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B1 · Lesson 8

Renting a Flat

租樓
What you will learn

Navigate the Hong Kong rental market in Cantonese. Learn to enquire about flats, discuss rent and conditions, negotiate terms, and understand common rental vocabulary — from viewing a flat to signing the lease.

Dialogue

Conversation

A
你好，我想睇下你哋嗰個兩房單位。租金幾多呀？
Hello, I would like to view that two-bedroom flat. How much is the rent?
B
月租一萬八，已經包差餉同管理費。
Monthly rent is eighteen thousand, already including rates and management fees.
A
有冇傢俬提供呀？我想搵有齊傢俬嘅。
Is it furnished? I am looking for a fully furnished flat.
B
有基本傢俬，包括雪櫃、洗衣機同冷氣。但係冇梳化同飯枱。
It has basic furniture including fridge, washing machine and air conditioning. But no sofa or dining table.
A
租約幾長呀？可唔可以短租？
How long is the lease? Can I do a short-term rental?
B
最少簽一年，按金兩個月。如果住滿一年可以續租。
Minimum one year lease, two months deposit. If you stay the full year you can renew.
A
租金有冇得傾呀？如果我即刻簽約，可唔可以平少少？
Is the rent negotiable? If I sign right away, can it be a bit cheaper?
B
我可以同業主傾下，睇下有冇空間減少少。你幾時想搬入嚟？
I can discuss with the landlord to see if there is room to reduce it a bit. When do you want to move in?
Vocabulary

Key Words & Phrases

租金
rent
月租
monthly rent
按金
deposit
租約
lease / rental agreement
簽約
sign a contract
續租
renew the lease
業主
landlord / owner
傢俬
furniture
單位
flat / unit
管理費
management fee
搬入嚟
move in
差餉
rates (property tax)
Grammar

Language Patterns

有冇得 + verb (is it possible to)

有冇得 (jau5 mou5 dak1) + verb asks whether something is possible or allowed. More colloquial than 可唔可以. Very common in negotiation contexts.
有冇得平啲呀？
jau5 mou5 dak1 peng4 di1 aa3?
Is it possible to be cheaper?
有冇得遲啲先畀錢？
jau5 mou5 dak1 ci4 di1 sin1 bei2 cin2?
Is it possible to pay later?

已經包 ... (already includes)

已經包 (ji5 ging1 baau1) means "already includes". Very useful for discussing what is covered in rent, prices, or packages.
租金已經包水電煤。
zou1 gam1 ji5 ging1 baau1 seoi2 din6 mui4.
The rent already includes water, electricity and gas.
價錢已經包早餐。
gaa3 cin2 ji5 ging1 baau1 zou2 caan1.
The price already includes breakfast.

最少 / 最多 (at least / at most)

最少 (zeoi3 siu2) means "at least/minimum" and 最多 (zeoi3 do1) means "at most/maximum". Essential for discussing terms, quantities, and limits.
最少要住半年。
zeoi3 siu2 jiu3 zyu6 bun3 nin4.
Must stay at least half a year.
最多可以養一隻貓。
zeoi3 do1 ho2 ji5 joeng5 jat1 zek3 maau1.
You can keep at most one cat.

睇下有冇 + noun (see if there is)

睇下有冇 (tai2 haa5 jau5 mou5) means "let me see if there is / check whether". A polite and non-committal way to say you will look into something.
我睇下有冇平啲嘅單位。
ngo5 tai2 haa5 jau5 mou5 peng4 di1 ge3 daan1 wai2.
Let me see if there is a cheaper unit.
睇下有冇其他選擇。
tai2 haa5 jau5 mou5 kei4 taa1 syun2 zaak6.
Let me see if there are other options.
Practice

Test Your Knowledge

Fill_blank · Question 1
租金 ___ 得傾呀？ (is it possible)
  • 有冇
  • 可唔
  • 會唔
  • 得唔
Answer
有冇
Translate · Question 2
The monthly rent is eighteen thousand, already including management fees.
Answer
月租一萬八，已經包管理費。
Choice · Question 3
What does 按金 mean?
  • deposit
  • monthly rent
  • management fee
  • rates
Answer
deposit
Fill_blank · Question 4
___ 簽一年，按金兩個月。 (minimum)
  • 最少
  • 最多
  • 大概
  • 可能
Answer
最少
Translate · Question 5
When do you want to move in?
Answer
你幾時想搬入嚟？

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