Housing

Renting an apartment

Even though Hong Kong is steadily making its way to become one of the most expensive cities in which to live, it is not entirely impossible to find your dream home to rent.

The only thing you need to rent a home in Hong Kong is your intelligence and a good knowledge of the few important points

To know more, please use the following link: https://international-desi.com/rentingapartment-in-hong-kong/

Type of Rental

If you are single person or a couple, there are plenty of options for you. These options can vary based on your budget and location.

Share an apartment: you can find a few websites or Facebook groups where the apartment owners/tenants lists their place to share.

Sub-divided studio: This is specific to Hong Kong-style living. The subdivided ministudio is converted from a 2- or 3-bedroom apartment.

An apartment is divided into a hotel style, self-contained mini-studio. Depending on your budget (HK$ 4000 onward) you can opt for location and size of the studio with or without cooking facilities, washing machine, microwave, maid service, etc.

Various companies, such as Dash Living or City Loft offers you such options. There are few private apartment owners in Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Central, and TST area have also started offering these studio options.

Service Apartment: The hotels or top real estate companies may offer these options. These service apartments are used by corporations and are mostly more expensive than the sub-divided apartment. These can be on a month-to-month lease basis.

Studio apartment: These are spacious, independent apartments ranging from a 200-square-foot area. These are like regular apartments in terms of facilities and lease policies.

Family apartments: Hong Kong is a vertical city and offers plenty of options for renting

an apartment. The details are mentioned in the next section in this article.

Stand-alone single-family housing: There is wide range in this section, depending on the area and location of the house. Luxury housing is available in the Pok Fu Lam area, Kennedy Town, Repulse Bay, Stanley, etc. Most top corporate executives and government officials and diplomats prefer (or are offered) such housing.

Cheaper options can be village homes that are available in the new territory, Sai Kung, Lantau Island.

Choosing a Neighbourhood

Hong Kong, in general, is considered a very safe place to live; so whichever neighbourhood you pick, rest assured you have nothing to worry about in regard to your safety. What you do need to take into consideration is each neighbourhood’s personality. Do you want to live in a neighbourhood that exhibits more local vibes, a more urban environment, or a more distinct far-away tranquil environment?

Accessibility and Public Transportation

Just like its high-quality safety, Hong Kong has a pretty decent public transportation system available for the general public. However, if you are moving in because of work or any other reason that requires shorter and safer commutes, then the accessibility of the shortlisted homes is worth checking. Try to get a home that’s near a subway station. Measure how much time your commute will cost you.

Cost of Renting

The price of renting a house in each neighbourhood of Hong Kong varies; some areas are more expensive than the others. This is why it is an absolute necessity to factor in the cost of living when deciding upon the house. To give you an idea, Hong Kong has an average minimum monthly rent of HK$5,000, “minimum” being the keyword here. The rent of a decent shared flat or room starts from HK$5,000, and can go up to HK$60,000 per month for a onebedroom. The ideal living conditions of

the country are just making the prices go higher and higher.

Leasing Details

As a general rule, Hong Kong’s renting lease is valid for two years, during which time either the tenant or you can break the lease only after the completion of the first year. In that term, you would need to issue a 1-3 months written notice. Be careful when reading the fine print of the lease. It is usually where the maintenance expenses or subletting policies are hidden.

A sub-divided studio at Dash Living and City Loft or service apartment can offer a month-to-month lease. If you are unsure of your stay, please check these options.

If you have a plan to move out early, you can negotiate with the landlord about lease and minimum stay.

Bottom line

It is always a good idea to look for the above-mentioned details by yourself. However, if you are running short of time or find that you lack the availability to carry out the task with full dedication, we strongly recommend hiring a local real estate agent to guide you in your search.

The local real estate agent may charge one month (standard fees) or two months, depending on the agency or agent.

Useful Reference:

Renting Options in Hong kong:

https://international-desi.com/renting-apartment-in-hong-kong/

City Loft

Website: http://www.cityloft.com.hk Address: Lin Wai Building, 13-15 Hillier St, Sheung Wan Tel: (852) 2881 7979

Dash Living

Website: https://www.dash.co/en/? Address: Lin Wai Building, 13-15 Hillier St, Sheung Wan Tel: (852) 2881 7979

Midland Reality

This is one of the leading real estate agencies in Hong Kong that offers services across the city. Website: https://en.midland.com.hk

Review Listings

When you have an ideal neighbourhood in mind, it’s better to check the local rent listing of that area. You can do that online as well as offline on many listing platforms. Listing sites like these provide so much more than rental listings. There are Facebook groups if you have not made up your mind about the neighbourhood; platforms like these can also provide you with insights that just might become a deal changer for you.

You can place your requirement for any of these areas and you will get a response.

Square Foot

Useful website to check out rental options. Website: sqarefoot.com.hk

Hong Kong Home

This is a useful place to search your luxury dream home options. Website: hongkonghomes.com

Facebook Group:

Hong Kong Rent Apartment

Link: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/641131289324938/ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/834480980283746

Rent a flat, apartment, rooms or house in Hong Kong (Expats) Link: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/219523561811865/