[FilipH]

Hi,

I'm a European who has been doing business in China for a while now, and I'm going to start a company in Hongkong. The necessary paperwork will start this month.

I've been there a few times and absolutely love it (it's the ocean that does it for me :P)

Anyway,

I'm wondering if it is possible to rent a warehouse for storage of my goods in Hongkong and at the same time have some living accomodations in it?
That way i live at my work which is cost effective and mighty convenient.

Size wise i'm looking to store about 200 CBM (= 3 x 40HC containers).

Any thoughts if people are allowed to live in a warehouse and how much it would cost?? I'm thinking either close to the Shenzhen border or at Lantau island (close to the airport).


Looking forward to your thoughts as a big adventure awaits

[FilipH]

Bump (surely, there must be someone with some warehouse experience??)

[Claire ex-ax]

Residential units are only to be used for residential purposes. Offices as offices. Industrial units as industrial units. Et cetera. A lease for any type of building, or part of thereof, will express its sole use. You could, in theory, use any any unit for any purpose but you will be breaking the terms of the lease and would be thrown out, and probably have to pay compensation to the landlord. Also any insurance you have would likely be null and void. Duh.

[jgl]

Lots of people live in warehouse space in HK. It's not legal, but a lot do so- it's cheap and you get vast amounts of space otherwise unavailable in HK. The risk is that someone kicks up a stink and you get evicted, so it's worth keeping a low profile and being nice to the security guards and other people around. Same goes for flats in older commercial buildings- it happens all over HK.

Claire's point about insurance is worth checking out though.

[hktraveller]

You might not have private showers or toilets in your unit and there might be problems of getting in late at night.

[FilipH]

Thanks for the info. If it is not allowed, then I won't do it. Can't afford my business being discontinued due to eviction + the law is the law.

One thing that is surprising though is that I don't see warehouse space for rent online. Lot's of offices and housing agents are available, but none for warehousing. (with the expection for small storage meat for ... housing)

Anyone happen to know a good agent or a good place to search for one?

Thanks in advance

[KnowItAll]

Wong Chuk Hang has dozens of buildings that have industrial space ... so are areas like Lai Chi Kok etc etc.

Just walk around those areas and you'll see estate agents. I'd strongly recommend taking someone who speaks canto when dealing with them.

Here's an estate agency which has most of Wong Chuk Hang covered ( ..:: ??H?? Garson Real Estates Agencies ::.. ) click on the second item on the menu on the right to see some of the names of the buildings.

[KnowItAll]

(Sorry just saw your post about wanting something in the Northern / Lantau Area )

Not sure what the industrial locations in those area are.

[Oldtimer]

Tuen Mun area has lots of Industrial Buildings and the rents are in the range of HK$4.00-$5.00 per sq.foot per month.
You can rent a small apartment in the area for HK$5K-$6K per month.

[FilipH]

Thanks in again for your help guys! 4-5 HKD for a square foot seems quite reasonable for Hong Kong

For Logistic reasons, I'll have to rent on in either NT or Kowloon, so the suggestions above will be very usefull. So thanks again ...