I. Basic knowledge of land ownership in Hong Kong

The People’s Republic of China owns all the land in Hong Kong, except the land on which St John’s Cathedral stands. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong has the powers to lease and grant state land to the public for ownership for a limited period of time (legally defined as “leasehold” land). The Chief Executive can do so by: i) granting Government leases for a certain period, or ii) granting licences for individuals or corporations to occupy Government land for special purposes for a certain period (usually shorter than a government lease). In other words, a “landowner” actually leases the land from the Government but the relevant lease period can be very long (e.g. 50 years or more).

1. Am I holding a Government lease while owning a flat in a multi-storey building?

Yes. As an owner of an individual unit (flat) in a multi-storey building, you and all other owners of the same building hold the Government lease of the land on which the building has been constructed.  In other words, you are a co-owner of the Government lease and you are holding a portion of shares in the land. You have the exclusive right of possession of your individual unit and share the common parts of the building with other co-owners.

2. What are the different ways of owning a property? What is sole ownership and what are joint tenants and tenants-in-common?

The different ways of owning a property in Hong Kong are sole ownership and joint ownership. Ask your solicitor for more information about joint ownership if you plan to buy a flat with other persons.

a. Sole ownership

Sole ownership refers to a property owned by one person only and that person is the sole owner of the property.

b. Joint ownership

If a couple who are either married or living together purchase a property in which they intend to live, they usually intend to share the ownership of the property. The most common types of joint ownership are “joint tenancy” and “tenancy-in-common”.

• Joint tenancy

For a joint tenancy, all the joint tenants are treated as one sole owner. In other words, the interests or shares of ownership of the joint tenants are equal. When one of the joint tenants dies, his/her interest will automatically pass to the surviving joint tenant who will own the whole property.

• Tenancy-in-common

For tenancy-in-common, the interests of all the tenants-in-common are proportional to their respective contributions to the purchase price of the property. In a tenancy-in-common with 2 owners, for example, the owner who contributed 25% of the purchase price would hold 1/4 share of ownership. The other owner, who contributed 75% of the purchase price, would hold a 3/4 share of ownership. When one of the tenants-in-common dies, his/her interest will form part of his/her estate (i.e. property left after a person’s death) and will be passed on according to the terms of his/her Will or the law of intestacy if there is no Will.

3. I am not the “registered owner” (my name is not written on the title deed of the flat which has been registered in the Land Registry) but I have paid part or all of the purchase money of the flat. Do I have a say in matters concerning the property? For example, can I prevent the “registered owner” from selling the property?

Although you are not the “registered owner”, if whole or part of the purchase money comes from you, you may be the “beneficial owner” of the property. That is to say, the property may be held by the registered owner in trust either wholly or partly on your behalf. If you and the registered owner have respectively contributed half of the purchase money, your half share may be held by the registered owner on your behalf. You should immediately notify any intending purchaser and his solicitor of your beneficial interest. This could effectively stop the sale. Alternatively, you could claim against the registered owner for your share of the proceeds if the property is sold.

However, if you intended to buy the property and give it to the registered owner as a gift (in which you had clearly expressed that when you paid the money), your beneficial interest in relation to that property is arguable. That means you may not be able to stop the sale or claim for your share.

The above matters involve complex legal arguments in which legal advice must be sought.

II. The estate agents’ services (with an overview of the sale and purchase procedures)

Although the vendor (seller) and the purchaser can directly deal with each other, they usually have to go through the following steps with the assistance of estate agents:

An overview of the procedures for sale and purchase of property

i) A vendor finds an estate agent(s) to sell the property, and/or a purchaser finds an estate agent(s) to search for appropriate properties to buy;

ii) The purchaser inspects the property and negotiates the price with the agent or the vendor;

iii) Vendor and purchaser sign a provisional (or preliminary) agreement for sale and purchase of the selected property (the provisional agreement is usually provided by the estate agent). The purchaser then pays the initial deposit;

iv) Vendor and purchaser each appoint their own solicitors to negotiate and sign a formal agreement for sale and purchase (the formal agreement is provided by the vendor’s solicitor and is checked by the purchaser’s solicitor). The purchaser then pays the further deposit;

v) Vendor hands over the property to the purchaser. Purchaser pays the balance of purchase price. Both parties sign an assignment which is provided by the purchaser’s solicitor and is checked by the vendor’s solicitor.

No matter whether you are a vendor or a purchaser, the first party that you have to deal with is normally the estate agent. Therefore, it is worth knowing more about the services provided by estate agents.

1. I want to sell my flat. What services can I expect from an estate agent?

The agent should:

1. Get information about your flat from you;
2. Market your flat to potential purchasers. Your agent should not advertise your flat by whatever means (e.g. newspaper advertisement, posters or brochures, etc.) without your prior approval;
3. Arrange for potential purchasers to inspect your flat;
4. Arrange for negotiations with potential purchasers;
5. Tell you about all offers in relation to your flat. If any potential purchaser has shown interest in buying your flat and has quoted a price for the flat, the agent must inform you immediately;
6. Help you negotiate and sign the provisional agreement with the purchaser.

It is very important that the agent is honest with you and the agent should always act in your best interest.

2. As a vendor, must I sign an estate agency agreement when I ask an agent to help me sell my flat?

In accordance with section 45 of the Estate Agents Ordinance (Cap. 511 of the Laws of Hong Kong), you and your agent must sign an agency agreement before you sell a residential property. Otherwise, the agent cannot serve you.

The Estate Agency Agreement for Sale of Residential Properties in Hong Kong (Form 3) is designed for Vendors. This agreement is provided by the Estate Agents Authority in accordance with the Estate Agents Ordinance. It must be duly signed by you and your estate agent.

The items contained in this agency agreement include: the duties of the agent, the commission payable by the vendor and the validity period of that agreement, etc.

You can use the services of more than one agent in respect of the same flat if you want to. However, you are reminded NOT to state that the agent is your exclusive agent in any agency agreement if you want 2 or more agents to help you. Otherwise, you will also have to pay the exclusive agent a commission even if you sell your flat through another agent (i.e. you would have to pay commission to both agents).

You can download “Form 3” from the Estate Agents Authority’s webpage. You should read this agreement carefully before you sign it.  If you do not understand any part of it, ask the agent or your solicitor. You should ask your agent to give you a copy of the agreement you have signed. You should also keep the agreement in a safe place for future reference if needed.

In addition to the estate agency agreement, you and your agent must also sign a Property Information Form, which contains details of your property (e.g. the floor area, any mortgage outstanding, or any repairing order issued by government authorities). You should, to the best of your knowledge, give correct information to your agent. Your agent should also endeavour to check the accuracy of any information regarding your property. If false information has been provided to a purchaser which resulted in any loss to him, you and/or your agent will be liable to be sued by the purchaser for compensation.

The estate agency agreement aims to provide protection to residential property owners who are mostly persons without much legal knowledge of property transactions. If you want to sell a non-residential property (such as commercial or industrial property) through an agent without signing an estate agency agreement, you still have protection from the statute laws of Hong Kong (e.g. the Estate Agents Ordinance), the regulations imposed by the Estate Agents Authority (e.g. the Code of Ethics), and Common Law. Nevertheless, your agent may ask you to sign an estate agency agreement. Since the Estate Agents Authority does not provide any recommended agreement form for non-residential property, you should read the agreement carefully before you sign it. If you have any questions, ask the agent or your solicitor.

3. Can the same agent serve both the vendor and the purchaser?

Yes, if both parties know and agree to it. You should mark clearly in your estate agency agreement that the respective agent is a “dual agency” (the agent acts for both the vendor and the purchaser), or “potentially dual agency” (the agent acts for the vendor only but may also act for the purchaser at a later stage).

4. I want to buy a flat. What services can I expect and what information can I obtain from the agent who shows me a flat?

The agent should:

1. Provide you with the necessary information about the flat (see below);
2. Arrange for you to inspect the flat;
3. Arrange for negotiations with the vendor;
4. Pass on all your offers to the vendor (see below);
5. Help you negotiate and sign the provisional agreement with the vendor.

With regard to point (a) above, the necessary information includes current ownership, floor area, encumbrances (e.g. any existing mortgage or repairing order), any existing tenancy, year of completion, use restriction (e.g. residential, industrial or other use), any previous additions or alteration work done by the vendor, the lease term (lease period) of the relevant government lease/grant, etc.

Further to point (d) above, in case your agent hears about or receives a higher offer from another potential purchaser, your agent must inform you about such offer immediately (since you may wish to make a higher revised offer). If your agent fails to do so, you may sue him/her for compensation.

You can also obtain the details of your target flat from the Property Information Form (also called “Form 1”) which is completed by the vendor and the vendor’s agent. Note 4 of this Form has stipulated, “A licensed estate agent is required to provide to a purchaser the original or copy of the completed form unless the purchaser specifically waives his right to receive the same”. For more information about this Form, please go back to question 2.

It is very important that the agent is honest with you and the agent should always act in your best interest.

5. As a purchaser, must I sign an estate agency agreement when I ask an agent to show me a flat?

With reference to section 45 of the Estate Agents Ordinance, you and your agent must sign an agency agreement before you purchase (or inspect) a residential property. Otherwise, the agent cannot serve you.

The Estate Agency Agreement for Purchase of Residential Properties in Hong Kong (Form 4) is designed for Purchasers. This agreement is provided by the Estate Agents Authority in accordance with the Estate Agents Ordinance. It must be duly signed by you and your agent. The items contained in this agency agreement include the duties of the agent, the commission payable by the purchaser and the validity period of that agreement, etc.

You can download “Form 4” at Estate Agents Authority’s webpage. You should read this agreement carefully before you sign it. If you do not understand any part of it, ask the agent or your solicitor. You should ask your agent to give you a copy of the agreement you have signed. You should also keep the agreement in a safe place for future reference if needed.

The estate agency agreement aims to provide protection to purchasers of residential properties who are mostly persons without much legal knowledge about property transactions. If you wish to purchase a non-residential property (such as commercial or industrial property) through an agent without signing an estate agency agreement, you still have protection from the statute laws of Hong Kong (e.g. the Estate Agents Ordinance), the regulations imposed by the Estate Agents Authority (e.g. the Code of Ethics), and Common Law. Nevertheless, your agent may ask you to sign an estate agency agreement. Since the Estate Agents Authority does not provide any recommended agreement form for non-residential property, you should read the agreement carefully before you sign it. If you have any questions, ask the agent or your solicitor.

6. What if I sign a ‘Form 4’ with an agent who shows me a flat, and later, I buy the flat through another agent or directly from the vendor?

In that case, you must also pay a commission to the first agent. See Schedule 3 – Commission to be paid by Purchaser in your estate agency agreement (“Form 4″). If you anticipate possible dealing with the vendor directly or another agent, then you can shorten the validity period in your agency contract so that you can appoint another agent afterwards.

7. What if I sign a ‘Form 4’ with an agent who shows me a flat, and later, someone related to me (e.g. my spouse) buys the flat through another agent or directly from the vendor?

You may still have to pay the first agent commission. See Schedule 3 – Commission to be paid by Purchaser in your estate agency agreement (“Form 4”). If you are not sure, ask your solicitor.

8. Before I buy the flat, I find out that my agent gave me false information or he forgot to tell me some important information about the flat. Can I terminate the provisional agreement and sue my agent (and his employer) for compensation?

A client’s interests are NOT ONLY protected by the estate agency agreement. In addition to the terms as set out in the agency agreement, your interests (no matter whether you are the vendor or the purchaser) are always protected by statute laws as well as the Common Law. These laws tackle some kinds of misconduct that might be committed by estate agents e.g. misrepresentation and negligence.

Misrepresentation (Misleading Information)

A person who had made a false statement of fact which induced another person to enter into a contract would be guilty of making a misrepresentation. The three pre-requisites for misrepresentation are:

i) someone has given a statement of fact,

ii) that statement is wrong,

iii) that false statement induced (i.e. persuaded) the victim to enter into a contract.

Note that a “statement of fact” is different from a “statement of opinion”. For example, an agent would only have given a statement of opinion if he told you that the bedroom may accommodate a piano and a bed, and asked you to take some measurements of your own afterwards. However, he would have made a statement of fact if he told you that the size of the bedroom is 150 sq. feet. The agent would be liable for misrepresentation if you signed the provisional agreement after hearing his statement but subsequently discovered that the actual size of the bedroom is only 100 sq. feet.

Negligence

In order to incur liability for negligence, 3 conditions must be satisfied: i) one party owes a “duty of care” to the other party, ii) the former has breached the duty, and iii) the latter has suffered a loss due to such breach of duty. The concept of duty of care comes from a well-known British case (Donoghue v Stevenson) which states that everyone should take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which are likely to injure his neighbour. The word “neighbour” does not simply include the person living next door to your home. It generally covers any persons who are likely to be affected by your activities.

In the context of property transactions, your agent would certainly owe you a duty of care because his conduct in handling your deal would affect your interests. Your agent would be negligent if, for example, he failed to carry out a proper inspection of the property and failed to inform you of the existence of a tenancy before you signed the provisional sale and purchase agreement.

Remedies

You are entitled to sue your estate agent and his employer for compensation if it can be proved that your agent has committed misrepresentation or negligence. However, you may or may not be able to terminate the provisional sale and purchase agreement (or the formal agreement). This depends on the actual circumstances.

The following examples might help make the position clearer:

Example 1: The estate agent acts for both the vendor and you, and the vendor gives the estate agent false information which he passes on to you.

Answer: You can terminate the provisional sale and purchase agreement and get a refund of the deposit. You can also sue the vendor for compensation.

Example 2: The estate agent acts for both the vendor and you, and he passes on false information to you other than on the instruction of the vendor.

Answer: Even if the vendor does not know what the agent has said, that agent is also acting on behalf of him and you have relied on the agent’s information in signing the agreement. Besides suing the estate agent for compensation, you may terminate the provisional sale and purchase agreement and get a refund of the deposit.

Example 3: The estate agent only acts for you but not the vendor, and makes a false statement to you about the property.

Answer: Unless you are prepared to give up the deposit, you cannot unilaterally terminate the provisional sale and purchase agreement since the vendor is not responsible for what the estate agent said. You should sue your estate agent directly for compensation.

III. Provisional Sale and Purchase Agreement

Under section 3 of the Conveyancing and Property Ordinance (Cap. 219 of the Laws of Hong Kong), no legal action concerning any contract for the sale of land (including house/flat/building) will be enforced by the courts unless the contract is made in writing. In other words, you will lose the protection from the courts if you sell or buy a flat through an oral agreement.

Despite bearing the word “provisional”, a duly signed provisional sale and purchase agreement is a legally binding contract that must be fully obeyed by the parties involved. If the formal sale and purchase agreement (which is intended to replace the provisional agreement) cannot be signed, the parties can rely on the provisional agreement to proceed with the deal or to sue for compensation.

1. I want to purchase a flat. What should I do before I sign the provisional sale and purchase agreement and pay the initial deposit?

Ask your agent or the vendor whether there is anything that may lower the value of the flat, or better still, try to obtain a copy of the land search record about the flat.

What is a land search?

A land search is a search of the Government Land Registry to obtain the history of the flat and other relevant information. For example, it will show you things like:

1. the present owner of the flat and all the previous owners of the flat;
2. details of the flat (e.g. the address and government lease term of the relevant land lot);
3. whether there is any government order in respect of the flat that has not yet been obeyed (e.g. a repairing order, or an order to demolish an unauthorized structure);
4. whether there is any mortgage not yet discharged;
5. whether there is any lawsuit concerning the flat (e.g. a bank suing the owner for some outstanding mortgage repayments).

Note:
The land search record only shows you general information plus an outline of any encumbrances (see below) about a property. It would be helpful if you can obtain the record before you sign the provisional agreement. However, you cannot rely on such record to complete the whole transaction without the assistance of a solicitor.

Encumbrance is anything that can (i) reduce the value of a flat or (ii) obstruct the owner from selling a flat. Examples of encumbrances are: mortgages, a covenant (a formal agreement or promise) restricting the use of the flat, or charging orders imposed by the government or by an individual. Your solicitor must inform you (in any event not later than the property hand over date) about any encumbrances found in the land search record or the title deeds.

For more information about land searches, please visit the Land Registry’s webpage.

2. When the property is sold with an existing tenancy, what should the purchaser and the vendor be aware of?

The purchaser should be aware of the rental amount, the deposit paid by the tenant(s), the terms of tenancy and whether the tenant pays the rent on time. Please note that a tenancy agreement may not appear on the land search record since a tenancy lasting not more than three years is not required to be registered at the Land Registry. Before the purchaser signs the provisional agreement for sale and purchase, the purchaser should ask about, and the vendor must disclose, any existing tenancy.

On the other hand, the vendor should carefully deal with any rental deposit in order to avoid future liability for it. The vendor can either refund the deposit to the tenant or transfer it to the purchaser (the new landlord) and make a proper written record of it.

For more details on this issue, please go to another topic – Landlord and Tenant.

3. What are the usual terms that would be contained in the provisional sale and purchase agreement?

The provisional agreement is often provided by an estate agent and must, at least, include the following:

1. The address of the flat;
2. The price of the flat;
3. The personal details of the vendor and the purchaser (If a party to the agreement is a limited company, the full name and the business registration number of the company must be stated);
4. The amount of the initial deposit (*usually 1% to 3% of the total purchase price is paid by the purchaser when he/she signs the provisional agreement);
5. The amount of the further deposit (*usually 10% of the total purchase price, inclusive of the initial deposit, to be paid by the purchaser when he/she signs the formal agreement);
6. When to sign the formal agreement to be prepared by the vendor’s solicitor;
7. The completion day (i.e. the day when the vendor hands over the property to the purchaser) ;
8. The balance of the purchase price to be paid by the purchaser on the completion day;
9. Who is paying which kind of legal expenses (e.g. the costs of the solicitors of the vendor, purchaser and any mortgagee, and the stamp duty);
10. What the purchaser should be responsible for if he/she doesn’t adhere to the provisional agreement;
11. What the vendor must pay if he/she doesn’t want to sell the flat after signing the provisional agreement;
12. How much commission should the purchaser and/or the vendor pay the estate agent.

Also as pointed out in a Court of Appeal case (See To Keung & Another v Sunny Way Limited), there would be an “escape clause” in most of the provisional sale and purchase agreements. An “escape clause” is a clause allowing a party who wishes to withdraw from the transaction (i.e. to cancel the deal) within a short period of time after signing the provisional agreement to “buy his way out”. In the case of a vendor who wants to withdraw, he agrees to return the initial deposit to the purchaser, doubled by a sum of equal amount which he must pay the purchaser (to pay the “double deposit” ). In the case of a purchaser who wants to back out, he forgoes the initial deposit. Where either party seeks to rely on the escape clause, that party must do so in strict compliance within the time allowed by the provisional agreement.

The judgment of the above case also revealed that if the provisional agreement contains such clause as “upon signing the formal sale and purchase agreement, a further deposit of $X shall be paid”, then the purchaser may not be obliged to pay the further deposit if the subsequent formal agreement is not signed. To avoid any disputes on when to pay the further deposit, the parties may specify the exact date for the payment of further deposit in the provisional agreement.

However, all these terms are subject to the actual construction of the agreement that is made between the parties in each individual case.

To get a sample of a provisional sale and purchase agreement, please visit the Law Society of Hong Kong’s webpage. Please note this sample agreement is only for reference purposes and you should check any actual agreement carefully with your agent or solicitor before signing it.

4. Should the provisional sale and purchase agreement be stamped and registered?

It depends on when the parties will sign the provisional agreement and the formal agreement.

For the sale and purchase of a residential property, the purchaser or the representing solicitor must arrange to stamp:

1. the provisional agreement and formal agreement (if the formal agreement is signed more than 14 days after the signing of provisional agreement); OR
2. the formal agreement only (if it is signed within 14 days from the date of the provisional agreement).

The provisional agreement may be registered at the Land Registry (after stamping). It must be registered if the parties fail to sign the formal agreement on the specified date. In a normal case, the purchaser’s solicitor would arrange to register the formal agreement.

For the sale and purchase of non-residential property (such as commercial or industrial property), stamp duty is only payable upon the signing of the assignment (which will be signed on the completion day/property hand over day). Therefore, the preceding provisional and formal sale and purchase agreements are not required to be stamped and registered, although it would be prudent to register the formal sale and purchase agreement.

5. What should a purchaser be aware of if there is an existing mortgage on the flat before he/she signs the provisional sale and purchase agreement?

The purchaser’s solicitor will ask the vendor’s solicitor to undertake to make sure that:

1. the vendor pays off any existing mortgage; and
2. the vendor’s solicitor will give the discharge documents (bank documents showing that all mortgages have been paid off) to the purchaser’s solicitor within a certain number of days after completion of the purchase (i.e. after payment of the purchase price by the purchaser).

6. If a purchaser intends to buy a flat over which there is negative equity (the purchase price to be paid cannot fully offset the outstanding mortgage loan), how can the purchaser deal with the risk?

Due to the down-turn of the property market after 1997, the purchaser must ask the estate agent and the vendor whether or not the flat is subject to negative equity.

If the answer to the above is “yes”, the purchaser should negotiate with the vendor for the inclusion of a term in the provisional sale and purchase agreement that the deposits should be kept by the vendor’s solicitor until and unless the vendor can show that the outstanding mortgage loan is not greater than the balance of the purchase price (full purchase price minus the deposits). This term can minimize the purchaser’s loss in case the vendor fails to discharge the existing mortgage before the hand over of the flat.

This term should be clearly stated on the provisional agreement otherwise it might not be inserted into the subsequent formal agreement. There was a High Court case in 1992 (Chu Wing Ning v Ngan Hing Cheung) in which it was explained that during the negotiation of terms for the formal agreement, a party is not obliged to accept a new term which goes “entirely beyond” what had been agreed in the previous provisional agreement.

The situation will be different if the vendor refuses to insert such a term into the provisional agreement and/or the purchaser is willing to accept the risk. It is recommended that a purchaser facing a negative equity situation should seek legal advice on this matter.

7. What should a purchaser do if a mortgage is needed?

It is best to inquire at a bank(s) about the possibility of a mortgage on the flat in question before you sign the provisional sale and purchase agreement.  Failing that, the purchaser should apply to a bank for a mortgage immediately after signing the provisional agreement.

In June 2011, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority issued a circular to banks requesting them to apply a maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 50% to properties which are for self-use with value at or above HK$10 million. For residential properties with a value between HK$7 million and HK$10 million, the maximum LTV ratio shall be 60%, subject to a maximum loan amount of HK$5 million. For residential properties with a value less than HK$7 million, the maximum LTV ratio shall be 70%, subject to a maximum loan amount of HK$4.2 million.

If the principal income of the mortgage loan applicant is not derived from Hong Kong, the maximum LTV ratio will be lowered by at least 10% points, regardless of property types or values.

The banks are also asked to limit the amount they advance to borrowers and ensure that the maximum loan-to-value ratio does not exceed 40% of the borrower’s net worth (see the relevant press release here).

At the same time, the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited also lowers the cap on the value of a property that can be covered under the Mortgage Insurance Programme (MIP) from HK$ 6.8 million to HK$ 6 million. For mortgage loan with MIP cover starting from 70% LTV threshold, the maximum loan amount is reduced to HK$5.4 million. For mortgage loan with MIP cover starting from 60% LTV threshold, the maximum loan amount is reduced to HK$5 million.

Also, the MIP is not available to applicants whose principal income is not derived from Hong Kong.

What if the purchaser wants to acquire an additional and/or second mortgage?

The purchaser needs to check whether the first mortgage allows an additional and/or second mortgage before applying to a bank for an additional or second mortgage.

8. Can a purchaser re-sell the property after signing the provisional sale and purchase agreement?

Yes, but check whether such action is allowed in the provisional sale and purchase agreement before doing so. The existing purchaser will act as a “Confirmor” and the new purchaser will act as a “Sub-Purchaser” in the transaction. Since it will involve an additional party, special attention must be paid to the timing of payments, the discharge of any existing mortgage, and the handing over of the flat. Additional stamp duty may also be incurred.

IV. Formal Sale and Purchase Agreement

Although a provisional sale and purchase agreement is a legally binding contract, it only contains basic terms and therefore the protection provisions for the contracting parties (especially the purchaser) are limited. A formal sale and purchase agreement should be drafted by a solicitor based on the provisional agreement. A formal agreement contains terms that are more detailed and is intended to replace the provisional agreement. In case the parties fail to sign the formal agreement (e.g. they cannot agree on all the terms of the formal agreement), they are still bound by the provisional agreement.

1. What are the usual steps for signing the formal sale and purchase agreement and paying the further deposit?

Step 1 . The vendor and the purchaser each appoint an independent solicitor to represent them.

Step 2 . The vendor’s solicitor prepares the draft formal agreement. The vendor can include any special conditions he/she wants as long as the conditions do not violate any relevant ordinances or contradict the terms of the provisional sale and purchase agreement. On the other hand, the purchaser can also propose special conditions. Both parties must fully agree to all these conditions before signing.

Step 3 . The vendor’s solicitor explains the terms and conditions contained in the formal agreement to the vendor, who signs the agreement and its counterpart accordingly. Then, the 2 sets of agreements will be sent to the purchaser’s solicitor.

Step 4 . The purchaser’s solicitor then explains the terms and conditions of the formal agreement to the purchaser, who signs the agreement and its counterpart. Upon signing the formal agreement, the purchaser should also pay the further deposit either by a bank cashier’s order (bank draft) or a cheque issued by a law firm. Usually, the further deposit together with the initial deposit would be 10% of the purchase price.

Step 5 . The purchaser’s solicitor will arrange to deliver one set of the signed agreements together with the further deposit cheque to the vendor’s solicitor.

Step 6 . The purchaser should consider buying insurance against any accidents (e.g. fire) which may result in loss or deterioration in the value of the flat after signing the provisional agreement or the formal agreement. The purchaser takes up the risk of the flat (e.g. any accident causing damage) once the provisional agreement or the formal agreement is signed.

Step 7 . The vendor gives the title deeds (documents showing who owns the flat) to his/her solicitor, who will pass them onto the purchaser’s solicitor for inspection. If the title deeds are kept by the mortgagee (usually a bank), the vendor’s solicitor will arrange for the release of title deeds from the bank to the purchaser’s solicitor.

Step 8. The purchaser’s solicitor examines the title deeds and asks the vendor’s solicitor questions (legally called “requisitions”) if he finds anything questionable. The vendor’s solicitor must reply if the questions are reasonable. The purchaser’s solicitor will let the client know if he/she is not satisfied with the answer(s).

Step 9 . The vendor prepares to deliver vacant possession (give a vacant flat) to the purchaser when the sale is completed later, unless this is not required in the formal agreement as, for example, the flat is sold subject to a tenant who is occupying the flat.

2. I (as a purchaser) signed the provisional agreement but I want to add my spouse’s name or my parents’ names into the subsequent formal agreement. Can I do that?

Yes, you can. Before signing the formal agreement, your solicitor will ask you and your spouse (or your parents) to sign an additional document confirming that you were being nominated to sign the previous provisional agreement on behalf of the “new purchaser”. The “new purchaser” includes you and your spouse (or your parents). This document must be presented to the vendor’s solicitor for preparing the formal agreement.

Additional stamp duty on the sale and purchase agreement is chargeable if the person joined as the purchaser is not your spouse, parent or child (section 29D(6)(c) of the Stamp Duty Ordinance). You should check with your solicitor on this matter.

3. If I want to sell or transfer my flat to a member of my family or a relative, what should I be aware of?

1. You don’t need an estate agent;
2. You don’t need to sign any provisional agreement;
3. You still have to appoint a solicitor to handle the sale or transfer;
4. If the person is a relative related to you by blood, marriage or adoption, one solicitor can represent both parties. Otherwise, you must appoint another solicitor to represent your relative;
5. The stamp duty will be calculated according to the market price of the property if the purchase price is below the market price or if the property is transferred as a gift ( i.e. no purchase price is payable) . Please check with your solicitor or the Stamp Office for details of the calculation.

4. How much stamp duty is payable for the sale and purchase agreement for the property?

In Hong Kong, there are several situations when stamp duty must be paid. Below are the main examples of where stamp duty can be applied:

• When someone buys or sells a house or building (i.e. Agreement for sale and purchase of immovable property)
• When someone assigns or transfers a property title (i.e. Conveyance on sale)
• When someone leases a house or building to another person or company (i.e. Tenancy Agreement)
• When someone buys, sells or transfers stocks and bonds

Who Is Responsible For Paying Stamp Duty?

Generally, the individual (or company) responsible for paying stamp duty depends on whether the individual or company is buying, selling, or conveyancing a property in Hong Kong.

• Buying/acquiring property: When an individual or company is buying or acquiring property, typically the buyer is responsible for the payment of stamp duty.
• Selling/conveyancing property: When an individual or company is selling or conveyancing a property within a short time frame (up to 36 months of acquisition), typically the seller is responsible for the payment of stamp duty.

However, the Hong Kong IRD website clearly states that the buyer and the seller (and any person who uses the instrument) will be jointly and severally liable to pay AVD Stamp Duty, be it calculated at Scale 1 or Scale 2 rates. In other words, the buyer and seller and any person who uses the instrument will have the same extent of liability, under the law, to pay for any AVD payable on the chargeable instruments, irrespective of any agreement to the contrary made between them. See table 1 below.

If you are considering buying or selling property in Hong Kong, always seek legal and tax advice on your liability for paying stamp duty before entering into any Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase.

As detailed in the Stamp Duty Ordinance (Cap. 117), stamp duty is mainly imposed on the following types of documents:

• Sale or transfer of immovable property located in Hong Kong
• Lease of immovable property (also known as “Tenancy Agreements”)
• Sale or transfer of Hong Kong stock
• Conveyance on sale also known as “Assignments”

What Are The Main Types Of Property Stamp Duty In Hong Kong?

There are four main types of stamp duty. Under certain scenarios it may be possible that a buyer or seller has to pay multiple stamp duties: Below are the four main types:

1. :
   1. Ad Valorem Stamp Duty (AVD): This is calculated based on the value of the property or the consideration paid, whichever is higher. The rates vary depending on the value of the property2.
   2. Stamp Duty for Tenancy Agreements: This applies to lease agreements for immovable property.

The government cancels all demand-side management measures for residential properties with effect from 28 February 2024. This means that no more special stamp duty (SSD), buyer’s stamp duty (BSD) or new residential stamp duty (NRSD) is payable for residential property transactions. Sellers and buyers of residential properties are still required to pay ad valorem stamp duty (AVD) at the same rates as Scale 2 rates (from HK$100 up to 4.25% of the consideration) – see table below (HK$).

Key Features Of Special Stamp Duty (SSD)

• The aim of Special Stamp Duty (SSD) is to try to prevent ‘house flipping’
• Any residential properties resold within specific ‘holding periods’ will be charged stamp duty (see Table 3 below for rates)
• Special Stamp Duty (SSD) is paid by the vendor/seller at different rates when the property is resold within a 36 month period (see rates below)
• Special Stamp Duty (SSD) is only applicable for residential properties acquired on or after 27 October 2012; therefore a property acquired before 27 October 2012 will not have to pay Special Stamp Duty (SSD)
• Unless otherwise specified in the Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase (PASP) and the Agreement for Sale and Purchase (ASP), the seller, rather than the buyer, normally paying the Special Stamp Duty (SSD)
• The Special Stamp Duty (SSD) must be paid within 30 days after the execution date.

Under What Circumstances Does Special Stamp Duty (SSD) Have To Be Paid?

Unless otherwise exempt, Special Stamp Duty (SSD) is payable whenever a property is bought and then resold within a 36 month period. Property owners who buy and hold their property long-term (i.e. more than 36 months) won’t be affected by Special Stamp Duty (SSD).

Who Pays For Special Stamp Duty (SSD)?

Unless otherwise exempted, the seller and the buyer should, by consent, specify in the Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase (PASP) and the Agreement for Sale and Purchase (ASP) which party (the buyer or the seller) shall pay the Special Stamp Duty (SSD). If it is agreed that the Special Stamp Duty (SSD) should be paid by the seller, we suggest the buyer specify in the PASP and ASP that he will withhold part of the sale proceeds to pay for the Special Stamp Duty (SSD).

Table 3: Special Stamp Duty (SSD) Rates In Hong Kong

The Stamp Duty (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (“2024 Amendment Ordinance”) was published in the Gazette on 19 April 2024. Under the 2024 Amendment Ordinance, any instrument executed on or after 28 February 2024 for the sale and purchase or transfer of residential property is no longer subject to SSD.

To calculate the correct Special Stamp (SSD) Duty rate, use the table below. The Special Stamp Duty (SSD) rate payable depends on the holding period of the property and is calculated by reference to the stated consideration or the market value of the property (whichever is higher):

What Is The Stamp Duty Payable For Leases?

Table 4: Hong Kong Stamp Duty Rates For Leases

For the lease of immovable property in Hong Kong, stamp duty is calculated at rates which vary with the term of the lease as follows:

Note 1 a:  The yearly rent, average yearly rent, or total rent has to be rounded up to the nearest $100. Any deposit which may be mentioned in the lease will not be taken into account in assessing the stamp duty.

Who is Exempt From Paying Stamp Duty?

Just about every party involved in the sale, purchase, or conveyance (i.e. transfer or assignment) of immovable property in Hong Kong is expected to pay some form of stamp duty. However under certain conditions, some parties could be eligible to pay lower rates of stamp duty, or even no stamp duty at all, depending on the situation. The availability of stamp duty exemption or relief may depend on who is involved, the type of arrangement or the type of Hong Kong property involved.

General exemptions of Hong Kong stamp duty:

General exemptions and relief from stamp duty include:

• any instruments duly stamped under the stamp regulations enforced by the Japanese in Hong Kong during the Second World War;
• all conveyances on sale, and agreements for sale of residential property, to the Government or an incorporated public officer;
• all grants by the Government and all Government leases and all surrenders of such grants and leases;
• all instruments executed by the Housing Authority for the purposes of the Housing Ordinance other than a conveyance
  on sale by which the Housing Authority exercises its statutory power to dispose of land upon terms to any person;
• any agreement for sale to which the Housing Authority or person nominated by the Housing Authority is a party, or which is made with the consent of the Housing Authority;
• all conveyances on sale, and agreements for sale of exempted premises to an exempted person; and
• any instrument relating solely to the property of any bankrupt or company being wound up by the court or under a creditors’ voluntary winding up.

For more information or to check if you are eligible for stamp duty exemption, please refer to the Hong Kong SAR Inland Revenue Department and seek professional legal and or tax advice on your liability for paying stamp duty before entering into any Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase.

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5. Is there any difference between ‘residential’ and ‘commercial’ properties as far as stamp duty is concerned?

For residential properties, stamp duty is payable upon the signing of the provisional agreement and/or formal sale and purchase agreement. If a formal agreement is signed within 14 days from the date of the provisional agreement, only the formal agreement has to be stamped.

For commercial or non-residential properties, stamp duty is payable only when an “assignment” is signed. An assignment is a document for transferring the title (i.e. property ownership) from the vendor to the purchaser. It will be signed on the completion day, which is the property handover day.

6. Under what circumstances can the purchaser apply for deferring payment of stamp duty?

For the stamping of the agreement for sale and purchase of property under construction, the purchaser can apply for deferring payment of stamp duty until the handover of the property. If the stamp duty is paid before the handover date, it can be refunded if the purchase eventually falls through.

7. Should the sale and purchase agreement for the property be registered at the Land Registry? How much is the registration fee?

The agreement must be registered at the Land Registry. This protects your interests as it provides an official record that you are buying the flat and gives notice of this purchase to everyone. Again, the purchaser’s solicitor will handle the registration procedures.

The current registration fee for a property sale and purchase agreement is $210. For more details about document registration, please visit the Land Registry’s website.

8. How much will I have to pay the solicitor for a property transaction? Is there a fixed scale?

There is no fixed scale. The fixed scale fees system has long been abolished. You can negotiate the fee with your solicitor.

V. Consequences of breaching the sale and purchase agreement

The consequences of breaching the terms of the sale and purchase agreement will depend on the type of breach and the terms written on the agreement. It is impossible to mention all the scenarios here. However, due to some financial factors (e.g. fluctuation of the real estate market or loss of job), the vendor or the purchaser may back out after signing the agreement. The following table highlights the possible consequences of such breach of contract:

* In both cases where there has been a breach of the formal agreement, either the vendor or the purchaser may apply to the Court for “specific performance”, which compels either the purchaser or the vendor to complete the sale and purchase instead of terminating the agreement. The Court will consider whether the vendor or the purchaser is still willing, able and ready to complete the sale and purchase after the breach.

You should also note that the final outcome of the breach is always dependent on the terms of the sale and purchase agreement and the decision of the Court.

1. If one party commits other wrongful acts, e.g. the vendor broke a small window in the kitchen, can the other party terminate the sale and purchase agreement or claim for compensation?

It all depends on whether the contract/agreement term being infringed is a “condition” (major term) or a “warranty” (minor term). For the breach of a condition, the injured party is entitled to terminate the agreement and claim compensation. For breach of warranty, the injured party is ONLY entitled to claim compensation. Whether a contractual term is a condition or a warranty should be considered using common sense and will depend on how serious the infringement is. If such a dispute is brought before the Court, then the judge will make the final decision.

This principle also applies to property transactions. If the vendor only broke a kitchen window (which can be considered as a breach of warranty/minor term), the purchaser can only claim the repairing cost, or ask the vendor to replace the window before the handover date. There is little likelihood of the purchaser being entitled to terminate the sale and purchase agreement and ask for a refund of deposits.

Attention should also be drawn to any term like “time is of the essence of this agreement” or “time must be strictly adhered to in this agreement”. This reminds the vendor and the purchaser that any late delivery of cheques or keys would constitute a breach of a condition/major term and entitle the other party to back out from the sale and purchase.

VI. Completing the sale and purchase transaction

Steps in completing the sale and purchase of a property:

*Notes:

a) An assignment is a document transferring the title (i.e. property ownership) from the vendor to the purchaser. It will be signed on the completion day.

b) The property will be formally transferred from the vendor to the purchaser on the completion day. Keys will be delivered to the purchaser and the balance of purchase price will be paid to the vendor within this day (which represents the formal completion of the sale and purchase).

c) The current stamp duty for an assignment for residential property is $100 (if the preceding agreement for sale and purchase has been stamped). In respect of an assignment for non-residential property, the full stamp duty is payable (please refer to the relevant Q&A.)

d) The current registration fee for an assignment is $230 (property price not exceeding $750,000) or $450 (property price exceeds $750,000). For details, please go to the Land Registry’s website.

1. If there are some “new expenses” (e.g. repair costs for the relevant building) come out after the parties signed the formal sale and purchase agreement but before the completion day, should the vendor or the purchaser bear these expenses?

With reference to the judgment of a Court of Appeal case (Luk Stanley Ho Chang v Fook Man Finance Company Limited), whether contributions to the cost of such repair or renovation works are to be paid by the vendor or by the purchaser depends on the construction of the particular clause in the relevant sale and purchase agreement.

In the subject case, a sale and purchase agreement dated 26 July 2005 was made between the plaintiff as purchaser and the defendant as a vendor. The date of completion was to be on or before 25 August 2005. After the Agreement was entered into but prior to the completion day, the plaintiff discovered that the Incorporated Owners of the building had held a meeting on 4 July 2005 and had passed resolutions to carry out major repairs to the building and also to replace the lift.

One of the clauses in the Agreement provides that if any such notice or resolutions (requiring the vendor as one of the co-owners of the building to effect repair or renovation to any common part or facilities of the said building) existed at the date of the Agreement, the vendor’s share of the costs of such repair or renovation shall be borne and paid by the vendor. Since the resolutions were passed by the Incorporated Owners on 4 July 2005, which existed at the date of the Agreement, the Court of Appeal found in favour of the plaintiff (purchaser) and held that the repair costs must be paid by the defendant (vendor).

VII. Sale and purchase of Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats

In January 2006, the Housing Authority decided to offer for sale in phrases the unsold and returned HOS flats (collectively known as surplus HOS flats) from 2007 onwards. The Government’s policy of indefinitely ceasing production and sale of HOS flats remains unchanged. The sales arrangements endorsed by the Housing Authority are applicable to those surplus HOS flats only and in certain aspects different from the arrangements in previous HOS sales. Please go to the Hong Kong Housing Authority website for further information.

VIII. Sale and purchase of property under construction

The term “property under construction” in this section covers both i) uncompleted buildings/development, or ii) buildings which have been erected but the developer has not yet obtained the occupation permit or a certificate of compliance from the Government. Sale and purchase of this kind of property is regulated by the Consent Scheme and the Non-Consent Scheme.

People in Hong Kong often purchase flats before the buildings in which the flats are located have been constructed. The above two schemes exist to protect purchasers in case the developer becomes bankrupt before the property is constructed.

From a purchaser’s perspective, the legal formalities for buying a new (first-hand) property are similar to that for buying a second-hand property. You need to sign a provisional sale and purchase agreement with the developer, followed by a formal sale and purchase agreement and an assignment upon the completion/ hand over day. The main difference is that the provisional agreement is a non-binding contract (except for the vendor’s right to claim the forfeiture of a certain percentage of the purchase price if the purchaser does not sign the formal agreement afterwards).

In August 2010, the Hong Kong Government put a ban on confirmor transactions on uncompleted properties. Confirmors are investors who buy a property and resell it before the completion of the Formal Sale and Purchase Agreement.

Further, all purchasers who pull out before the Formal Sale and Purchase Agreement would be subject to forfeiture of 10% of the value of the property in question.

Under the formal sale and purchase agreement, there may be a clause specifying the date of completion of the construction work for the relevant building. Also, there is usually a clause which says the completion of the sale (i.e. the hand over day of the property) is to take place within, say 14 days, of the date of notification to the purchaser that the developer is in a position validly to assign the property to the purchaser.

Before you buy or invest in a property under construction, you may find it useful to study carefully the Outline Zoning Plan (“OZP”) of the area in the vicinity. OZP is a statutory plan published by the Town Planning Board under the Town Planning Ordinance (Cap.131 of the Laws of Hong Kong). Once you have located the OZP of the area on which the property situates, you will be able to see the existing and/or proposed land-uses and major road systems in its surrounding areas. You can access the websites of the Planning Department or the Town Planning Board for further information. If you have any difficulties in reading the OZP, please consult an architect or other relevant professionals.

1. Sale and purchase of property under construction is governed by either the “Consent Scheme” or the “Non-Consent Scheme”. What are the differences between these two schemes?

Consent Scheme

The Consent Scheme may be imposed by the terms of the Government Lease for the relevant land. This Scheme applies to buildings that are erected on a particular piece of land for development purposes. This Scheme allows the Director of Lands to ensure that the developer has complied with a set of requirements before he grants the developer permission to sell the property under construction. The purchasers will be protected by this Scheme as a result. The relevant requirements cover:

1. the financial standing of the developer and financing arrangements,
2. the terms of the sale and purchase agreement,
3. the terms of the deed of mutual covenant,
4. contents of the sales brochure, and
5. the way the pre-sale is to be carried out.

The developer/vendor’s solicitor is responsible for ensuring that the requirements are met. The solicitor will keep the money that the purchaser has paid, and then release the money to the vendor in the manner permitted under­ the Scheme. Under this Scheme, the purchaser and vendor may be represented by the same solicitor but this is not essential. The purchaser should be aware that the solicitor might be involved in a conflict of interest.

Non-Consent Scheme

If the buildings are not erected on a piece of land granted by the Government for development purposes, the purchasers are protected by the ‘Non-Consent Scheme’. An example of this kind of building is one built on a piece of land obtained by the developer after demolishing the old buildings that were on the land.

This Scheme is regulated by the Law Society of Hong Kong by imposing professional obligations to be complied by solicitors. Although there is no requirement, this Scheme permits the same solicitor to act for both the vendor and purchaser and this solicitor will undertake to ensure that the purchasers are protected in a way similar to that offered by the Consent Scheme. Failure to comply with this Scheme would result in professional misconduct on the part of the solicitor and liability to the purchasers for compensation.

You may obtain samples for the sale and purchase agreements (for both schemes) from the Law Society’s webpage. Please note these sample agreements are only for reference purposes and you should check the agreements carefully with your agent or solicitor before signing any of them.

2. If the developer/vendor fails to complete the building and hand over the flats to the purchasers on time, can the purchasers terminate the agreement and sue for compensation?

Generally speaking, the vendor will be entitled to an extension of time for completion of the building in the event of certain reasonable and legitimate reasons such as strikes, riots, accidents beyond the vendor’s control or bad weather (rainstorm black warning or typhoon signal no.8) which hindered the construction work.

If the vendor fails to complete the building/flats on or before the specified date without any reasonable and legitimate reasons, the purchasers can choose to:

1. terminate the sale and purchase agreement, ask for the refund of all amounts paid to the vendor, and claim for interest (usually at 2% per annum over prime rate) on the amount paid; or
2. wait for the completion of the building and claim for interest (usually at 2% per annum over prime rate) on the amount paid.

Purchasers must also note that there is a time restriction on informing the vendor of the above decision. Independent legal advice should be sought if necessary.

IX. Deed of Mutual Covenant and Owners’ Corporation

A Deed of Mutual Covenant (“DMC”) is a document containing terms that are binding on all flat owners of a multi-unit or multi-storey building. Once a DMC is signed by the owner of a flat and the developer, it binds all the subsequent owners. It basically sets out rules for the management and regulation of the building. A detailed DMC can run to over a hundred pages. Terms in a DMC may include, for example:

• residential flats cannot be used for commercial activities;
• definition of the common areas of the building;
• restrictions on the flat owners (e.g. no keeping of cats and dogs);
• how to appoint a building manager (or building management company);
• how to set up an Owners’ Corporation;
• how to make resolutions on matters concerning maintenance or renovation;
• who should specify the management fees, and how.

No matter how a DMC is drafted, no provision may contravene the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344 of the Laws of Hong Kong).

1. What are the functions of the Owners’ Corporation and the building manager?

The building manager (or the building management company) is appointed by the developer or the Owners’ Corporation to manage the building. Among the important functions of the manager are repairing and maintaining the common area of the building, maintaining cleanliness, arranging for security services, and monitoring the collection and payment of management fees.

The Owners’ Corporation is empowered by the Building Management Ordinance to monitor the services provided by the building manager and the budget to be spent on the management and maintenance work. All the decisions made by the Owners’ Corporation must be supported by a vote from individual flat owners. It can terminate the appointment of the building manager. The manager becomes answerable to the Owners’ Incorporation when it is set up.

2. How to set up an Owners’ Corporation?

It is not necessary to set up an Owners’ Corporation in every multi-storey building. However, the presence of an Owners’ Corporation can help monitor and co-ordinate the various parties concerned with building management matters.

The following gives you a general idea of how to set up an Owners’ Corporation:

Stage 1 (4 options)

1. A meeting of owners may be called for the purpose of appointing a management committee. A management committee will be appointed in accordance with the DMC, or by the resolution of owners with not less than 30% of owner shares* (see the “Note” below). Owners may vote personally or by proxy to make resolutions (section 3 of the Building Management Ordinance);
2. If option (a) cannot be achieved, a group of owners who has combined shares totalling not less than 20% of the whole building’s shares can apply to the Secretary of Home Affairs to order that a meeting of owners shall be called. At the meeting, a management committee may be appointed by a resolution passed by a majority of the votes of the owners voting either personally or by proxy ( section 3A of the Building Management Ordinance);
3. If option (b) cannot be achieved, a group of owners who has combined shares totalling not less than 10% of the whole building’s shares, or the Secretary of Home Affairs, can apply to the Lands Tribunal to order that a meeting of owners shall be called. At the meeting, a management committee may be appointed by a resolution passed by a majority of the votes of the owners voting either personally or by proxy ( section 4 of the Building Management Ordinance);
4. If option (c) cannot be achieved and there is a risk to the owners or occupiers due to poor building management, the Secretary of Home Affairs can apply to the Lands Tribunal to order that a meeting (with a quorum of not less than 10% of the owners) shall be called. At the meeting, a management committee may be appointed by a resolution passed by a majority of the votes of the owners voting either personally or by proxy ( section 40C of the Building Management Ordinance).

Stage 2

The management committee applies to the Land Registry within 28 days for registration of an Owners’ Corporation.

Stage 3

Owners’ Corporation formed.

Note:
* The calculation of “shares” (or “undivided shares”) is set out in the DMC. For example: If there are 50 flats of similar area inside a building, then each flat owner holds a 1/50 share of the building (i.e. each flat represents 2%). The shares may be calculated according to the floor area of each flat, in which some flats (with larger area) may have more shares than the others. Sometimes shares are also allocated to the common area of the building.

If you want to set up an Owners’ Corporation, you are recommended to seek assistance from a professional management company. You can also obtain more information from the Land Registry’s webpage.

X. Case Illustration

Scenario

Mr. A (the vendor) wants to sell his residential flat and Ms. B (the purchaser) wants to buy it. They have appointed separate estate agents to handle the deal. A provisional agreement for sale and purchase will be signed soon.

Question 1: 
Before signing the provisional agreement, Mr A wants to see if there is any other purchaser who can pay more. He also wants to find a second agent to help him. Must he sign another agency agreement? Answer 1

Question 2: 
Besides the information provided by the agent, Ms. B wants to know more about the flat before signing the provisional agreement. Where can she get more information? Answer 2

Question 3: 
Ms. B doesn’t know Mr. A’s full name but she needs to issue a cheque for the initial deposit in advance. Can she pay the money directly to her agent and ask him to pass the money to Mr. A? How will her agent handle the deposit money? Answer 3

Question 4: 
Is the provisional sale and purchase agreement a legal document which both parties must obey? Answer 4

Question 5: 
What will Mr. A and Ms. B need to do when signing the formal sale and purchase agreement? Answer 5

Question 6: 
Can Ms B re-sell the flat to another person after signing the formal agreement? Answer 6

Question 7: 
What are the things that both parties should be aware of when the completion day/property handover day is approaching? Answer 7

Answer 1:
Yes, he must. Mr. A should not state in the agreement that the agent is the exclusive agent since he intends to appoint more than one agent to help him. For more details about estate agency agreement for the vendor, please click here.

Answer 2:
Ms. B can ask her agent for a copy of the land search carried out in respect of the flat. Alternatively, she can conduct a land search herself at the Land Registry. A land search computer print-out will contain information about the flat such as:

1. the present owner of the flat and all the previous owners of the flat;
2. details of the flat (e.g. the address and government lease term of the relevant land lot);
3. whether there is any government order in respect of the flat that has not yet obeyed (e.g. a repairing order or an order to demolish an unauthorized structure);
4. whether there is any mortgage over the flat which has not yet been discharged;
5. whether there is any lawsuit concerning the flat (e.g. a bank suing the owner for some outstanding mortgage repayments).

If there is any item on the land search record that Ms. B does not understand, she should ask her agent or her solicitor immediately.

For more information about the land search, please visit the Land Registry’s webpage.

Answer 3:
Yes. The agent should give Ms. B an official receipt in respect of her initial deposit. He should then deposit the money into an independent bank account opened by his estate agency company (not his personal account). The agent can only withdraw the money and arrange payment to the vendor with Ms. B’s prior written instruction.

If the agent fails to observe this procedure, he will have breached the Estate Agents Ordinance and the Practice Regulations imposed by the Estate Agents Authority. The relevant penalty may be a suspension of his estate agent licence, a fine or even imprisonment.

To be safer, however, it is recommended that Ms. B should ascertain Mr. A’s identity and then issue a cheque in favour of him directly.

Answer 4:
Yes, although it is a provisional agreement, Mr. A and Ms. B must obey it, or bear the legal consequences if they don’t.

Answer 5:
Please refer to relevant Q&A.

Answer 6:
Yes, but Ms. B should check whether such is allowed in the formal sale and purchase agreement before doing so. She will act as a “Confirmor” and the new purchaser will act as a “Sub-Purchaser” in the transaction. Since it will involve an additional party, special attention must be paid to the timing of payments, the discharge of the existing mortgage, and the handing over of the flat. Additional stamp duty may also be incurred.

Answer 7:
In respect of Mr. A (the vendor), he must make sure that vacant possession of the flat can be delivered to the purchaser on the completion day (unless otherwise stated on the sale and purchase agreement e.g. the flat is sold with an existing tenancy). He can either send the keys to his solicitor or to his agent for arranging the handover. Prior notice must be given to all the relevant parties.

For Ms. B (the purchaser), she must either transfer the balance of purchase price to her solicitor before the completion day or prepare the relevant cashier’s order (bank draft) in favour of the vendor. She must also carry out a final inspection of the flat.