Can a property agent handle rent increases

I rent a flat in Sheung Wan area. I rented the flat through an agent who said she was the sole agent for the owner of the flat. and could set the rent on behalf of the owner


4 weeks ago, aproximately 8 weeks before the end of the first year of the two year contract that I signed, the agent phoned me saying that the rent would need to be increased by HK$2,000 per month.


I asked if I could negotiate the rent increase with the landlord and gave her my price.


However, several weeks have gone by and each time I ask the agent if she has managed to contacted the owner of the flat, she says she can't get hold of her and then lauunches into a dialogue about how prices have gone up.



I asked the agent for the owner telephone number, so that I could contact the owner myself (who incidentally does not live in Hong Kong) and I sent two SMS messages and tried calling her twice.


In the SMS messages I left my phone number and email address.WhenI phoned, I tried to leave a message but the voicemail was not active.


To date, I have not heard from the owner, and as I have not even got a letter saying that the agent is legally acting on behalf of the owner, I am wondering what I should do.


Should I just continue to pay the original monthly rent specified in my rental contract, or pay the higher price that the agent (who says she is acting for the owner) is asking for?

Shade. I would suggest writing a letter to the landlord and giving it to the agent. Continue to pay the existing rent until the landlord gets in touch.

Thanks for your comments.

The agent only gave me a mobile phone number of the Landlord of the building, But, as I mentioned in my first posting. If I get official confirmation form the Landlord of the price increase then the matter is solved.


At the moment I pay the monthly rent direct to the the Landlords HSBC Banks account. Does anyone know if banks in Hong Kong are willing to pass letters on to their clients?

I kniw they are not allowed to give out their addresses.


If anyone else has anymore comments or advice. I would very much appreciate them.


Although, I guess, I could just ask someone directly at the bank.