Rent Assistance Scheme

The Rent Assistance Scheme (RAS) aims to provide relief in the form of rent (Note 1) reductions to domestic tenants (Note 2) who are facing temporary financial hardship. Eligible applicants will be granted either 25% or 50% rent reduction.

 

To be eligible for the RAS, one has to fulfil the following requirements:

1.	Regarding household income for:
	Non-elderly households (eligible for a 50% rent reduction) - The household income is below 50% of the respective Waiting List Income Limit (WLIL); or - The rent-to-income ratio (RIR) exceeds 25%; or - The household income is between 50% and 70% of the respective WLIL and the RIR exceeds 15%.
	Non-elderly households (eligible for 25% rent reduction) - The household income is below 70% but not lower than 50% of the respective WLIL; or - The RIR exceeds 18.5% but not exceeding 25%.
	Elderly households (eligible for 50% rent reduction) - The household income is below 70% of the respective WLIL; or - The RIR exceeds 18.5%.   (An elderly household is one in which all members are aged 60 or above.)
2.	No one in the household owns any domestic property in Hong Kong.
3.	The size of the rental flat currently occupied does not exceed the respective maximum allocation standard.
4.	No one in the household is receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance with rent allowance.

Households living in newer block types such as the Harmony blocks and blocks completed in or after 1992 must have fulfilled the two-year residence requirement before applying for the RAS. However, this does not apply to tenants affected by redevelopment.

If you want to apply for the RAS, please obtain an application form from your estate office, complete and return it together with the stipulated documents.

Note 1: Refers to both the rent of PRH and the licence fee of IH.
Note 2: Refers to both tenants of PRH and licensees of IH.