First timer renter

Hi, I'm new to HK and renting for the first time. I've seen lots of flats and love one but that particular agent is seemingly giving me the run around. When placing an offer, do I need to sign the pink Form 4 with the agent first? I'm hearing different things from different agents. Would appreciate help and advice. Thank you.

Hi ThomasJohnson,


It should be Form 6 if you're renting - Form 4 is for purchasers. Yes, you do need to sign it, in fact by law you should really sign it before the agent even takes you to see any properties.

Thanks guys. Yes, it is the Form 6, not Form 4, my mistake. Funny thing is that I've seen properties with about 8 different agents and only 1 has asked me to sign this.

I think you'll probably find that most agents don't bother to get you to sign, because there's a good chance that you'll see a few flats with them, then go to another agent and secure a deal. They don't want to go through the bother of doing the paperwork when it's not going to come to anything.


Another reason is that some prospective tenants refuse to fill in the form - they are a bit suspicious and think the agent is trying to pull a fast one.


By law we (agents) are supposed to get both the tenant/purchaser and the landlord/seller to sign the relevant form, but a lot of people don't believe this. For example, one landlord asked me to help lease her flat for her and I said I would advertise it but that I needed her to sign the form first. She replied quite curtly that several other agents had already advertised it and she hadn't signed anything - she quite obviously didn't believe me, and although I sent the form to her she never returned it. So I didn't advertise her flat.

Just be careful what you sign. As a tennant I would suggest sign nothing until you have decided on a place, as I have had fast ones pulled on me before. But not all Agents do that.


Some Agents will try and stitch you into an exclusive representative agreement of sorts.


Now that would be fine if they only did exclusive listing s with landlords. But something you should be aware of is that numerous agents list the same apartment,and for varying prices. So don't get sucked into that trap.


Like ldavy said, the owner is supposed to be engated with a landlord prior to advertising a place. Agents sometimes advertise hin HK without even the landlord even knowing, if they see a place they think they can get more for than currently advertised. Then when you are about to sign with the proper agent, you can get cut out or rent fees wedged up by such behaviour.