Hong Kong tenancy guide
Hong Kong Rent Arrears
Reconcile unpaid rent, prepare a demand and keep replies before taking further Hong Kong tenancy action. Includes a copyable arrears schedule.
Quick answer
Check rent due and actual receipts period by period, then retain the demand, service record and reply. Recovering money, ending the tenancy and obtaining possession are separate steps; changing locks or cutting utilities is not a substitute for the proper process.
Copyable rent schedule
Include part payments and disputed entries rather than recording an unexplained total.
Rental period: [dates] Amount due and due date: [details] Amount received, date and evidence: [details] Difference after reconciliation: [amount] Demand and delivery record: [details] Tenant response / dispute: [details] Documents or response still required: [details]
Write a clear demand
Identify the agreement and rental periods, show how the balance was calculated and ask for payment or a response. Keep a copy and the appropriate service evidence. Do not convert a disputed amount into an established finding merely by repeating it.
If the tenant cannot be reached
Keep contact attempts and any reliable occupation or handover information. Silence is not proof that the premises have been surrendered. Get advice on the applicable termination and possession procedure before taking physical action.
Prepare for further action
Keep the signed agreement, stamping and applicable CR109 records, payment schedule, correspondence and relevant notices. If possession is sought, use the linked Lands Tribunal guide and official instructions. Do not publish identity documents or allegations to pressure payment.
Compare the two checks
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Rent recovery | Reconcile arrears and payment records. |
| Possession | Check the appropriate procedure, documents and enforcement. |
Rent payment request framework
Reconcile the amount due and payments received before adapting this payment request. It is not a statutory notice or court document; termination and possession requirements must be checked separately.
To: [contracting party] Premises and agreement: [details] Request date: [date] Rent due under the agreement: [periods, amounts and due dates] Payments received: [dates, amounts and references] Outstanding or disputed difference: [itemised explanation] Please confirm payment records or explain any discrepancy: [reply date and contact] Attachments: [rent schedule and relevant records] Sender and delivery record: [details]
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the locks when the tenant stops replying?
Do not infer a right to do so from silence. Confirm the legal position and appropriate possession procedure.
Does holding a deposit remove the need for an arrears record?
No. Rent, deposit and any agreed deductions must still be reconciled separately.
Does a missing tenant authorise lock changes or cutting utilities?
Do not treat arrears, silence or a held deposit as authority to repossess or apply pressure yourself. Keep contact attempts, the rent ledger and condition records and follow the applicable legal route, including the enforcement process for an order. Separate urgent safety action from termination of the tenancy.
How do rent recovery, possession and mediation differ?
Identify whether the aim is payment, possession or an agreed arrangement, then prepare the parties, agreement, ledger, notices and service records for the relevant route. The Judiciary describes the Lands Tribunal’s possession and associated monetary powers; do not treat every money claim as the same procedure. An unaccepted mediation proposal is not an order or an agreed surrender.
Sources and further reading
- Rating and Valuation Department: tenancy information and advice
- RVD: residential tenancy, CR109 and regulated tenancy FAQs (Chinese)
- Judiciary: Lands Tribunal
- Judiciary: Small Claims Tribunal (Chinese)
- RVD: tenancy information (Chinese)
General Hong Kong tenancy information. Check current official requirements and obtain advice for your circumstances.