joint Office's own site, a pilot scheme begins 16 July 2026: Stage 1 investigation gains infrared thermography and moisture meters, and the Joint Office can issue a 'Suggested Repair Notice' within about 14 working days of a complaint — without waiting out the standard 90-working-day process. If an owner misses the notice deadline, Stages 2 and 3 run concurrently instead of sequentially. Non-compliant owners face a minimum HK$17,000 cost-recovery for inspection fees. Note: the pilot's district and case-type scope is not stated on the published pages — we'll re-verify and update this page after go-live.
What the new scheme changes
- Stage 1 gains infrared thermography and moisture meters — an upgraded detection toolkit.
- A 'Suggested Repair Notice' can be issued within about 14 working days of a complaint.
- If an owner misses the notice deadline, Stages 2 and 3 run concurrently rather than waiting in sequence.
- Non-compliant owners face a minimum HK$17,000 cost-recovery for inspection fees.
What's still unclear
The published government pages don't yet state which districts or case types the pilot covers — whether it applies to every Joint Office case or is being trialled on a narrower set first. We'll re-verify after the 16 July 2026 go-live and update this page.
What this means for you
If you're the owner named as a seepage source, the new scheme means the process may move faster and the financial consequence (from HK$17,000) is more concrete — getting your own independent detection done early works in your favour. If you're the complainant, the new scheme is designed to speed up investigation, but is still subject to the same original failure gates, including Stage 1's 35% moisture threshold.
Been named as a seepage source? Ask us on WhatsApp what to do next
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Frequently asked questions
Does the new pilot mean the Joint Office now accepts every case?
No. The pilot only speeds up and strengthens how accepted cases are investigated — categories that were never in scope (like rain ingress through a roof, external wall or window) remain out of scope.
What is the HK$17,000 fee for?
Per the government press release, it's the minimum cost-recovery amount an owner must pay for inspection costs if they don't act on a 'Suggested Repair Notice' — a new financial consequence introduced by the pilot scheme.