Private
Rental
Guide
Practical tips and support for students renting in Hong Kong — from setting a budget to signing safely and spotting a scam.
Start from a trusted source
House hunting made safer
- CEDARS Private Student Living
- Property listings on the CEDARS website
- Licensed Hong Kong estate agents
Assess your needs
Six things worth settling before you start viewing flats.
💰 Budget
Monthly rent plus the upfront payments — see the estimator.
🚌 Location
Travel time and access to public transport, not just distance on a map.
👥 Sharing
Shared or private flat, and how flatmate arrangements would work.
🔒 Safety
Lighting, entry security, and how well the building is managed.
🛋 The flat itself
Furnishings, appliances, lease length, and room size.
📄 The paperwork
Who the landlord is, what the agent charges, and what the agreement says.
Indicative rents near HKU
Monthly rents in Hong Kong dollars. Figures are indicative only and move with the market — treat them as a starting point for budgeting, not a quotation.
The renting process
Seven stages, in order. Pick a stage to see what to do and what to watch for — and do not let anyone rush you through them.
Contact a reliable agent
- Start from a trusted source: CEDARS Private Student Living, listings on the CEDARS website, or a licensed Hong Kong estate agent.
- Verify the agent’s licence on the EAA Licence List before you go any further.
- Request the agent card with photo and licence details.
- Sign an estate agency agreement before viewing, and check the validity period, duties, and commission carefully.
View & inspect the flat
- Arrange the viewing safely, and bring a friend or family member where possible.
- Verify the landlord’s identity and the property status.
- Check the layout, condition, furnishings, and facilities carefully.
- Visit the building and street in both daytime and evening if you can — they can feel very different.
Compare options
- Compare total monthly cost, not just rent: management fees, rates, utilities and internet add up.
- Weigh commute time against price — a cheaper flat further out can cost more in transport and time.
- Consider whether the flat is shared or private, and who your flatmates would be.
- Check safety, lighting, and how well the building is managed.
Clarify the terms
- Clarify commission, deposit, tenancy period, move-in date, and break terms.
- Confirm who pays utilities, management fees, rates, internet, and minor repairs.
- Ask for a written inventory of furniture and appliances.
- Confirm with the landlord how many occupants are allowed before you plan to share.
Sign the tenancy agreement
- Use a formal tenancy agreement and read the full terms carefully before signing.
- Whenever possible, sign only after viewing the accommodation in person; otherwise ask a trusted person to inspect it for you.
- Keep a signed copy of everything.
Pay carefully
- Use bank transfer or another traceable method whenever possible.
- Keep receipts, and avoid cash, urgency pressure, or suspicious accounts.
- Never pay before you have verified who actually controls the unit.
Move in & settle in
- Check the inventory against the flat on the day and photograph anything already damaged.
- Note the meter readings and set up utilities and internet in your name where required.
- Save your landlord’s and building management’s contact numbers.
- If something goes wrong, CEDARS can point you to support — you do not have to sort it out alone.
Upfront cost estimator
Rent is not the only thing you pay on day one. Move the slider to see roughly what you would need up front at a given monthly rent.
- Security deposit — commonly about 2 months' rent
- Agency commission — often 50% of one month's rent
- First month's rent
- Setting up — internet, moving, linens, basic furniture
- Roughly what you need up front
Stamp duty on the tenancy agreement is usually shared between landlord and tenant and is not included above. Sharing a flat with a friend can reduce costs — but confirm with the landlord how many occupants are allowed.