Tokyo, Hong Kong residents face soaring apartment maintenance fees

In Tokyo, a 54‑year‑old man and his 52‑year‑old wife bought a tower condominium eight years ago for about ¥72 million. Their mortgage payment of roughly ¥180,000 a month was considered affordable, but management fees and reserve‑fund contributions have risen sharply—from around ¥40,000 to nearly ¥80,000 monthly. Combined with the loan, their total housing cost now exceeds ¥260,000 a month. The wife exclaimed, “こんなに上がるなんて聞いてない…” (“I never heard it would rise so much”).

In Hong Kong, a family living in a private flat that is over 20 years old faces a projected major repair bill that could reach up to HK$500,000. The parents plan to sell the flat before the repair, considering moving to a subdivided unit, a nursing home, or mainland China. Their adult children, currently unemployed, expressed disappointment, saying “本身諗住會住成世唔洗愁” (“I thought we would live here for life without worry”). The situation has sparked online debate about alternative financing options and the viability of staying in the family home.