Hong Kong’s coffin homes have become difficult to ignore as a symbol of just how severe the city’s housing crisis has become. They highlight the stark contrast between Hong Kong’s immense wealth and the harsh living conditions faced by many of its poorest residents. Although the government has begun taking steps to improve housing conditions, the underlying problems — a shortage of affordable housing and limited supply — remain far from resolved.
Coffin homes, also known as cage homes, are among the most basic living arrangements imaginable. Residents often have just enough space for a mattress and a few personal belongings. Many are created by dividing apartments into tiny rooms or constructing wire-mesh cubicles placed side by side, resulting in extremely cramped living conditions. The roots of this crisis stretch back decades. Rapid urban growth, a rising population, and a chronic shortage of land pushed housing demand far beyond available supply. Property prices climbed so high that conventional apartments became unattainable for many low-income residents, forcing them to accept whatever accommodation they could afford. Hong Kong has consistently ranked among the world’s most expensive property markets, making its housing inequality especially visible.
Estimates suggest that more than 200,000 people live in subdivided units spread across approximately 110,000 spaces. Those living in these accommodations are often elderly residents, migrants, low-wage workers, students, and others with few affordable housing options. Conditions inside are extremely challenging, with many units measuring only a few square feet — sometimes barely large enough to fit a mattress.
In September 2025, Hong Kong passed new legislation aimed at eliminating cage homes and substandard subdivided apartments, partly in response to pressure from Beijing to improve living conditions for ordinary residents. The law establishes a minimum size of 86 square feet for what it defines as “basic housing units” and requires every unit to include a private bathroom, adequate lighting, proper ventilation, and fire safety measures. Landlords with existing units must register them and have been given a transition period to bring their properties into compliance.
Not everyone believes the reforms will produce the intended results. Critics argue the policy could make life even more difficult for the low-income residents it is designed to help. If landlords decide that upgrading non-compliant units is too expensive and instead choose to close them, the supply of low-cost housing could shrink, rents could rise, and existing tenants could be displaced with few alternatives. Advocacy groups warn that without enough replacement housing available, thousands of vulnerable residents could end up in an even more precarious situation.
Coffin homes continue to exist because they fill a housing gap that nothing else currently addresses. For many residents, they remain a last resort in one of the world’s most expensive cities. While the new legislation represents an important step toward improving housing standards, eliminating cage homes alone will not solve Hong Kong’s broader affordability crisis. Long-term success will ultimately depend on whether the city can build enough affordable housing to provide residents with realistic alternatives before these tiny units disappear.
