HK has a different concept calculating space. I rent out 200 sqft studios that actually are 130 sqft in size. The difference is that I mention this, since I as well as you am from a country where rules are different. My problem: Did I advertise it as 130 sqft, people would think it to be 30% smaller. Just get used to a different set of rules and take it as new experience.
By the way: Even the net area sometimes mentioned has never been able to bear up against my yardstick. It's all fantasy.
Had you come looking on this forum BEFORE you arrived you might have noticed that this issue is mentioned in just about every thread about apartments. Better to do your due diligence BEFORE you arrive rather than after.
PS - there are a few more real estate 'tricks' out there too. Here's another one for you - 'photographs' of some places are not real ... for example I live in the Gold Coast and the standard photo that they use to promote the GC is a picture of the 'view' from the window ... except that it's not ... a typhoon wall and an entire housing estate are photo-shopped out! And that does not appear to be illegal either - something I found stunning when I first arrived.
Last edited by MovingIn07; 31-05-2010 at 07:45 AM.
Would you move into a t.o, Vancouver, or montreal apartment w/out seeing it first? Pretty naive. People will screw you EVERYWHERE if you let them. It's not a hk specific thing by any means. Just roll with it, 100sq feet is enough to house a whole family in many parts around Asia.
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agree with most of the posters above. if you read a few books or websites about moving to HK and flat hunting in HK you would have learnt a bit about how landlords work here. However, you are only there for a month and at least it's a roof over your head and you have an idea of what 100/200 sq ft of apartment looks and feels like before you move on up!
Now you learn. Waiting until you are buying a flat in HK and be amazed by the actual number of 1'x1' floor tiles in a brand new gross 1000' flat.
XJF: It is unlikely the landlord is screwing you. Generally, landlords won't dare misrepresent the actual apartment size, because it is on the goverment records. In Hong Kong, there is:
1) Gross area
This is what is quoted in ads and stuff, and what you pay for. It includes the inside of the apartment, plus also a proportional share of all the communal areas in the building, i.e. staircase, lifts, lobby, and stuff. If it has facilities like a gym, that is also included. Say, there are 20 apartments in the building, it would be divided by 20 if they are all the same size.
2) Net area
Actual area of your apartmnet. See the above, minus the communcal area. If you are in a newer building with facilities, the net area will likely be a much lower percentage compared with the Gross area. In an old building, the net area is around 80%. In a new building with facilities, it could be 65%. If you only have one apartment per floor, the percentage could go as low as 55% or 60% because proportionally each unit has a higher share of staircases and stuff. When renting/buying, always ask what the net area is.
3) Usable area
This is your net area, minus the walls, columns, that sort of thing. This number is not in any documentation, but you can tell by looking at the apartment - if it is a 300sqf studio, the usable area will be larger If it is still 300sqf but with 2 bedrooms, becos of the walls your usable area will be lower.
I think StudioStudio is like - rooms in a building, more like a serviced apartment. IN that case the official net and gross area may not be in an individual document for each unit.
However, assuming that the apartment is newish, say 70% usage, if your landlord says it is 200sqf, it could be 140sqf or less.
Just find a bigger place to move to after your month is up. Dont think your landlord is scr*wing you.
Extremely optimistic. The worst case I have experienced: Property agent advertising 500 sqft in Wan Chai, I measured about 240. In a very old building without much of public area.
Always do your own math. In the end, no matter what price they ask, I calculate it myself and then decide if it is worth the real price.
BTW, I will do a land search of this place and see how much is on records. Just of curiosity.
Last edited by hktraveller; 02-06-2010 at 03:13 AM.
You see, a lot of those so call "studio" in old apartments are actually a small unit divided from an actual flat. A lot of the owner divided a typical 600' flat into 2/3 flats and installed individual toilet and water tap and claimed it is an individual flat. If you do a land search, you simply cannot find your unit as it is supposed to be part of a bigger unit.