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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
Rents for 3,252 flats in the Housing Authority's (HA) two new public rental housing (PRH) estates to be completed in December this year will be adjusted in accordance with the revised district best rent levels based on the outcome of the HA's rent review earlier.
The adjusted best rent of $58.6 per square metre per month for flats in the urban district will apply to the 1,278 flats in two housing blocks at Shatin Pass Estate in Wong Tai Sin.
The rent for the 1,974 flats in three housing blocks at Shin Ming Estate in Tseung Kwan O will be adjusted to $51.3 per square metre per month.
The Authority's Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) endorsed in July the level of adjustment for the rent review in PRH to be +4.68 %, which subsequently has taken effect from September 1.
"Accordingly, the district best rent levels for newly completed PRH estates should be adjusted by the same rate," a spokesman for the Authority said today (September 16).
"Under this rent fixing exercise, more than 88% of the flats are set at a rent level below $2,000 per month," the spokesman said, adding that PRH rents, inclusive of rates, management and maintenance costs, were heavily subsidised.
"PRH applicants with new flats allocated but who reckon that they cannot afford the rent can request for transfer to comparable flats with cheaper rent. They may also apply for the Rent Assistance Scheme where necessary," he added.
Ends/Thursday, September 16, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:01
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