How to Choose a Reliable Window Inspection Company? A Hong Kong Owner's Guide to Verifying Qualifications, Comparing Fees and Avoiding Scams
After receiving a mandatory window inspection notice from the Buildings Department, many owners immediately search online for a "window inspection company", only to find quotes ranging from two hundred to several thousand dollars, with wildly varying service scopes. Choosing the wrong company means paying unnecessary costs at best — or having your report rejected by the Buildings Department and needing to arrange a re-inspection at worst. This article walks you through qualification checks, fee structures and scam warning signs, step by step, so you can choose a reliable window inspection company.
Why You Must Be Extra Careful When Choosing a Window Inspection Company
Under the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme, owners of private buildings aged 10 years or above who receive a statutory notice from the Buildings Department must appoint a "Qualified Person" to inspect their windows and submit an inspection report (Form MWI1) within the specified deadline. If you engage an unqualified company, the report will not be accepted by the Buildings Department, and you will still be regarded as not having complied with the notice.
The consequences are not trivial: failure to comply with a mandatory window inspection notice carries a maximum fine of $25,000 and 3 months' imprisonment. The Consumer Council has also warned that some window inspection services in the market use low-price bait tactics and exaggerate repair items.
Before choosing a company, we recommend first understanding the full inspection process and your responsibilities — see our guide Mandatory Window Inspection: 5 Essential Steps After Receiving Notice — so you can compare quotes with clear expectations.
Two Essential Qualifications for Any Window Inspection Company: Qualified Person + Registered Minor Works Contractor
A reliable window inspection company must hold both of the following statutory qualifications — neither can be missing:
Verification is simple: ask the company to provide its registration number, then check it against the Buildings Department's online register. Taking Amgen Aluminium Windows as an example, our licence number MWC 316/2021 can be verified at any time in the Buildings Department's register of Minor Works Contractors — owners never need to rely on verbal assurances alone.
If a company holds both inspection and works qualifications, the entire process — from inspection and repair to report submission — can be completed under one roof, saving you the time of coordinating between multiple companies.
How Are Window Inspection Fees Calculated? 5 Items Every Quotation Must Specify
Market reference prices for window inspection start from around $250 per unit, depending on the number of windows and the floor level. When comparing quotes, never look at the total alone — a clear quotation should specify the following 5 items:
| Item | What should be specified |
|---|---|
| Inspection fee | Priced per unit or per window, and how many windows are included |
| Repair items | Itemised one by one, e.g. replacing oxidised hinges, redoing hardened sealant strips |
| Report fee | Whether Form MWI1 submission is already included |
| Warranty period | Warranty duration and coverage for repair items |
| Payment terms | Deposit percentage; balance payable only after completion and acceptance |
Pay particular attention: if the inspection reveals multiple window issues, ask the technician to explain whether each item is a mandatory repair or merely a recommendation. Repair and replacement each suit different situations — see Repair or Replace Your Aluminium Windows? 5 Criteria to Decide so you have your own baseline and won't be alarmed by an inflated repair list.
5 Scam Warning Signs: Stay Alert When You Encounter These Situations
Drawing on Consumer Council advisories and industry experience, every owner should watch out for these 5 warning signs:
If two or three of these appear at the same time, pause and compare one or two more companies before deciding. If the company you want to check is an aluminium window repair company rather than a window inspection company, the principles for spotting a dodgy shop are similar — see our guide on how to check an aluminium window company blacklist.
A Real-Life Scenario: A Kwun Tong Private Estate Owner's Inspection Experience
Mr Chan lives in a 30-year-old private estate in Kwun Tong. After receiving a mandatory window inspection notice from the Buildings Department, he contacted three window inspection companies. The first quoted only $180 over the phone, but after arriving, the technician claimed every window in the flat "had problems" and demanded over ten thousand dollars with same-day contract signing.
The second company first presented its registration number for Mr Chan to verify, inspected every window one by one, and provided a quotation clearly stating: two oxidised hinges requiring replacement, one section of hardened and shrunken silicone rubber sealant strip requiring redoing, with the Form MWI1 submission fee listed alongside — a fully transparent total. After comparing, Mr Chan chose the second company; the works were completed within two weeks and the report was duly accepted by the Buildings Department.
This scenario illustrates the point well: comparing multiple companies, verifying qualifications and requesting itemised quotes are the three most effective steps to avoid being scammed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is mandatory window inspection required?
For private buildings aged 10 years or above, the Buildings Department issues statutory notices to owners in batches. Owners must complete the inspection and any required repairs within the deadline specified in the notice, and thereafter re-inspection is generally required every 5 years. Do not delay after receiving a notice — Qualified Persons' schedules can be very tight during peak seasons.
Can I use the same company for both inspection and repairs?
Yes — and it is more convenient. As long as the company is both a Qualified Person and a Registered Minor Works Contractor (such as Amgen Aluminium Windows, licence number MWC 316/2021), it can complete the inspection, repairs and report submission in one go, sparing you from coordinating two separate companies, with clearer accountability as well.
Do public housing tenants need to arrange window inspection themselves?
Public housing tenants generally do not need to arrange it themselves. The Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme is run by the Buildings Department under the Buildings Ordinance and applies to private buildings of qualifying age; however, for units within public rental estates, HOS courts or Tenants Purchase Scheme estates, the inspection forms and declaration documents must be submitted to the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Housing, rather than directly to the Buildings Department. Window maintenance in public housing is coordinated by the Housing Department / estate office, so tenants who discover problems such as oxidised iron windows should report them to their estate office for follow-up.
Conclusion: Verifying Qualifications Is the First Step in Choosing a Window Inspection Company
When choosing a window inspection company, the priority is never the lowest price — verify qualifications first, then compare itemised quotations. A company that welcomes register checks, quotes transparently and explains every repair item clearly is the one worth your trust.
Amgen Aluminium Windows is a Registered Minor Works Contractor with the Buildings Department (MWC 316/2021) and a licensed window inspection company, providing one-stop mandatory window inspection covering inspection, repairs and Form MWI1 report submission from start to finish. WhatsApp 6586 3435 for a free enquiry, or book a free on-site assessment.
