What are the eligibility criteria for application of public rental housing?

The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) maintains an application system of public rental housing (PRH) applicants. Based on this system, we are able to offer PRH flats to eligible applicants in an equitable and orderly manner. 

Families fulfilling the eligibility criteria listed below can apply for PRH:

• The Applicant must be 18 years of age or above.
• The Applicant and his family member(s) must be residing in Hong Kong and have the right to land in Hong Kong without subject to any conditions of stay (except for conditions concerning limit of stay).
• The Applicant’s household monthly income and total net asset must not exceed the prevailing limits.
• All married persons listed on the application form must apply together with their spouses (except for divorcees, persons applied to the court for a divorce, persons whose spouses have not been granted the right to land in Hong Kong or widowed persons; they have to submit proof accordingly).
• From the date of completing the waiting list for PRH application form to the date of signing the tenancy agreement of the PRH flat allocated in consequence of the application, the Applicant and his/her family members do not own or have an interest in any domestic property in Hong Kong. Domestic property includes post-war domestic property, uncompleted private domestic property, uncontrolled or self-occupied pre-war domestic property, rooftop structure approved by the Building Authority, domestic building lots and Small House Grants in Hong Kong.
• Family members of flats under various subsidised home ownership schemes such as the Home
• Ownership Scheme/Private Sector Participation Scheme, Mortgage Subsidy Scheme, Buy or Rent Option Scheme, Tenants Purchase Scheme, Home Purchase Loan Scheme and Home Assistance Loan Scheme are eligible for PRH application once their names have been deleted from the relevant records, subject to the fulfillment of other PRH eligibility criteria.
• Purchasers of flats under various subsidised home ownership schemes, who have rescinded the Agreement for Sale and Purchase before receiving any of the subsidised assistance, are eligible for PRH application after the execution of the Cancellation Agreement, subject to the fulfillment of other PRH eligibility criteria.
• At least half of the family members included in the application must have lived in Hong Kong for 7 years and all family members must still reside in Hong Kong.

Applicants can apply for various schemes according to their needs and eligibility criteria. Families with elderly member(s) can enjoy certain credit in the waiting time and priority in flat allocation. Please refer to the links below for details:

• Non-elderly One-person Applicants
• Basic eligibility criteria as mentioned above
   
• Ordinary Families
• The relationship between the Applicant and other family members must be either husband and wife, parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, a person and his/her unmarried sibling or a person and his/her dependent relative who is willing to live with the Applicant.
• Family members aged under 18 must apply together with his/her parents or legal guardian.
• For applicants who apply with their offspring/grandchildren, only one of their married children/grandchildren together with his/her offspring/grandchildren can be included in the application.
   
• Single Elderly Persons Priority Scheme
• Apart from fulfilling basic eligibility criteria, applicants must be 58 years of age or above at the time of filing in their application and must have attained the age of 60 by the time of flat allocation.
• The eligible applications under this scheme enjoy priority processing over the application by ordinary families.
• Applicants can choose any of the four districts for the allocated housing. 
   
• Elderly Persons Priority Scheme
• Two or more elderly persons who undertake to live together upon flat allocation are eligible to apply, given that they fulfill basic eligibility criteria.
• For unrelated members, they are required to sign or stamp their seals on the application form together.
• All of them must be 58 years of age or above at the time of filing in their application and must have attained the age of 60 by the time of flat allocation.
• The eligible applications under this scheme enjoy priority processing over the application by ordinary families.
• Applicants can choose any of the four districts for the allocated housing. 
   
• Harmonious Families Priority Scheme
• Applicants must fulfill basic eligibility criteria.
• Applicants can choose to live in one flat with the elderly aged 60 or above or live in two nearby flats in the same district.
• Applicants can choose any of the four districts for the allocated housing.
• The eligible applications under this scheme enjoy a 6-month period of priority processing over the application by ordinary families.

The above eligibility criteria are listed in the application form (HD300E) and information for applicants (HD273) which are distributed together. These can be obtained via:

• Visit estate offices, Applications Sub-section (address: Podium Level 2, Hong Kong Housing Authority Customer Service Centre, 3 Wang Tau Hom South Road, Kowloon) or Home Affairs Department Public Enquiry Service Centers
• Download PDF file ( HD300E and HD273) or print after filling in the electronic form at Housing Authority and Housing Department website
• By post (Address: P.O. Box 89192 Kowloon City Post Office); Applicants should enclose a clearly written self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage