Renting a flat long-term: how to find one without endless calls
How not to go wrong on the budget
Renting a flat is not only the sum in the listing. On top of it come maintenance charges, usually a security deposit and sometimes a broker’s fee. A flat in a building with a lift, a generator and a clubhouse has different bills from one in an old building without them. So in your request it makes sense to write “up to HK$2,400 a month + maintenance” and to ask at once what is included in the sum.
Pay attention to the term, too. Some owners rent only from a year, others agree to six months. Say how long you want to settle, to filter out extra options.
What to put in your request
- area — city, area or metro station, for example a district of Central;
- number of bedrooms or a studio;
- monthly rent, separate from maintenance;
- move-in date;
- rental term;
- who will live there — a couple, a family, children, pets;
- furniture and appliances — washing machine, fridge, air conditioner;
- floor and whether there is a lift;
- power backup and water — a generator or inverter, a 24-hour water supply;
- no brokers, if you want to deal directly with the owner.
Example: “Looking for a 1-bedroom flat in Central, from a year, move-in from 15 October. A couple with a cat. Furnished with a washing machine, not the ground floor, with power backup. Up to HK$2,400 a month + maintenance, preferably from the owner.”
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You do not answer dozens of listings, you create a request. It is checked, and you are told what is missing. Owners and brokers reply in the chat: what they offer, the price, terms, photos and when you can view. They see where their offer stands among the others and often improve their terms. Your phone number is hidden, so not everyone will be calling you.
What to check when comparing flats
- What the bills come to in summer and in winter: ask to see the latest electricity bills.
- The security deposit: the size, the conditions for returning it and whether it counts toward the last month.
- What appliances there are and who repairs them if they break.
- Whether pets, children and frequent guests are allowed, and whether the owner needs tenant verification papers.
- The state of the windows, the sound insulation, the internet and the water (24 hours or not).
Common mistakes
Agreeing to a flat without viewing it. Paying in advance without a written agreement that has the address, term, amount and a list of the items. Not photographing the state of the flat when you move in. Comparing prices without noticing that in one the maintenance is included and in another it is separate. If in doubt, talk to a lawyer.
If you are preparing to buy, see apartments for sale and new-build flats. How it all works is explained on the “How it works” page.
