Advice on hot water heaters, water pressure and security deposit when you rent in Hong Kong

I just moved to an older building in Happy Valley and turns out there is no hot water in the bathroom sink. Hot water in the kitchen sink requires a hot water heater to heat up.


A quick check when you rent is look under the sink and at the pipes going in. If there is no pipe leading from the hot water tube to the pipe - you've got no hot water.


Also, I tried to change the old shower head, apparently there's not enough water pressure for the shower head to work with the new ones. I'm stuck with a shower head that drizzles.


Agents and landlords are unscrupulous and won't tell you until you've signed deposited and trying it out.


Don't assume HK flats are like the West. It ain't so. Also, take a picture of the place before you move in. Landlords will bilk you on your security deposit claiming this or that.


So, try everything, turn this on and put a clause in that if things aren't what they say, you can leave with 30 days notice or something.


Don't get screwed like me.

absolutely try everything. in fact, turn on all the water at once to gauge the pressure drop from kitchen to bath...

Sorry to hear. If you olan to stay, you may be able to get the bathroom conected to the kitchen water heater. Some landlords are quite grateful if you do stuff in the flat and will reimburse you. And if not, request a drop in rent, to compensate. Just ask.... and sometimes its worth fxing stuff in the flat, ask a rent-free oeriod .. If job doesnt cost much ( compared to your monthly rent) do t fr your own comfort. Yes its not same as in the West but, for example, labour to get stuff done is much cheaper and so you must weigh it up in a different way!