Despite higher costs, Hong Kong’s student residences attract mainland Chinese renters

Purpose-built student accommodation is drawing mainland Chinese university students away from Hong Kong’s traditional rental market, as professionally managed residences gain favour despite charging higher rents than many private flats.

Some students said dedicated student housing offered greater convenience, stronger security, more predictable costs and a better living environment, helping offset higher rents and, in some cases, longer commutes.

Qi Zhonghao, a mainland Chinese student pursuing a master’s degree in robotics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), said he spent a year living in a subdivided unit – converted from a village house near the university – because of the limited availability of on-campus housing, before moving to an off-campus student residence.

“Rents for this type of subdivided unit are relatively low,” he said. “A single room with a private bathroom costs around HK$7,000 [US$890] to HK$8,000 a month, and it’s quite close to university.”