Water, Electricity, and Gas Services in Hong Kong

When renting a property, it's essential to handle the procedures for water, electricity, and gas in advance to ensure a smooth move-in or move-out process. Whether it's transferring accounts before moving in or terminating accounts and getting the deposit back after moving out, understanding these processes is very important. How long in advance do you need to handle these procedures? How can you ensure the accounts are properly terminated after moving out and retrieve your deposit? The following chart provides a detailed explanation of all the water, electricity, and gas procedures, helping you easily manage the various steps involved in renting a property.

Q: What procedures do I need to follow when moving in to set up water, electricity, and gas accounts?

A: Tenants need to provide identification documents and a copy of the lease or sale agreement, and pay the corresponding deposit. The water account deposit is HKD 400, the gas account deposit is HKD 600, and the deposit for electricity (either from CLP or HK Electric) is determined based on your estimated electricity usage. You can call the Water Supplies Department, the power companies (HK Electric or CLP), and the gas company to inform them that you have moved into this unit. They will ask for details such as your move-in date and personal information. Once you provide the necessary information, your accounts can be successfully set up.

Q: What are the contact details for the water, electricity, and gas service providers?

A: Below are the contact details for each service provider:

• Water: Water Supplies Department 2824 5000
• Electricity: HK Electric (Hong Kong Island) 2887 3411, CLP (Kowloon and New Territories) 2678 2678
• Gas: Gas Company 2880 6988

Q: How do I terminate my water, electricity, and gas accounts when moving out and get back my deposit?

To Terminate the Water Account

• Tenants must notify the Water Supplies Department at least 30 days before moving out.
• You can terminate your account by using the online service or calling the Water Supplies Department customer service hotline at 2824 5000.

To Terminate the Electricity Account

• Tenants must notify the power company at least 2 days before moving out.
• You can terminate your account by using the online service or calling the customer service hotline at 2678 2678 (CLP) or 2887 3411 (HK Electric).

To Terminate the Gas Account

• Tenants must notify the gas company at least two working days in advance through the online service or by calling the gas company at 2880 6988.
• Termination of gas service requires an appointment for a technician to visit the property on the termination date to read the gas meter and carry out the disconnection.

Once all accounts are settled, your deposit will typically be refunded within about a week, either by cheque or bank transfer.

Q: What should I do if there's no water supply or the water meter has been removed?

A: In addition to filling out the form WWO 542 and submitting it via post, fax, email, or in person at the customer service center, tenants will need to contact the relevant companies to arrange for reconnection. A reconnection fee of HKD 420 will apply.