School District Rental: Avoid Mailbox Scams & Verify Zones

Recent reports indicate that a property owner in Tuen Mun is renting out a mailbox for about $150 per month, claiming it can provide an address for "school application" purposes, which has drawn public attention. Such practices involve uncertainties and potential risks, are not recognized by the Education Bureau as valid proof of address, and are not recommended as a basis for rental decisions.

Meanwhile, many families pay particular attention to specific areas when choosing a rental property due to convenience for school commuting or preferences for school nets. For example, school nets like 41 (Kowloon City/Kowloon Tong), 34 (Ho Man Tin/To Kwa Wan), and 11 (Central and Western District) are targets of interest for many parents.

But it's important to note: 👉 The term "prestigious school district" used by real estate agents ≠ the official school net definition by the Education Bureau 👉 School nets are defined by the Education Bureau based on individual door numbers, not estimated distances on a map.

The following will break down 3 of the most common school net boundary areas one by one and provide the most reliable verification methods.

💣 Kowloon City/Kowloon Tong and Wong Tai Sin Area (Boundary between 41 and 43)

Official school net information from the Education Bureau shows:

• School Net 41 includes areas such as Kowloon City, Kowloon Tong, Broadcast Drive, and Beacon Hill Road.
• School Net 43 mainly covers areas like Wong Tai Sin, San Po Kong, and Lok Fu/Ya Chui Street.

Important to note:

• Adjacent areas/neighborhoods may belong to completely different school nets.
• Some older buildings, even if their administrative address is listed as "Kowloon City," may still fall under School Net 43.
• The Ya Chui Street/Lion Rock Road area is a boundary zone, so you cannot rely solely on street names to determine the school net.

👉 In such boundary areas, it is essential to refer to the "Education Bureau School Net Location Map" and use the actual house number query results as the definitive guide, rather than relying on real estate descriptions or map distances.

💣 Boundary Street

This street truly lives up to its name as a "boundary line." Historically, it was the dividing line between the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories (leased territory), and now it is a life-and-death line for school zoning.

• The school zoning arrangements may differ between the north and south sides of Boundary Street
• But it must be emphasized: do not roughly use simplified rules like 'north of Boundary Street is 41, south is 32/31' The Education Bureau's school zoning boundaries are arranged by house numbers, and different street sections, housing estate blocks, or phases may belong to different school zones

👉 Especially at locations like "street boundaries/major road junctions," when verifying school zones, the house number should be the sole basis; otherwise, you might think you're in the target school zone when you're actually in another one.

💣 Ho Man Tin / To Kwa Wan vs Hung Hom / Whampoa (Boundary between 34 and 35)

The official school network information from the Education Bureau clearly shows:

• School Network 34 covers areas such as Ho Man Tin, To Kwa Wan, Ma Tau Wai Road, and Nong Po Road.
• School Network 35 includes Hung Hom, Whampoa Estate, and some surrounding areas.

However, the reasons for confusion in the market are:

• Some new developments or newly completed estates may be collectively referred to as the "Ho Man Tin area," but certain street sections might actually fall under School Network 35.
• The same street could be jointly covered by different school networks.
• "Administrative district names" and "Education Bureau school network boundaries" do not correspond one-to-one.

👉 For tenants targeting a specific school network, relying on conceptual descriptions to rent is extremely risky. It is essential to verify with the official location map.

3 Essential Verification Steps Before Renting a Property

To avoid signing a lease based on inaccurate information or missing out on your desired school district, be sure to follow these steps:

🔎 1. Search Using "Door Number Address" on the Education Bureau's Official School Network

• The Education Bureau's official webpage includes location maps and downloadable school network information
• Don't just rely on real estate advertisements or map distances

🏷 2. Use the complete house number and block number to check, not the estate name

• Different blocks or phases within the same estate may belong to different school networks
• Verifying with the complete house number, floor, and unit number is the most accurate

📸 3. Screenshot and Keep a Record of Your Query Results

• Helpful for future verification with real estate agents/landlords
• Avoid misunderstandings/information mismatches