Home Ownership Scheme 2024: application period, process and eligibility at a glance

The new phase of Home Ownership Scheme flats will officially open for applications on 3 October 2024. This year, there are five estates, offering a total of 7,132 units, including Kai Ying Court in Kai Tak, On Pak Court in Kwun Tong, Ko Hei Court in Yau Tong, Yu Hing Court in Tung Chung and Siu Wu Court in Tuen Mun. To support young families, the Government has also introduced the “Families with Newborns Priority Scheme” in this phase, which enjoys the same priority in flat selection as the “Families with Elderly Members” arrangement. But what do you need to prepare for the HOS ballot? What are the eligibility requirements for applying? When will the ballot take place? This article provides prospective 2024 HOS applicants under the Green Form and White Form schemes with information on eligibility, income limits, application methods, dates, and the relevant HOS locations and prices, to help everyone seize the opportunity to get on the property ladder.

If you want to apply for Home Ownership Scheme flats, you should pay attention to the following important dates:

This year will see five brand-new estates, namely Kai Ying Court in Kai Tak, On Pak Court in Kwun Tong, Ko Hei Court in Yau Tong, Yu Hing Court in Tung Chung and Siu Wu Court in Tuen Mun, providing a total of 7,132 units. HOS 2024 will also re-offer 70 HOS units recovered after cancellation of sale agreements, including 7 units at Kei Wa Court in North Point, Hong Kong Island, and 14 units at Kai Yan Court in Kai Tak, among others, catering to the homeownership needs of different families and individuals. Below are the detailed particulars of the new estate developments:

New Estate Development Details

The green-to-white ratio for Home Ownership Scheme flats in 2024 remains unchanged at 4:6, meaning 40% of the units are allocated to Green Form applicants and 60% to White Form applicants. Of these, 700 quotas will be reserved for single applicants; in addition, 2,900 unit quotas will be set aside for applicants under the “Elderly Scheme”.

From 2024 onwards, the “Families with Newborns” flat selection priority scheme will be implemented. Eligible family applicants who gave birth to a newborn baby on or after 25 October 2023, and whose baby is aged 3 or below at the application deadline, may take part in this scheme. Under this arrangement, 40% of the units will be reserved exclusively for eligible applicants under the “Families with Newborns” and “Elderly Priority Scheme”. Compared with the previous 30% quota under the “Elderly Priority Scheme”, the scope of protection has been further expanded, helping everyone achieve their home-ownership goals sooner.

If you wish to apply for Home Ownership Scheme flats, you should first understand the relevant eligibility criteria. Details are as follows:

HOS 2024 | Income cap

White-form applications

The income cap for single and family white-form applicants is:

According to the Housing Authority’s rules, mandatory MPF contributions should be deducted from HOS application income, while voluntary contributions must be included. In addition, applicants must not have owned any property within the past 24 months. The income and asset caps for white-form applicants have both been lowered, so please note the latest requirements.

Green-form applications

Unlike white-form applications, green-form applicants are not subject to an income limit. However, since 2023, the asset requirement for green-form eligibility has been tightened, and an additional condition has been introduced. Applicants and all family members listed on the application form must not have owned any property in Hong Kong, or held any interest in property, within the 24 months before the application deadline.

HOS 2024 | Application requirements

White-form HOS

•    Households in private housing
•    Aged 18 or above, and must have lived in Hong Kong for 7 years
•    Must be the owner of the flat being purchased
•    Must meet the HOS 2024 income cap
•    Family members of public rental housing under the Housing Authority, rental estates under the Hong Kong Housing Society, or units under any subsidised housing scheme
•    Owners of units purchased under the Tenants Purchase Scheme for less than 10 years, and their recognised family members

Green-form HOS

•    Aged 18 or above
•    Public rental housing tenants under the Housing Authority (excluding tenants under conditional tenancies, monthly licencees and holders of temporary occupation permits)
•    Tenants of Type A rental estates or Elderly Persons’ Flats under the Hong Kong Housing Society (excluding tenants of Type B rental estates or tenants of transitional interim housing under a monthly licence arrangement)
•    Persons holding a valid Green Form Certificate – for Sale of Flats under the Home Ownership Scheme only, issued by the Housing Department or the Urban Renewal Authority
•    Beneficiaries of the Housing Authority’s Elderly Rent Allowance Scheme
•    Housing Department works staff in the Building Services Assistant grade holding a valid letter of assurance issued by the Housing Department
 

Home Ownership Scheme 2024｜Application Methods

There are three ways to apply for HOS 2024: online application, postal application, or in-person submission of the HOS application form:

 1. Online Application

If applying online, you will need to provide personal details and declare your income, etc. Green Form applicants and family members must sign the application form to confirm Green Form eligibility. After submission, the relevant staff will contact the applicant to arrange the next steps.

 2. Postal Application

If you choose to apply by post, please mail the completed application form, copies of the identity cards of the applicant and family members, and a crossed cheque or cashier’s order together to: Platform 1, Customer Service Centre, Hong Kong Housing Authority, 3 Wang Tau Hom South Road, Kowloon, and mark "HOS 2024" White Form on the envelope. Please note that sufficient postage must be paid to avoid postal delays or returned mail, which may affect your application.

 3. In-person Submission

You may submit the completed application form, copies of identity cards and a crossed cheque in person into the drop box at Platform 1, Customer Service Centre, Hong Kong Housing Authority, 3 Wang Tau Hom South Road, Kowloon. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:45 am to 6:00 pm.

Home Ownership Scheme 2024｜Balloting for Applications

The Housing Authority will conduct a ballot after the application deadline, and invitation letters will then be sent to successful applicants in batches.

Home Ownership Scheme 2024｜Selecting a Flat

HOS flats will be allocated according to the quota ratio for Green Form and White Form applicants.
 

The flat selection order for Home Ownership Scheme flats will be arranged according to priority categories, as follows:
1.    Families affected by the Public Rental Housing clearance programme
2.    Families affected by the Interim Housing clearance programme
3.    Family applicants under the Green Form and White Form Schemes
4.    Single applicants affected by the Public Rental Housing clearance programme
5.    Single applicants affected by the Interim Housing clearance programme
6.    Single applicants under the Green Form and White Form Schemes
 

The application fee for the HOS 2024 is HK$290, an increase of HK$20 from last year. The application fee for White Form Secondary Market Scheme is yet to be announced; if referring to last year’s fee, it was HK$210. If applying for both, the total is expected to be HK$500.

HOS 2024 | Payment Methods

1.    Online application: use a valid credit card (held by the applicant or another person) (VISA, MasterCard, JCB or UnionPay)
2.    By post or in person: pay by crossed cheque (issued by the applicant or another person) or bank draft. The cheque or bank draft should be made payable to “Hong Kong Housing Authority”, with the applicant’s Hong Kong identity card number and contact telephone number written on the reverse.

Duplicate applications for Home Ownership Scheme flats will result in disqualification

If a duplicate online or paper application is found, all applications will be rendered void, and the application fee paid will not be refunded. In addition, members of the same family may only apply for Home Ownership Scheme flats with one application form and may not submit separate applications.

Those who have benefited from other subsidised housing schemes cannot enter the Home Ownership Scheme ballot again

Those who have previously benefited from other subsidised housing schemes are not eligible to take part in the Home Ownership Scheme ballot again. Even if they have sold the unit after enjoying government-subsidised housing benefits, they will still not be able to apply for the Home Ownership Scheme again.

If you are lucky enough to secure a Home Ownership Scheme flat and become a homeowner, of course you will want to enjoy your new home. But don’t forget to take out home insurance to guard against unexpected accidents. There are many home insurance products on the market, so readers should compare different options and choose the insurance product that best suits their personal needs. To learn more about home insurance products, you can refer to 10Life’s home insurance comparison, where coverage details and premiums are clearly laid out, and actuarial ratings are also provided.

Further reading:

【Home Insurance Comparison 2024】Which Home Insurance Is Best? A Complete Guide for Owners and Tenants (With Exclusive Actuarial Ratings)

【What Does Home Insurance Cover?】It’s More Than Just Home Protection — Even Moving and Travel Property Losses Are Covered!

As Typhoon Season Begins, a Home Insurance Coverage Analysis: How Does Protection Extend from Indoors to Outdoors?

Source:

Hong Kong Housing Authority. Sale of Home Ownership Scheme Flats 2024

Centaline Property. Home Ownership Scheme / White Form Secondary Market Scheme Application Guide

Last updated: 27 September 2024

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.