Guides
Every section we cover, with the explainers that go with it.
Choose the right stay
Model
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Serviced apartment, hotel or ordinary rental?
Compare privacy, services, agreement structure, flexibility and the checks each model requires.
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How long should I book a serviced apartment for?
Use move dates, work uncertainty and extension terms to choose an initial commitment.
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What should a furnished apartment include?
Separate furniture, kitchen equipment, linen, utilities and building facilities into a written checklist.
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How do I compare serviced-apartment quotes?
Normalize dates, inclusions, taxes, deposits, caps and exit terms before comparing totals.
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Should I view an apartment before booking?
Explain live video, in-person inspections, identity checks and what evidence to retain when remote.
Hong Kong locations
Model
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Central and Admiralty for an extended stay
Balance office access, hills, noise, groceries and transport alternatives.
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Wan Chai and Causeway Bay for an extended stay
Compare dense urban convenience, nightlife exposure and building-to-building variation.
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Mid-Levels and the western districts
Assess gradients, escalator access, buses, quiet streets and everyday shopping.
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Kowloon for an extended stay
Compare Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Mong Kok and eastern Kowloon by actual trip patterns.
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New Territories and outlying areas
Trade more space against last-mile travel, service frequency and late-night options.
Contracts and total cost
Model
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Is my agreement a tenancy or a licence?
Explain why the substance and exclusive-possession terms matter and when to obtain advice.
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What charges belong in the total stay cost?
Inventory rent, service charges, utilities, taxes, cleaning, deposits and exit costs without quoting market prices.
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How should deposits and cancellation terms be checked?
Turn refund timing, deductions, notice, extensions and early exit into written questions.
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Does a Hong Kong tenancy need stamping?
Route readers to current IRD guidance and distinguish stamping from official approval of a contract.
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How should check-in inventory and damage be recorded?
Create a dated condition record and a process for agreeing defects and repairs.
Verify the accommodation
Model
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How do I verify an operator or landlord?
Check identity, authority to let, company or agent details and matching payment instructions.
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Does a short Hong Kong stay need a licence?
Explain the official licensing threshold and how to search the current licensed-premises list.
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How do I spot a fake apartment listing?
Identify copied photos, pressure, payment mismatches and claims that resist independent checking.
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What should I inspect inside the apartment?
Cover water, ventilation, appliances, locks, connectivity, pests, noise and emergency information.
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What records should I keep if something goes wrong?
Preserve the listing, agreement, payments, condition evidence, correspondence and a dated timeline.
Relocation and longer stays
Model
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How should employer-provided accommodation be compared?
Separate who contracts, who pays, taxable-benefit questions, choice rights and exit consequences.
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How do I plan a stay with children, pets or accessibility needs?
Turn needs into property-specific written checks rather than relying on category labels.
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What belongs on a serviced-apartment move-in checklist?
Cover access, contacts, meters, inventory, connectivity, deliveries and first-night essentials.
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How should I plan an extended stay elsewhere in Asia?
Provide a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction verification framework without carrying Hong Kong rules across borders.
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What should I do before checking out or ending a tenancy?
Plan notice, inspection, readings, keys, cleaning, evidence and written deposit follow-up.
