Housing Authority sets rents for five new PRH blocks

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     A total of 3 701 flats in five new non-standard blocks of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA)'s four existing public rental housing (PRH) estates are tentatively scheduled for completion between January and June 2020. Their rents will be set at the best rent levels in the Urban District.

     The best rent for public rental housing flats in Urban District is $85.5 per square metre per month. This rate will apply to all the flats in this phase. They include 754 flats in Fu Fai House of Fu Shan Estate and 1 033 flats in Wui Chi House of Tung Wui Estate in Wong Tai Sin; 826 flats in Yue Chun House of Yue Wan Estate in Eastern, Hong Kong Island; and 1 088 flats in Long Tin House and Ching Tin House of Pak Tin Estate in Sham Shui Po.

     "Under this rent-fixing exercise, rents of over 36 per cent of the flats are below $2,500 per month," a spokesman for the HA said today (December 10), adding that PRH rents, which are inclusive of rates, management fees and maintenance costs, are heavily subsidised.

     "PRH applicants who are allocated new flats but cannot afford the rents may request refurbished flats at lower rents, and they may also apply for assistance under the Rent Assistance Scheme for flats in older block types where applicable," the spokesman added.