Getting the keys to a public rental flat or a subsidised (HOS) flat is a milestone — and 2026 is a busy year for it. The Housing Authority expects to allocate roughly 34,500 public rental units in 2026/27, about 14,600 of them newly built, alongside a run of new HOS estates reaching handover.
If you are in that queue, the move itself is the part most people underestimate. Here is what to sort out, in order.
Before you move: five things to settle
1. Take over the flat properly. Inspect on handover day and log every defect in writing — the defect-rectification window is limited, and anything you miss becomes your problem.
2. Check the access route, not just the flat. Measure the service lift, the corridor turns and the door widths before you buy furniture. A wardrobe that fits the bedroom but not the lift is a common and expensive mistake.
3. Book the lift and loading bay. Most estates require the management office to reserve the service lift for a moving slot, sometimes with a deposit. Slots on weekends and at month-end go first.
4. Plan renovation around the move. If you are laying flooring or fitting cabinets, the move has to land after the dusty work, not before.
5. Line up utilities. Electricity, water, gas and broadband all need lead time; broadband installation is usually the long pole.
Choosing the right vehicle
A one-bedroom flat with a three-seat sofa usually needs a 5.5-tonne truck rather than a van. If you are only moving boxes and small appliances, a van with driver assistance is enough. The deciding factor is rarely total volume — it is the single largest item.
Costs to expect
GoGoX prices a move from an inventory list, so the figure is itemised before dispatch: GoGoX Moving Service is a fixed price from HK$800, packing and carrying included, with HK$2,000 of goods coverage. Walk-ups, long carries from the loading bay, and out-of-hours slots are quoted on top rather than hidden in the base rate.
On the day
Have the management office paperwork, lift booking and your ID ready at the gate — estates will turn a crew away without them. Photograph existing damage in the lift lobby and corridor before loading; if something is scratched during the move, that record is what settles it.
Moving into public housing: common questions
How far ahead should I book a move into a new public housing flat?
One to two weeks before the handover date. Demand at a newly occupied estate is heavy, and booking early is what secures the slot and the crew you want rather than what is left.
What size vehicle do I need for a public housing flat?
A one or two-bedroom flat usually takes a 5.5-tonne truck, from HK$135. Its body is roughly 366–457 × 183 × 198 cm with a 1,000–1,300 kg limit, which holds a bed frame, a fridge, a washing machine and a normal number of boxes.
For a single occupant or a light load, a van is enough: roughly 168 × 122 × 122 cm, 700 kg, from HK$55.
Will the driver carry things up to the flat?
No. The standard vehicle service is point to point — kerbside loading and unloading. If you need carrying to the door, tick door-to-door carrying when you book and agree the fee with the driver in advance. Stair carries have no set rate and are agreed directly.
Are there loading restrictions at the estate?
Most estates limit when trucks may enter and park, and many require the goods lift to be registered in advance. Contact the estate office a week before the move to confirm the permitted hours, the loading point, and whether a deposit is held. This is the step people skip, and it is the most common cause of delay on the day.
Watch the waiting charge while you sort it out: a van is free for the first 15 minutes then HK$10 per 5 minutes; 5.5 and 9-tonne trucks are free for 30 minutes then HK$15 per 5.
What if the lift is too small for the furniture?
Measure the lift’s internal length, width and height, and the door frame, then check them against the furniture. If it will not go in, the piece can often be dismantled, or carried up the stairs instead.
Stair carries are agreed with the driver, so state the floor and the lift situation in the booking notes and the right crew and equipment can be sent.
Is there a refurbishment allowance for new public housing tenants?
Yes. The Housing Department offers eligible new tenants a Vacant Flat Refurbishment Allowance worth about three months’ rent. Ask the estate office and submit the application when you go in to sign the tenancy and collect the keys.
Eligibility and amounts as published by the Hong Kong Housing Authority.
How should I choose a moving date?
Tradition points to the almanac, avoiding dates that clash with the family’s zodiac signs and favouring those marked for moving house. Three practical things are worth weighing alongside it:
📅 Avoid the peak — the start and end of the month, and the days around public holidays, are when vehicles are hardest to book.
💰 Watch the time-slot surcharge — Sundays and public holidays between 07:00 and 20:59 add HK$15 for a van, HK$30 for 5.5 tonnes, HK$54 for 9 tonnes.
🕐 Weekday daytime is clean — no time-slot surcharge between 07:00 and 20:59 on a weekday.
