Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) is designed to assist residents to buy their own home. HOS flats are subsidized public housing and the buying, selling and mortgage of these flats are subject to certain restrictions.

However, the Housing Authority accepted the government's recommendation on cessation of production and sale of HOS flats indefinitely from 2003 onwards. In January 2006, the HA decided to offer for sale in phases the unsold and returned HOS flats (collectively known as surplus HOS flats) from 2007 onwards.

In this section, you will be able to read about the purchase and sale of HOS flats, including eligibility and application details. Existing HOS flat owners can also browse for information on ownership and property management.

HOS flat owners, from the third year onwards from the date of first assignment, may sell their flat in the HOS Secondary Market to tenants of rental housing estates managed by the HA or the Housing Society (HS), authorized residents of Interim Housing managed by HA, or holders of Green Form Certificate issued by the HD without payment of a premium to the HA.

Flat owners may obtain application form of Certificate of Availability for Sale from District Tenancy Management Offices, and the Home Assistance Loan Unit. The completed application form should be submitted to the District Tenancy Management Offices concerned together with application fee and a copy of the Deed of Assignment.

The application fee shall be paid in the form of a crossed cheque / cashier order payable to the "Hong Kong Housing Authority". A Certificate of Availability for Sale will be issued to the HOS flat owner after the HD has verified the application.

Owners who have sold their flats, and their spouses are not eligible to join any of the subsidized housing scheme administered by the HA (including public rental housing, HOS, PSPS, HALS, HOS Secondary Market Scheme, TPS) and any subsidized scheme administered by the HS.

Exceeding five years

When the HOS flat exceeds five years from the date of first assignment, the owner can sell, let or assign the flat in the open market subject to payment of a premium to the HA. However, the owner of the flat which exceeds five years from the date of first assignment can enter into agreement for sale and purchase providing it is a condition of such agreement that the premium as assessed by the Director of Housing be paid prior to the assignment and within 28 days of the date of the agreement or within such period as may be otherwise stipulated by the Director of Housing. Any person who sells, lets or assigns the flat before payment of the assessed premium commits an offence under the Housing Ordinance and is liable on conviction to a fine of $500,000 and to imprisonment for one year and such alienation or assignment will also be void.

The Housing Authority (HA) formally established the HOS Secondary Market Scheme (HOSSMS) in June 1997. It enables public housing tenants and Green Form Certificate holders to purchase flats sold under Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) / Private Sector Participation Scheme (PSPS) / Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) (hereinafter collectively referred to as HOS flats) with the date of first assignment from the third years onwards. The launch of the HOSSMS increases the turnover of HOS flats so as to satisfy the society's need of subsidized home ownership. Apart from providing more choices for public rental housing tenants and Green Form Certificate holders to own a home, more public rental housing can be recovered for allocation to families in need.

Transactions in the HOS Secondary Market are similar to that in the open market. The purchaser and the seller may negotiate the price freely and conclude the deal either directly or through an estate agent. Purchasers of flats in the HOS Secondary Market will assume the liability to pay the premium if they sell their flats at the open market in the future. Please click the following links for more information on sales of flats at the HOS Secondary Market:

Sell in the Secondary Market:HOS flat owners, from the third year onwards from the date of first assignment, may sell their flat in the HOS Secondary Market to tenants of rental housing estates managed by the HA or the Housing Society (HS), authorized residents of Interim Housing managed by HA, or holders of Green Form Certificate issued by the HD without payment of a premium to the HA.

Flat owners may obtain application form of Certificate of Availability for Sale from District Tenancy Management Offices, and the Home Assistance Loan Unit. The completed application form should be submitted to the District Tenancy Management Offices concerned together with application fee and a copy of the Deed of Assignment.

The application fee shall be paid in the form of a crossed cheque / cashier order payable to the "Hong Kong Housing Authority". A Certificate of Availability for Sale will be issued to the HOS flat owner after the HD has verified the application.

Owners who have sold their flats, and their spouses are not eligible to join any of the subsidized housing scheme administered by the HA (including public rental housing, HOS, PSPS, HALS, HOS Secondary Market Scheme, TPS) and any subsidized scheme administered by the HS.

Sell in the Secondary Market: TPS flat owners, from the third year onwards from the date of first assignment, may sell their flats in the HOS Secondary Market to tenants of rental housing estates managed by the HA or the Housing Society (HS), authorized residents of Interim Housing managed by HA, or holders of Green Form Certificate issued by the HD without payment of a premium to the HA.

Flat owners may obtain application form of Certificate of Availability for Sale from District Tenancy Management Office and the Home Assistance Loan Unit or click the following link to download the form:

The completed application form should be submitted to the District Tenancy Management Office concerned together with an application fee and a copy of the Deed of Assignment.

The application fee shall be paid in the form of a crossed cheque / cashier order payable to the "Hong Kong Housing Authority". A Certificate of Availability for Sale will be issued to the TPS flat owner after the HD has verified the application.

Owners who have sold their flats, and their spouses are not eligible to join any of the subsidized housing scheme administered by the HA (including public rental housing, Home Ownership Scheme (HOS), Private Sector Participation Scheme (PSPS), Home Assistance Loan Scheme (HALS), HOS Secondary Market Scheme, TPS) and any subsidized scheme administered by the HS.