Renting a home in Hong Kong: Do’s and Don’ts
Standard tenancy agreement
- Two year lease with a break clause after one year
- Two months’ termination notice
- Two ways to register your lease: Under the name of the company you work for or under your own name
DOs
- Find a good estate agent and brief him/her fully on your needs, your priorities and what you’re prepared to compromise on.
- Give yourself time and go house hunting armed with an open mind. You might have to wade through a lot of average pads before you find the gem that ticks your boxes.
- Ask friends and acquaintances for personal recommendations. There are also plenty of helpful social media sites (HK Moms/Asia Xpat/ Bayside Villagers, to name a few).
- Do your own research. Walk around the neighbourhood you’re considering at different times of day; work out travelling time to your office/to your kids’ schools.
- Ask if rent is inclusive or exclusive of management fees, government rent and property rates. Most rental properties are inclusive of these costs but some agents marketing more expensive homes quote the exclusive price.
- Act quickly and sign on the dotted line once you’ve found a suitable property. Good ones tend to go fast.
- Cast a wide net (Southside, Shek O and Stanley) to find a house, though it will still cost you top dollar. Cast it even further (New Territories and the Outlying Islands) and you should be able to find something larger and cheaper.
DON’Ts
- Don’t expect to find a replica of what you had back home. Particularly if you wish to live on Hong Kong Island and close to the city centre, the majority of Hong Kong rentals tend to be apartments with a smaller living space.
- Don’t compare your rent/square footage ratio with what you’re used to paying back home or you’ll cry. Hong Kong accommodation is eye-wateringly expensive, often for very little space, so brace yourself.
- Don’t sign any agency forms prior to looking at property. Some agents will use these forms to make a claim on your commission even if you don’t end up renting through them.
Serviced apartments
Consider a serviced apartment if you’re only here for the short term
Labelled the “epitome of gracious and sophisticated living”, The Repulse Bay’s luxury sea view serviced and unfurnished apartments, connected to a modern shopping arcade, restaurants and clubhouse, are available for short and long-term lease. Located in Southside, The Repulse Bay continues to provide a spectacular home and living experience for its tenants.
A hotel and serviced apartment company with a prime location in one of the most quaint neighbourhoods in the city, Little Tai Hang is one of those hidden gems you’ll wish you’d heard of sooner. Designed to feel like home, it’s a welcoming, beautiful location to stay especially with its warm, wooden detailings and flood of natural light.
A Hong Kong and Singapore-based coliving and serviced apartments company, Dash Living has a great network of flats in fantastic locations across the city including Causeway Bay, Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and more. Catering to urban professionals, you can get a lease as short as one month, or to a few years and plenty of perks for food, beauty, fitness and even coworking.
Read more: OKAY.com becomes a Founding Member of Forbes Global Properties
K11 ARTUS, a part of K11 MUSEA, is established as a design-led artisanal residence – and it’s certainly the type of home for those who appreciate the finer things. With apartments from 510 square feet and above and a brilliant location at Victoria Dockside in Tsim Sha Tsui, K11 Artus has paid exquisite attention to detail when it comes to the design of their spaces.
Located in Shau Kei Wan close to Sai Wan Ho MTR station on the Island line, these new serviced apartments offer sea-view studios and one and two-bedroom apartments. There is an emphasis on wellness with services centred around lifestyle including rooftop yoga and a lounge offering breakfast, coffees and cocktails.
Centrally located luxury apartments within walking distance of the business districts of Central and Admiralty. They come with state-of-the-art facilities and access to an open-air sky garden.
The best estate agents in town
2102 0888,
okay.com
2822 0777,
colliersresidental.hk
2842 4400,
savills.com.hk
3689 7523,
nest-property.com
