Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn announced the formation of a new Building Maintenance Support and Services Council by the end of the year, to assist homeowners with their building repairs. This new council will take over from the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in handling building-upkeep subsidy schemes and will provide a more comprehensive service, including arranging and evaluating tenders. Unlike the current URA's Smart Tender platform, which only assists in soliciting bids, the new council will also monitor the performance of consultants and contractors and offer independent advice to homeowners. Owners using government maintenance subsidies will be required to choose from recommended bids. In addition to these expanded duties, the council will streamline the inspection process by assigning pre-engaged consultants, help appoint supervisors and contractors, and monitor their work. The broader service could cost several thousand dollars per flat, a significant increase from the few hundred charged under the Smart Tender platform. Linn emphasized that while the government is stepping in to provide this service, owners still bear responsibility for major repairs, and lack of technical expertise is the main reason for the intervention. She also clarified that the council would bear liability if it were to fail in its monitoring duties or overlook important matters.