Service Apartment vs Rented flat for 9 months lease

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    2

    Service Apartment vs Rented flat for 9 months lease

    Before I received acceptance for my postgraduate studies in HKU, I was looking forward to my 9 months stay in HK starting from 1 Sep 2014. The nightmare started when I tried to look for a decent place conducive for studies. I can't travel to HK till 20 Aug the earliest. I have currently two offers on hand for service apartment (which look very nice on pictures) but I am very hesitating to accept any due to the many negative feedback in the reviews on service apartment. My anxiety is building up as I have less than a month to decide on accommodation. Hope someone with similar dilemma before can enlighten me on this.

    1. Should I book any service apartment based on the photos alone as I am not in HK to view?
    2. The fully furnished rental flats seem much cheaper than service apartments and have more choices, but will it be difficult to get a 9 months lease? And what is the pros and cons comparing the two?
    3. If I were to choose to go down on 20 Aug to HK and start to look for an accommodation, is it possible to get one before my term starts on 1 Sep?
    4. I have a budget of <10k for a single room/flat with shower facility. I don't mind to share flat but hopefully not more than 1 flatmate.

    Thanks in advance for any advice given. -


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    2,112

    As I'm sure many others will tell you, DON'T sign any contract or make any booking for a serviced apartment / furnished flat without viewing it in person first.

    10 days or so should be more than enough time to scout out a suitable place and get everything signed and sorted.


  3. #3

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    7,517

    1. No
    2. Rented flat - you need to deal with a landlord; deal with any problems such as leaking toilet (for example); furnished might mean table, chair and bed, but no cushions, sheets or plates.
    3. Maybe; if not, you just stay in a guest house / hostel for an extra week or so. Landlords will probably charge higher rent for a shorter contract, because it means they have to pay an agent commission again after 9 months to find a new tenant.
    4. Maybe look for shared flats, but don't pay anything until you have seen the place, and be careful or paying money to someone who is subletting.


  4. #4

    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    345
    Quote Originally Posted by John S:
    Before I received acceptance for my postgraduate studies in HKU, I was looking forward to my 9 months stay in HK starting from 1 Sep 2014. The nightmare started when I tried to look for a decent place conducive for studies. I can't travel to HK till 20 Aug the earliest. I have currently two offers on hand for service apartment (which look very nice on pictures) but I am very hesitating to accept any due to the many negative feedback in the reviews on service apartment. My anxiety is building up as I have less than a month to decide on accommodation. Hope someone with similar dilemma before can enlighten me on this.

    1. Should I book any service apartment based on the photos alone as I am not in HK to view?
    2. The fully furnished rental flats seem much cheaper than service apartments and have more choices, but will it be difficult to get a 9 months lease? And what is the pros and cons comparing the two?
    3. If I were to choose to go down on 20 Aug to HK and start to look for an accommodation, is it possible to get one before my term starts on 1 Sep?
    4. I have a budget of <10k for a single room/flat with shower facility. I don't mind to share flat but hopefully not more than 1 flatmate.

    Thanks in advance for any advice given. -
    Have you tried HKU dorms?