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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
Rents for 3,158 flats in the Housing Authority's 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 $56 per square metre per month for flats in urban district will apply to the 793 flats in a housing block in Yau Lai Estate in Yau Tong.
The rent for the 2,365 flats in three housing blocks in Tin Ching Estate in Tin Shui Wai will be set at $37.30 per square metre per month.
"Under this rent fixing exercise, more than 92% of the flats in the four non-standard blocks are set at a rent level below $1,500 per month," a spokesman for the Housing Authority said today (May 18).
Low-income households who cannot afford the rents of the new flats will be offered refurnished flats in relatively older estates completed before 1992. They can apply for Rent Assistance Scheme immediately if needed.
The spokesman said PRH rents, inclusive of rates and management and maintenance costs, were heavily subsidised.
With the passage of the Housing (Amendment) Ordinance, the authority reduced the district best rent level as well as PRH rent by 11.6% in August 2007.
Ends/Monday, May 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:47
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