top of page
Search
Writer's pictureApartment O

Service Apartment | Hong Kong Service Apartments: A Short History

Updated: Mar 15, 2022


Service apartment properties were a Hong Kong short term lease concept that emerged in Hong Kong during the 1960s. Prior to that, people would stay at hotels and boarding houses, which were expensive for most people. As a result of housing shortages, many families would live together in one Hong Kong short term lease apartment. This was not ideal because of the lack of privacy and the desire for a more harmonious living environment. The service apartment properties idea was conceived as a solution to these problems.


The first service apartment building in Hong Kong opened in 1964 on Hollywood Road, Central and is still operating today. It comprises four storeys with 40 self-contained Hong Kong short term lease flats that are fully furnished and equipped with amenities such as kitchens, washing machines, hot water and 24-hour security. Since the inception of apartment short term lease building, there has been a steady increase in the number of service apartment buildings in Hong Kong over the years.


Service apartment is a type of short-term housing available in most of the major cities in the world. In Hong Kong, luxury service apartment flats are no longer reserved for only the upper-class or rich. service apartment properties are now widely available to both locals and expatriates. In recent years, Hong Kong has seen a growing trend in the number of people who rent an apartment short term lease for short periods of time in Happy Valley and Causeway Bay areas. Short-term leases Apartment O service apartments have become very popular with those who either travel frequently for business or pleasure, or simply want to enjoy the convenience afforded by living in an apartment short term lease


Apartment O service apartment properties offer far more convenience than conventional hotels. The rates are usually much lower than a hotel's, and there is no need to leave your long term lease apartment things behind when you travel; all you need to do is move out and move in again. All your personal long term lease apartment belongings remain within reach. The service apartment industry in Hong Kong was born out of a market demand for temporary accommodations that catered to both local residents and tourists and expatriates alike.


In the early 1990s, many long term lease apartment management companies began renting out service apartment flats on a short-term basis with an average lease period of two months. They offered their pet friendly studio apartment customers complete amenities such as kitchen facilities, TV channels and high-speed internet. Hong Kongers are famously demanding. Apartment O Causeway Bay expects the best in everything, and we're willing to pay for it. Whether it's food, clothes, housing or entertainment, our culture of convenience makes us quick to complain about even the smallest inconvenience. Taken together, these attributes make Hong Kong a difficult place to run a business - but the key to success is accommodation.


In fact, it might be fair to say that Hong Kong service apartment properties were built by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Most people are familiar with the term "service apartment", especially if they have lived in Hong Kong. The pet friendly studio apartment concept of service apartment properties is not unique to Hong Kong, but the history and development of service apartment properties in Hong Kong are quite interesting. The earliest service apartment properties appeared in the 1960s, when a couple of pet friendly studio apartment companies built some residential buildings for single expatriate males working for foreign companies.


These rental flats were smaller than regular service apartment flats and were designed as a hotel-like accommodation where personal services such as cleaning and laundry were provided. Apartment O Causeway Bay service apartment properties catered mainly to expatriates from Western countries, and were mostly located across the border in mainland China or in outlying islands such as Cheung Chau.


In the 1970s, more developers started to build service apartment properties for those finding it difficult to obtain a regular tenancy due to the tight housing market at that time. Many newcomers had come to work in Hong Kong since the 1950s (the population had doubled between 1950 and 1964) and land was scarce, thereby making it difficult for pet friendly serviced apartment developers to build large-scale housing estates. Instead, they built small pet friendly serviced apartment blocks of flats with many units on each floor – typically 30 or 40 units per floor – to maximise land use. In addition, developers also constructed these small blocks of apartments and called them service apartments.


But what are Apartment O service apartment properties? They're a unique housing option in Hong Kong in Happy Valley and Causeway Bay and other areas. These service apartment flats aren't available for rent or sale; instead, they are sold as pet friendly serviced apartment leases that can range from 6 months to 3 years. Service apartment properties also have special legal status under Hong Kong law; they aren't counted as part of the private service apartment pet friendly housing market and are not subject to the same restrictions as other types of housing. Service apartment properties in Hong Kong have been around for over 60 years, and are the first choice for short term accommodation for both tourists and business travellers.


Service apartment properties come in many service apartment pet friendly sizes and price ranges to suit your requirements – from budget studio service apartment flats to luxury one bedroom service apartment flats with kitchenette and private balcony. Most of the service apartment flats are fully furnished with basic cooking utensils, while others offer the service apartment pet friendly option of additional services such as housekeeping or laundry services. Some properties also have 24-hour security guards on site. Service apartment properties in Hong Kong are popular among business travellers and long-term residents alike. This is due to a number of reasons, including cost-effectiveness, convenience, lease apartment privacy and security.

A Hong Kong service apartment in Happy Valley or Causeway Bay areas is essentially a fully furnished apartment that is available for lease apartment rental on a short-term basis. These properties began to become popular in Hong Kong during the 1940's as many affluent expatriates began to call Hong Kong home. As the popularity of these service apartment flats grew, so did the number of lease apartment companies offering them. Today there are hundreds of companies in Hong Kong that offer a variety of service apartment flats to suit all types of guests. Service apartment properties typically offer more amenities than traditional apartment complexes.


For example, service apartment facilities often include exercise rooms and swimming pools. Many also include features that are common at hotels, like daily room cleaning and room service. Some even offer full one bedroom apartment services, including front desk assistance and concierge services. Some service apartment properties are managed by the same company that owns the building where they're located. Others are operated by independent one bedroom apartment companies but still available only to people who live or work nearby. Most service apartment properties don't rent by the week or month; instead, they're leased by one bedroom apartment contract. Typical leases last for one year, although shorter leases are sometimes available.


In 1998, the Service Apartment Ordinance was passed, aiming to regulate the service apartment industry by requiring landlords to register their pet friendly apartment properties with the Buildings Department and restricting advertisements for such properties. It also set out measures to improve safety and quality of tenancy, such as requiring pet friendly apartment buildings to have a fire safety plan, installing fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, providing emergency contact details as well as rubbish collection schedules (for areas where refuse is collected on a regular basis).


In 2009, the government introduced new pet friendly apartment regulations to further enhance accommodation standards. Under this initiative, landlords must install closed-circuit television cameras at common areas and indoor corridors of the furnished apartment building. Moreover, they are required to upgrade their electrical installations so that they conform to current standards. Finally, furnished apartment landlords are required to display how much deposit is collected at the beginning of each tenancy agreement and what it is used for.


The government has also banned beds in kitchens and shower cubicles since 1 January 2011, with a view to reducing fire hazards arising from overcrowding. As of October 2016, there are approximately 9500 service apartment properties across Hong Kong. Hong Kong service apartment properties are a great furnished apartment option for backpackers, couples, or even small families. These self-catering service apartment flats are located in prime areas of Hong Kong and give you access to most amenities you'd expect from a home.


Service apartment properties are one of the most popular Hong Kong short term lease accommodations in HK. They're short-term furnished rentals ranging from studios to two-bedroom units, which are ideal for travellers on a budget. They're also a popular Hong Kong short term lease option among locals who prefer staying in an apartment rather than a hotel room when they travel.

Service apartment properties offer the convenience of a hotel with the privacy of your own service apartment. They're usually located in residential areas, close to restaurants and shopping centres, making them an ideal Hong Kong short term lease option for long-term stays or business trips. service apartment properties also make excellent weekend getaways or honeymoon suites. Depending on the location of your apartment, you might find that there's no need to rent a car because it's easy to catch public transportation or taxis nearby when you want to go sightseeing around town.



9 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page