Hong Kong tenant disputes 33% mid-lease rent hike

A tenant in Hong Kong has sparked online discussion after sharing screenshots of a dispute with a mainland Chinese landlord. Despite being within a two-year fixed-term lease, also known locally as a ‘dead contract,’ the landlord demanded a 33 percent rent increase, raising the monthly payment from HK$36,000 to HK$48,000.

The tenant reported that the landlord, who owns ten units in the area, appeared unaware of the contract terms, even questioning if the two-year period had already elapsed. The dispute gained viral attention due to the landlord’s blunt communication style and a voice-to-text error where he instructed the tenant to ‘wipe’ (查/擦) the documents instead of checking them.

The tenant suggested that real estate agents might be encouraging such aggressive rent hikes by advertising properties at inflated prices to secure higher commissions. While the landlord has ceased communication following the tenant's refusal to comply with the mid-term hike, netizens have advised the tenant to prepare for a difficult move-out process to protect his security deposit.