Housing Authority sets rents for four new estates

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     A total of 4 890 flats in nine non-standard blocks of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA)'s four new public rental housing (PRH) estates are tentatively scheduled for completion between July and December 2019. Their rents will be set at the best rent levels in their respective districts.
 
     The best rent for flats in the Urban District is $85.5 per square metre per month. This rate will apply to three PRH estates in Sham Shui Po including the 852 flats in one block in Hoi Tat Estate (North West Kowloon Reclamation Site 6, Phase 1), 2 030 flats in four blocks in Pak Tin Estate (Pak Tin, Phases 7 and 8) and 1 056 flats in two blocks in Shek Kip Mei Estate (Shek Kip Mei, Phase 6).

     The best rent at $60.6 per square metre per month for the flats in Fanling District will apply to the 952 flats in two blocks in Fai Ming Estate (Fanling Area 49) in Fanling.

     "Under this rent-fixing exercise, over 43 per cent of the flats are set at a rent level below $2,500 per month," a spokesman for the HA said today (June 6), 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.