2. The 2026 new investigation procedures

2. The 2026 new investigation procedures 

From 16 July 2026, the Joint Office introduced new procedures intended to improve the speed of water seepage investigations.  

Stage I – Confirmation of water seepage condition 

Under these procedures, the investigation begins with Stage I, which is essentially a confirmation stage. Within 6 working days of receiving a water seepage report, the Joint Office’s staff will contact the complainant to arrange an inspection of the affected premises. The Joint Office’s staff will visit the affected premises, inspect the reported seepage, and record objective data using tools such as infrared thermography and electronic moisture meters. 

A key practical threshold is the moisture content at the seepage location. The Joint Office generally proceeds further only where the moisture content is at least 35%, because seepage below that level may be regarded as too mild to justify a formal statutory investigation. 

If Stage I findings preliminarily establish that seepage originates from an upper unit and the moisture content is equal to or exceeding 35%, the Joint Office will issue a Notification Letter to the owner or occupier of that suspected upper unit. The letter requires the owner to carry out inspections and necessary repair works within 28 calendar days. Its purpose is to alert the suspected responsible owner at an earlier stage and encourage voluntary rectification before the matter escalates into formal enforcement. This procedure significantly shortens the time for notifying owners, reducing the period from about 71 days under previous practice to approximately 14 working days from the initial report. 

Stage II – Initial investigation  

If the seepage continues after the 28-day period specified in the Notification Letter, the Joint Office proceeds with further investigation. Under the new procedures, Stage II and Stage III investigations may be conducted in parallel. Stage II is usually carried out by staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and may involve moisture monitoring and colour water tests at drainage outlets, and reversible pressure tests on water supply pipes if continuous dripping is observed.  

Stage III – Professional investigation 

Stage III is handled by outsourced consultants and may involve more advanced non-destructive testing methods, such as microwave tomography, where site conditions permit. However, if site conditions are unsuitable, such as when there is concrete spalling, false ceilings, or tile finishes, consultants will instead use conventional testing methods, including ponding tests for floor slabs and spray tests for walls at the suspected premises. The parallel approach is intended to reduce delay and move the case more quickly toward a conclusive finding.