Average monthly rent per square foot for subdivided flats in Hong Kong ‘shockingly’ higher than that for private housing, survey finds

The average monthly rent per square foot for subdivided flats in Hong Kong is “shockingly” higher than that for private housing across the city, a survey has found.

The survey, released on Saturday, was conducted by Chinese University researchers and the Concerning Grassroots’ Housing Rights Alliance, which also urged the government to consider setting an initial rent guideline for all subdivided flats in addition to previously proposed control measures.

The university’s Institute of Future Cities collected data on rent between August and September from around 1,500 residents living in subdivided flats, and found these units had an average size of only 121 sq ft with a monthly rent of HK$5,000 (US$642).

According to the institute, the average rent per square foot for subdivided units on Hong Kong Island is the most expensive at HK$52.60, followed by HK$44 for flats in the New Territories and HK$41.30 for Kowloon properties.

The most extreme case involved a flat on Hong Kong Island that charged HK$91.70 per square foot, even though the unit had no independent bedroom, toilet or kitchen.

That is compared with the highest average rent per square foot for private flats – about HK$40.70 on Hong Kong Island, HK$36.80 in Kowloon and HK$28.50 in the New Territories, based on official figures from the Rating and Valuation Department in July.

“The picture is rather shocking, I have to say,” said Professor Ng Mee-kam, associate director of the institute. “You can imagine that those [private] flats are in a much better condition compared to the subdivided units.”

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