Non-Elderly Applicant Gets Chai Wan Public Flat at $893 Monthly Rent
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
A public housing applicant received an allocation for a unit in Fung Wah Estate (峰華邨) in Chai Wan with a surprisingly low monthly rent of HK$893, prompting widespread discussion online. The Housing Department confirmed that this unit, located in Sau Fong House, is one of 136 specially designed split-level apartments created in the 1990s due to overwhelming demand for single-person public housing. The original Unit 17 on each floor was divided into two separate units—17A and 17B—with a shared entrance foyer but independent front doors, kitchens, and bathrooms for each household.
Key Points
- The applicant holds a U-prefixed application number, indicating a non-elderly single-person application, and this was their second allocation offer
- The unit at Fung Wah Estate Sau Fong House in Chai Wan costs only HK$893 monthly including rates, with lease commencing September 2, 2026
- The Housing Department confirmed Unit 17 on each floor was divided into 17A (13.37 sq meters) and 17B (14.29 sq meters) in the 1990s to boost single-person housing supply
- Fung Wah Estate, completed in 1991, comprises two 34-storey Y4-type blocks under the Tenants Purchase Scheme with 136 split-level units in total
- Some internet users noted these split units are considered "unpopular units" with occupants restricted from applying for transfers for three years
Why It Matters
This case highlights how the Housing Authority addressed single-person public housing demand decades ago by subdividing larger units, creating tiny apartments that remain in the rental stock today . The arrangement raises questions about living standards for split-unit residents who must share entrance space while paying reduced rents, and whether such subdivided units should be eligible for purchase under the Tenants Purchase Scheme .
This case highlights how the Housing Authority addressed single-person public housing demand decades ago by subdividing larger units, creating tiny apartments that remain in the rental stock today . The arrangement raises questions about living standards for split-unit residents who must share entrance space while paying reduced rents, and whether such subdivided units should be eligible for purchase under the Tenants Purchase Scheme .