Hong Kong Rental Terms Explained
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As a newcomer to Hong Kong, one of the most confusing parts of the rental process is the unique rental terminology in Hong Kong. Compared to the mainland, Hong Kong's rental market has its own unique terminology system. If you are not familiar with these terms, you may feel at a loss when communicating with real estate agents or landlords. The most headache for beginners is the jargon-filled rental market: on one hand, you have to convert between 'gross floor area' and 'net floor area'. To help you quickly integrate into Hong Kong's rental culture, this article will introduce types of buildings,rentalterms, tips for newcomersthe common terms in Hong Kong rentals and their differences from mainland terms, helping you avoid detours in the rental process.
Building Types
Common types of residential properties in Hong Kong and their characteristics are as follows:
- Private Housing / Estate comes with clubhouses, 24-hour security, and parking facilities, newer in age, and the highest in rent; suitable for tenants with ample budgets who value amenities and security.
- Tong Lau / Walk-up are old-style buildings with 5–6 floors and no elevators, approximately 50 years old, with high utility rates and relatively low rent; requires climbing stairs, making furniture moving laborious.
- Village House are three-story small buildings unique to the New Territories, each floor about 700 square feet, pet-friendly, with a quiet environment; transportation relies on minibuses or self-driving, suitable for families or those who enjoy suburban living.
- Subdivided Unit involves dividing a unit into multiple smaller units to reduce rent; regulated by the Subdivided Unit Rental Control Ordinance since 2022. The space is cramped, with greater concerns about ventilation and fire safety, only suitable for short-term transitions.
- Serviced Apartment comes fully furnished, includes cleaning and Wi-Fi, with flexible lease terms, starting from about HK$18,000 per month; suitable for corporate short-term assignments or individuals newly arrived in Hong Kong.
- Studio / Ensuite in Hong Kong refers to an open-plan or one-bedroom unit with an independent bathroom, different from the mainland's 'two-bedroom one-living room' 'suite'; suitable for singles or couples who prefer a simple, independent space.
Must Learn Terminology
| Hong Kong Terminology | Mainland Terminology | Explanation and Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Agent/Agent | Intermediary | Real estate agents in Hong Kong need to hold a professional license to provide rental property services. |
| Renting a flat/house | Renting a house | In Hong Kong, it is common to refer to a house as a "flat" or "house", which differs from the term "renting a house" used in the mainland. |
| Commission | Intermediary fee | It is common practice to charge the tenant half of one month's rent as a rental commission. |
| Square feet | Square meters | 1 square meter is approximately equal to 10.764 square feet. Pay attention to unit conversion to correctly understand the property area. |
| Good deal | High cost-performance house | Refers to a property with reasonable price and excellent conditions, usually a popular choice in the market. |
| Stamp duty | Pay stamp duty | After signing the lease, it is necessary to submit the lease to the Inland Revenue Department within 30 days to pay the stamp duty and obtain a stamp certificate, with both the tenant and the landlord holding a copy. |
| Double deposit/two deposits one advance | Two deposits one payment | Refers to the need to pay two months' rent as a deposit and one month's prepaid rent, which is a common condition for renting in Hong Kong. |
| Deposit | Security deposit | The deposit, if nothing goes wrong, is generally refunded to the tenant at the end of the lease. |
| Ready property | Ready house | A property that has been built and can be moved into immediately. |
| Water, electricity, and gas | Water, electricity, and gas fees | Refers to the water, electricity, and gas fees that the tenant needs to pay themselves. The payment method should be confirmed with the landlord in advance. |
| Landlord | Landlord | Refers to the person who owns the property for rent. |
| Subdivided unit | Partitioned room | In Hong Kong, a "subdivided unit" is a unit divided into multiple small units for rent. |
| Empty house | Vacant house | Hong Kong people are accustomed to calling vacant houses "empty houses", meaning no one is living in them. |
| Signing a contract | Sign a contract | In Hong Kong, a "contract" is usually referred to as an "agreement". |
Tips Exclusive to Hong Kong Drifters
- Closer to Hong Kong Island means more expensive Taking the MTR as an example, for every station away from Central, the rent drops by an average of 5–10%. If you commute daily, Central—Kowloon Station takes 5 minutes vs. Tseung Kwan O 25 minutes, time cost should also be considered.
- Company housing allowanceMany companies only reimburse formal lease agreements and stamp duty; avoid "verbal agreements" or private cash transactions.
- Areas with a high concentration of expatriatesOlympic Station, Hung Hom, Wong Chuk Hang, and Lohas Park have mature communities and a plethora of international dining options; English signage is more comprehensive.
- Three essentials for apartment inspection: mobile phone flashlight, plug tester, universal rulerCheck for wall seepage, window frame cracks, and whether sockets have leakage.
- Who to contact in case of disputes?Real estate agent issues → Estate Agents Authority (EAA) Rent increase or maintenance disputes → Rating and Valuation Department
How much have you learned about rental terminology? If you find these terms helpful, or if you have more questions to understand, feel free to contact us anytime! If you still have questions, welcome to leave a message or private message to exchange, wish you a smooth rental process!
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