Dodgy Estate Agent..? Please Help!!

My flat agent called me up today and said that they will increase my rent by adding $300 monthlystarting from next month (one year fixed term ends then). I told them that I am fine with the increment then they told me that I will have to enter into a new contract with one year fixed term AGAIN!!


I told them that on my contract, it is written that the expiration of the said terms of tenancy or any RENEWAL thereof the Tenant shall be considered to be a calendar monthly Tenant and shall give one calendar month's notice of his intention to quit. To my understanding, after the first year, I can leave the flat by giving one month notice and not necessarily live there for another one whole year!


The agent said that the HK Housing Policy has changed since last year and said that every year the renewal will be fixed for minimum one year and also there will be annual increment on the rent. I do not know about the HK Housing Policy changes so I do not know whether I am being taken for a ride or if this Policy is correct!?!


I'm a bit lost here so any replies will be of great help.


Cheers!

Thanks for your reply. Really appreciated! I'm going to ask one of my local friends to talk with the agent. He is clever enough to know his way around to fool me so let's see how he deals with a local person! Thanks once again.

Thanks, Patrick. I managed to get hold of the landlord directly and he said that he will increase my rent by $300 but will let me have the flat for a minimum of 6 months rather than 1 year. The reason that I dont want to rent for 1 fixed year is that I'm looking to buy a property in Kennedy Town within these 6 months and don't want to be stuck with the rental for 1 whole year.


Well, I just hope that I can manage to bag a nice property within these 6 months otherwise the landlord might raise the rent again if I linger...