Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q3.1
Is it true that vendors may only quote the floor area and price per square foot/metre of a first-hand residential property in “saleable area”?
Q3.2
How is "saleable area" to be measured under the Ordinance?
Q3.3
What is the difference in the definition of saleable area before and after the implementation of the Ordinance?


Q3.1
Is it true that vendors may only quote the floor area and price per square foot/metre of a first-hand residential property in “saleable area”?
A3.1

Under the Ordinance, saleable area will be the only basis that vendors can use to quote property size and property price per square foot/per square meter in the sales brochures, price lists and advertisements of first-hand residential properties.


Q3.2
How is "saleable area" to be measured under the Ordinance?
A3.2

Under the Ordinance, saleable area will be the only basis for vendors to present the area of the residential property and the price per square foot/per square meter of the property.


The definition of saleable area under the Ordinance

Saleable area means the floor area of the residential property, which includes the floor area of (i) a balcony, (ii) a utility platform and (iii) a verandah so long as it forms part of the residential property. However, it excludes an air-conditioning plant room, a bay window, a cockloft, a flat roof, a garden, a parking space, a roof, a stairhood, a terrace or a yard even it forms part of the residential property.


Unless otherwise stated under the Ordinance, saleable area is to be measured from the exterior of the enclosing walls of the residential property; and will include the area of the internal partitions and columns within the residential property but exclude the area of any common part outside the enclosing walls of the residential property.


The floor area of a balcony, utility platform or verandah, unless otherwise stated in the Ordinance, is to be measured from the exterior of its enclosing walls, and includes the area of its internal partitions and columns within.


If any enclosing wall separates a residential property, balcony, utility platform or verandah from an adjoining residential property, balcony, utility platform or verandah, the measurement is to be taken from the middle of the wall.


Q3.3
What is the difference in the definition of saleable area before and after the implementation of the Ordinance?
A3.3

Interpretation of saleable area largely the same before and after the implementation of the Ordinance

The definition of saleable area under the Ordinance is largely the same as that standardised by the Government on 10 October 2008. That said, the definition of saleable area has further clarified some of the details, such as the thickness of the wall finishes is not to be included as part of the wall of a residential property.


The implementation of the Ordinance will not give rise to the issue of which version of the definition of saleable area should be used to calculate the saleable area of a residential property. The calculation of the saleable area of a residential property should be premised on the then prevailing definition of saleable area when the vendor offers the residential property for sale.


For example, for a first-hand residential property which was offered for sale and was sold before the implementation of the Ordinance, the vendor should calculate the saleable area based on the standardised definition which has come into effect on 10 October 2008. For a residential property which is offered to be sold after the implementation of the Ordinance, the vendor should calculate the saleable area in accordance with the definition of the Ordinance. This principle also applies to the calculation of saleable area for individual first-hand residential properties in a residential development, the sales period of which takes place both before and after the implementation of the Ordinance and that some of the residential properties were sold before the implementation of the Ordinance and some are offered for sale after the implementation of the Ordinance.