Introduction

The Housing Authority (HA) operates the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) to help eligible residents buy their own home. HOS, Private Sector Participation Scheme (PSPS), Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) and Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) flats are subsidised sale flats. Sale, letting and mortgage of these flats are subject to the Housing Ordinance and the deed of assignment.

The HA stopped production and sale of HOS flats in 2003, then offered surplus HOS flats for sale in phases from 2007, and resumed new HOS sales from 2014. GSH and the White Form Secondary Market Scheme (WSM) were later introduced so eligible White Form buyers can purchase premium-unpaid flats in the secondary market.

Owners who wish to resell generally may: (1) sell in the HOS Secondary Market to eligible buyers without paying a premium; or (2) after the alienation restriction period expires, pay a premium (HOS FM) to the HA and then sell, let or otherwise assign in the open market. Restriction periods depend on the year of first sale and the date of first assignment—please refer to the title deeds and the HA's latest announcements.

Information on this page is compiled from HA public materials. Fees and procedures may change; please refer to the official website.

Sell HOS Flats in the HOS Secondary Market

Owners of subsidised sale flats (HOS / TPS / GSH, etc.) may, subject to the date of first assignment and the applicable sale batch restrictions, sell in the HOS Secondary Market to eligible buyers without paying a premium. Eligible buyers include tenants of HA or Housing Society (HS) rental estates, authorised residents of HA Interim Housing, holders of a Green Form Certificate issued by the Housing Department (HD), and holders of a White Form Certificate of Eligibility to Purchase (WSM). GSH flats may generally be sold only to Green Form buyers; for GSH Pilot Scheme flats, White Form applicants may also purchase from the fifth year after the date of first assignment.

Owners may obtain the Application for Certificate of Availability for Sale (HD875) from the estate office / District Tenancy Management Office or the HOS Secondary Market Scheme Unit, download it from the HA website, or submit an online application via “iAM Smart+” / personal digital certificate. The completed form must be returned with the application fee, a copy of the deed of assignment, and copies of water and electricity bills issued within the six months before the application date.

The current application fee is HK$930 (subject to HA adjustment; generally non-refundable). Pay by crossed cheque or cashier order payable to “Hong Kong Housing Authority”, with the applicant's Hong Kong Identity Card number on the reverse. After online applications are vetted, payment by FPS may also be arranged as notified. After verification, the HA will issue a Certificate of Availability for Sale.

Owners who have successfully sold a subsidised sale flat, and their spouses, are generally not eligible for further subsidised housing schemes administered by the HA or HS. See the HA “Selling a Flat” page for details.

Forms

Form numbers and revision dates are subject to the HA website. Some applications may also be submitted online via GovHK / iAM Smart.

For similar applications for GSH flats before execution of assignment, use HA forms HD1135 to HD1138; enquiry tel. 3422 3382. Full form list: HA Home Ownership Forms.

Sell in the Open Market

After the alienation restriction period expires, owners must first pay a premium (HOS FM) to the HA before selling, letting or otherwise assigning the flat in the open market. The restriction period runs from the date of first assignment and depends on the year of first sale:

After the restriction period expires, owners may enter into an agreement for sale and purchase before applying for premium, provided the agreement requires that the premium assessed by the HD be paid before completion of the assignment and within 28 days of the agreement date (or such other period as the Director of Housing may stipulate). Selling, letting or assigning before payment of the assessed premium is an offence under the Housing Ordinance, punishable on conviction by a fine of HK$500,000 and imprisonment for one year, and such alienation is void.

HOS 2018–2023: premium is calculated from the initial market value and original purchase price in the first assignment. HOS 2024 onwards: premium is calculated from the initial market value and original purchase price in the last assignment from the HA to the owner. Please refer to the title deeds and the HA “Ways to Sell an HOS Flat” page.

Sale Procedure

Transactions

The HA formally launched the HOS Secondary Market Scheme in June 1997, enabling public rental housing tenants and Green Form Certificate holders to purchase HOS / PSPS / TPS flats, and later GSH Pilot / GSH flats (collectively subsidised sale flats). This increases turnover of subsidised sale flats and frees up more public rental housing for families in need.

To meet home-ownership demand from lower- and middle-income families, the HA introduced temporary schemes in 2013 and 2015 extending the secondary market to White Form buyers, and in November 2017 approved regularisation as the White Form Secondary Market Scheme (WSM), effective from 2018.

Secondary market sales operate much like the open market. Parties may negotiate directly or through an estate agent. Buyers assume the liability to pay premium before any future open-market sale, letting or other assignment.

Documents generally required before transaction:

(1) Seller holds a valid Certificate of Availability for Sale (HD875; current fee HK$930);
(2) Buyer holds a valid Green Form Certificate or White Form Certificate of Eligibility to Purchase (HD874);
(3) Parties sign the sale agreement as required by the HA, with solicitors handling assignment and mortgage (if any).

GSH flats may generally be sold only to Green Form buyers; for GSH Pilot Scheme flats, White Form applicants may also purchase from the fifth year after first assignment. Owners who have successfully sold a subsidised sale flat, and their spouses, are generally not eligible for further HA / HS subsidised housing schemes.

Enquiry: HOS Secondary Market Scheme Unit (Green Form eligibility) 3162 0680; Address: Room 202, 2/F, Lung Cheung Office Block, 138 Lung Cheung Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon. Details: HA HOS Secondary Market.

Premium Application Procedures

HOS / PSPS flats sold from HOS Phase 3B (May 1982), as well as TPS and GSH flats, are subject to alienation restrictions under the Housing Ordinance Schedule or land lease. Owners must pay a premium (HOS FM) to the HA before open-market sale, letting or other assignment. For HOS first sold from 2019, the restriction period is set by the land lease (generally 10 or 15 years); applications for premium assessment are generally not eligible during the restriction period.

1) Apply for premium assessment

After the restriction period expires, complete the Application for Assessment of Premium (generally HD1065C; for TPS still within the five-year restriction, HD1066C), and return it with copies of all title deeds and the administration fee to the District Tenancy Management Office, or the Premium Assessment Unit, Support Services Section 4, 1/F, Block 2, Hong Kong Housing Authority Headquarters, 33 Fat Kwong Street, Homantin, Kowloon (hotline 2712 2712). Owners with an activated iAM Smart+ digital-signing account or a valid personal digital certificate may also apply online via the HA website, GovHK or iAM Smart.

Joint owners must each sign the application with the same signature as on the assignment. If authorising a relative or friend, provide written authorisation stating names and identity card numbers of the authoriser and authorisee, and the property address; each owner must also sign as on the deed.

2) Pay administration fee and submit documents

The current administration fee is HK$6,780 (reviewed annually by the HA; adjustments usually take effect on 1 April; for postal applications the postmark date applies; for online applications the e-form acknowledgement date applies). Pay by crossed cheque or cashier order payable to “Hong Kong Housing Authority”, with the flat address on the reverse. The fee is generally non-refundable; if premium is paid within the specified period, the fee may be deducted from the premium. Incomplete applications will not be processed further.

3) On-site inspection and Notice of Assessment

Provide a daytime contact telephone so the HD (or its appointed surveyor) can arrange inspection. After receiving the application and all required information, the HD usually issues the Notice of Assessment in about one month; longer for estates with many recent applications. The assessed premium is currently valid for two months; if unpaid it lapses and a fresh application and fee are required.

4) Pay premium or lodge objection / appeal

Pay the premium within two months of the Notice of Assessment date, or re-apply and pay the HK$6,780 fee again. To dispute the assessed market value, within 28 days of the notice date lodge a written objection with HD Support Services Section 4 or the appointed surveyor, or a formal appeal to the Lands Tribunal. Late submissions are not accepted. Pending the outcome, owners may still pay the premium within the specified period and then sell, let, mortgage or assign; any later reduction is refunded, and any increase must be topped up.

5) Certificate for Removal of Alienation Restrictions

After payment by cashier order or solicitor's crossed cheque, the HD issues the Certificate for Removal of Alienation Restrictions. The HD recommends arranging registration of the certificate at the Land Registry via a solicitor. Owners may also pay the premium without immediately selling the flat.

Details: HA Premium Payment Arrangement and HOS Premium Procedures (PDF).