Private renting: owner checks, lease terms, handover and follow-up
Connect landlord authority and agent licensing with lease exit, rates, handover, insurance and dispute routes, recording responsibilities before and after payment.
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Start with these three stages
An address, a lease and a payment account may still leave important questions unanswered: who can grant the tenancy, which parts of the property can be used, and who handles a problem afterward? Start with the actual flat and letting party, then record the term, expenses, access arrangements and handover together. This collection extends the general renting and deposit guides through specific private-housing situations. Ordinary lease terms, regulated subdivided-unit tenancies and building common parts require different checks. A register search is an important source of information, but it cannot on its own establish every authority, physical condition or legal conclusion about your particular arrangement.
Before viewing commitments or payment, check the complete address, land-register information, the letting party's identity and authority, and the agent company and individual's licences. Compare advertising, the actual layout, permitted use and intended common-area use separately. A roof, balcony or storage space appearing in an advertisement does not establish that the lease can lawfully give you exclusive use. Ask for formal evidence of unexplained name or payment differences. Keep rent, deposit and commission confirmations distinct so that each recipient, purpose and payment condition can be checked later.
Before signing, read the term, renewal, early exit, joint-tenant responsibilities and arrangements for additional occupiers. List who pays rates, Government rent, management charges, utilities and insurance. Record the contact and notice process for repairs and landlord access, including emergencies; holding a key does not answer every access question. For a subdivided unit, first check whether regulated-tenancy provisions apply, then use the Rating and Valuation Department's material for rent, renewal and utility charges. Do not assume that an ordinary-flat clause overrides a statutory requirement applying to a different tenancy category.
At handover, make a joint record of photographs, appliances, meter readings, keys and existing defects, and confirm who has each version. During the term, retain repair requests, agreed access, payments and notices. When moving out, verify dates against the lease and applicable formal process. For possession, arrears or exclusion from the home, distinguish a money claim from a possession procedure and seek guidance from the appropriate body. Mediation, submitting a form and a court determination have different effects. Finish with a final handover and bill reconciliation, recording any issues that remain unresolved.
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16 guides foundFrom 16 guides on this page
Check authority to let: land searches, co-owners and delegated signatures
Match property, registered owner, landlord and payee, then resolve agency, company or subletting arrangements.
Law and rightsLandlord access: arranging repairs, viewings, identity and privacy
Read the access clause and agree purpose, people and timing in writing, distinguishing scheduled visits from immediate danger.
Housing and movingBreaking or renewing a lease with joint tenants: notices and continuing obligations
Separate notice eligibility, termination and key return; a departing joint tenant needs a documented release or replacement arrangement.
Housing and movingRates and Government rent in a tenancy: liability, quarterly demands and moving dates
Separate statutory liability, tenancy payment terms and registered payer, then reconcile rates, Government rent, periods and concessions.
Housing and movingCR109 and tenancy records: new lettings, renewals and the correct form
Schedule ordinary domestic-tenancy notices from the agreement date, distinguish stamping, CR109 and regulated-tenancy AR2, and retain submission and endorsement evidence.
Law and rightsTenancy possession and eviction: court procedure, evidence and bailiffs
Distinguish money claims, possession and urgent threats, identify the Lands Tribunal route, and separate a court order from its enforcement.
Housing and movingRegulated SDU tenancies: rent, receipts, utility apportionment and the second term
After confirming Part IVA eligibility, check AR2, original utility bills, rent receipts and AR1, keeping BHU registration distinct from tenancy safeguards.
Housing and movingLetting-agent licences and commission: check Form 6 before signing
Verify the individual and company licences, then read the agency term, representation, commission trigger and renewal arrangements.
Housing and movingTenancy handover records: inventory, meters, defects, keys and accounts
Use a consistent move-in and move-out record for condition, meter identity and readings, keys, cards and outstanding actions.
Housing and movingDMC and common parts: roofs, corridors, external walls and promised use
Check exclusive-use rights and common parts against the DMC, plans and management records instead of relying on a letting promise.
Housing and movingCheck permitted occupation and layout before renting: permits, plans and condition
Compare residential use and layout with building records; advertising, rates and utility accounts do not replace approval documents.
Banking and everyday moneyHome insurance for owners and tenants: building, belongings, liability and claims
Distinguish building cover, contents and third-party liability and check limits, exclusions and claims against actual occupation and works.
Housing and movingRenting your first Hong Kong flat: viewing to handover
Check the landlord, costs, tenancy, and condition before paying and moving in.
Law and rightsRental deposit not returned? Start here
A practical way to document a handover, question deductions, and pursue a Hong Kong rental deposit.
Law and rightsRental repairs: responsibility, notices and evidence
Distinguish ordinary leases from regulated subdivided-unit rights, then document danger, responsibility and repair notices.
Rule and policy updatesHong Kong's Basic Housing Unit regime: registration, recognition, and transition
Applications opened on 1 March 2026. Distinguish the 2027 enforcement stage, the grace period for registered units, and minimum standards.
Written for the next step
Compiled by HomeHK with context, practical steps, and official sources. Guides distinguish Hong Kong, Macao, and mainland arrangements. Dates describe the content's preparation, not daily official verification.
Check the official page before acting
Fees, eligibility, capacity, and timetables change. Each guide links to official information for a final check. Seek appropriate individual advice for legal, tax, or medical decisions.