************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
Rents for 8 292 flats in 11 non-standard blocks of the Housing Authority (HA)'s two new public rental housing (PRH) estates to be completed in the first half of next year will be set at the current best rent level of the urban district.
The district best rent at $58.6 per square metre per month for flats in the urban district will apply to the 4 054 flats at Shek Kip Mei Estate Phases 2 and 5 and the 4 238 flats at Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate Phase 1.
"Under this rent fixing exercise, over 88 per cent of the flats are set at a rent level below $1,900 per month," a spokesman for the HA said today (November 1), adding that PRH rents, which are inclusive of rates, management and maintenance costs, are heavily subsidised.
"PRH applicants who are allocated new flats but cannot afford the rents may request refurbished flats at lower rents. They may also apply for assistance under the Rent Assistance Scheme for the refurbished flats where applicable," the spokesman added.
Ends/Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:01
NNNN