Rents for 7 751 flats in Housing Authority's (HA) two new public rental housing (PRH) estates to be completed in the latter half of this year will be set at the reduced district best rent levels.

The reduced inclusive best rent of $56m² per month for flats in urban district will apply to the 4 584 flats in six Non-standard blocks in Upper Ngau Kok Estate Phase 2 & 3.

The rent for the 3 167 flats in five New Harmony blocks in Ching Ho Estate Phase 1 in Fanling will be set at $39.6m² per month.

"Under this rent fixing exercise, more than 87 % of the flats are set at a rent level below $1,800 per month, " a spokesman for the HA said today (19 May), adding that PRH rents, inclusive of rates, management and maintenance costs, were heavily subsidized.

With the passage of the Housing (Amendment) Ordinance in June 2007, the HA implemented a rent reduction of 11.6% in August of the same year. The best rent levels for all districts have also been reduced by 11.6% correspondingly.

"Low-income households who cannot afford the rents of the new flats will be offered refurbished flats in older estates where they can apply for Rent Assistance Scheme immediately," the spokesman added.


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