[KnowItAll]

shilo : if the bank has approved your tenancy (which is what is required as per their mortgage ) then they cannot evict you, from what I'm told. However, most tenants are not informed about this by the estate agent or landlord and end up getting shafted.

The bank, needless to say, has a higher interest rate for properties that are rented out to third parties.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by shilo507

For example, the property I rent has just been repossessed by the bank. I came home one day to find a notice from the lender stuck to the door giving me 28 days to leave.{etc}

This is a bit misleading. You would not need to leave if the landlord had permission to let the property from the lender. You only need to leave if the landlord let the property to you against the terms of his mortgage. This is another bit of due diligence that you or your agent should do before entering into a tenancy agreement here.

[talllatte]

Original poster you have been very good so far. I would be amazed if you could get a copy of the ID card of the Director.

The other point for you to note, which may seem strange at this stage, is to think ahead to when you have to leave. In particular the current decoration and any furnishings. I know it is exhausting dealing with the negotiations but find some extra energy to go over the apartment with a digital camera and a notepad and write down each and every furnishing, light fitting and especially every defect you can find. Get your list added to the lease and it will save you grief at a later stage. It's quite common that landlords think they leased you a faultless furnished palace a few years ago and will withold deposit payments until you rectify things.

[booding]

Hi all--- signed the lease today. Real estate agent wasn't trying to scam me after all. Noted that the landlord's usually the one you have to watch out for. I have my fingers crossed...

Nowhere else I've lived has been so pro-landlord. It's quite shocking to me... Wondering how this came about.

Thanks for the input, everyone!

[KnowItAll]

>> Wondering how this came about.

Easy, look at the number of property developers who play a part in running Hong Kong.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by booding

Nowhere else I've lived has been so pro-landlord. It's quite shocking to me... Wondering how this came about.

I think what you mean is "nowhere else has failed to be pro-tenant". As I see it the tenancy laws here are pretty much neutral; in other places they tend to be pro-tenant.

[egk7]

Thanks everyone for all of your helpful comments and suggestions. Glad to report all went smoothly in the end. Hopefully things will stay that way.

Thanks again!