What Are the Eligibility Requirements for Green Form Applicants, and Which Subsidised Homes Can They Buy? 2026 Guide to Green Form HOS and GSH

Updated: 18 September 2026

If you are a public rental housing (PRH) tenant, or hold a valid Green Form Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Housing Department, Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS), or the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), you may be able to apply for subsidised-sale housing through the Green Form. Unlike White Form applications, the key considerations for Green Form applicants are not the income and asset limits that generally apply to private-flat households, but the applicant’s household status, Green Form eligibility, ownership of residential property, and whether the applicant has previously benefited from subsidised home ownership.

Can Green Form applicants buy Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats, Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) flats, or flats on the HOS Secondary Market? Does the Green Form have an asset limit? This article summarises the 2026 Green Form eligibility requirements, asset checks for Green Form Certificates of Eligibility, the types of homes that may be purchased, and mortgage loan-to-value ratios, helping PRH tenants understand their home-buying options.

What Homes Can Green Form Applicants Buy? The Short Answer

Green Form applicants may generally apply for or purchase the following types of subsidised housing, subject to the arrangements of the relevant scheme:

- New HOS flats: Flats sold under the Housing Authority’s Home Ownership Scheme.

- New GSH flats: Flats sold under the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme.

- HOS Secondary Market flats: Unpriced subsidised-sale flats purchased with Green Form eligibility.

- Recovered flats under the Tenants Purchase Scheme: These may be purchased under particular GSH or designated sales programmes.

- Other eligible subsidised-sale flats: For example, certain flats under historical subsidised-housing schemes, subject to the arrangements for the relevant sales exercise and the restrictions applicable to individual flats.

The most important point is that the Green Form is not a single housing scheme; it is a form of purchasing eligibility. HOS, GSH, and the HOS Secondary Market each have different application procedures and restrictions. Holding a Green Form does not automatically allow a person to buy every type of subsidised housing.

 What Is the Green Form?

The Green Form is used by the Housing Authority to identify eligible PRH households and other designated persons who are eligible to purchase subsidised-sale housing. Green Form applicants generally already live in PRH or an eligible HKHS rental estate. They may also hold a Green Form Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Housing Department, HKHS, or the URA.

The main purpose of the Green Form is to allow eligible households to buy subsidised-sale flats on more favourable terms. After the purchase, they must surrender their original PRH flat or deal with their existing housing subsidy arrangements as required. The timing and procedure for surrendering the original flat vary depending on the applicable HOS, GSH, or Secondary Market scheme.

 Who May Qualify for the Green Form?

Housing Authority PRH tenants

Households living in public rental housing administered by the Housing Authority may generally apply for HOS or GSH flats under the Green Form. However, not every temporary or special rental arrangement qualifies as Green Form status. For example, households holding a “conditional tenancy,” people living in transitional rental housing under a monthly temporary licence, and holders of a fixed-term temporary residence permit may not meet the relevant Green Form requirements.[1][2]

When applying, applicants should check whether they are an eligible household under their PRH tenancy and whether the tenancy commencement date satisfies the requirements of the relevant sales exercise. New PRH tenants should also note that some GSH schemes impose restrictions on the tenancy commencement date or the length of time the household has occupied the flat.

Tenants of HKHS Category A rental estates and elderly-person housing

Eligible households in Category A rental estates and elderly-person housing operated by HKHS may qualify under the Green Form for designated subsidised-sale housing schemes. However, tenants of Category B rental estates, dedicated rehousing estates, and certain transitional rental-housing arrangements do not necessarily qualify.

Before applying, HKHS tenants should ask their estate office to confirm the type of rental estate, their tenancy status, and the schemes for which they may apply. A person should not assume that they qualify simply because they are an “HKHS tenant.”

Holders of a Green Form Certificate of Eligibility

Some PRH applicants, households affected by clearance or redevelopment, persons eligible for the civil-service public housing quota, persons who have been verified as eligible for PRH after divorce or a household split, and former PRH tenants holding a valid guarantee issued by the Housing Department may be issued with a Green Form Certificate of Eligibility.[2]

A Green Form Certificate will usually state the sales scheme to which it applies. For example, some certificates may apply only to HOS purchases, while others may apply only to GSH. Applicants must check the certificate’s purpose, validity period, and which family members may be included in the application.

Beneficiaries of the Elderly Persons Priority Scheme for the Allocation of Public Rental Housing Rental Allowance

Beneficiaries of the Housing Authority’s rental allowance scheme for elderly persons may also qualify for designated Green Form applications, provided that the beneficiary and the household members have not breached the terms of the rental allowance agreement.

Does the Green Form Have Income and Asset Limits?

Green Form applications are generally not subject to the White Form income-and-asset limits

Many people search for terms such as “Green Form asset limit” or “Green Form asset assessment.” In general, Green Form applicants do not apply for HOS or GSH under the same household monthly-income and total-net-asset limits that apply to White Form applicants. The main focus of a Green Form assessment is usually whether the applicant has valid Green Form eligibility and whether the applicant satisfies the restrictions on residential-property ownership and other housing subsidies.

Therefore, applicants should not directly apply the White Form income and asset figures to calculate their own “Green Form asset limit.” Each sales exercise will specify the applicable eligibility requirements in its application guide, and individual Green Form Certificates may also contain specific restrictions.

What Does a Green Form Asset Assessment Check?

A Green Form asset assessment does not mean that applicants are entirely exempt from providing information. The Housing Authority may still verify the applicant’s housing status, residential-property interests, previous housing subsidies, and whether any other restrictions apply to the applicant or the household members listed on the application.

For example, under GSH 2025, Housing Authority PRH tenants, tenants of HKHS rental estates or elderly-person housing, and certain former PRH tenants holding valid Green Form Certificates were generally prohibited, from the 24 months before the application deadline until the date on which the Agreement for Sale and Purchase was signed, from owning, jointly owning, or holding residential-property interests through a company in Hong Kong.

The residential-property restriction may cover completed residential properties, uncompleted residential properties, land intended for residential use, small-house land grants, and residential-property interests held by a company. Even if a previously signed Agreement for Sale and Purchase was subsequently cancelled, applicants must determine whether it affects their eligibility in accordance with the application guide for the relevant sales exercise.

If You Have Bought an HOS Flat Before, Can You Apply Again Under the Green Form?

Generally, owners, borrowers, and their spouses who have previously benefited from HOS, GSH, HOS Secondary Market, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, HKHS subsidised-sale housing, or other designated subsidised home-ownership schemes may not be permitted to apply again under the relevant Green Form scheme, even if the original flat has been sold or the mortgage has been fully repaid.

Some family members may also be affected by restrictions concerning “key members” or the date of the assignment deed. This is an easily overlooked aspect of Green Form eligibility. Applicants should read the application guide for the relevant sales exercise carefully before applying.

Can Green Form Applicants Buy HOS Flats?

Yes. Green Form applicants may apply for new HOS flats offered by the Housing Authority. HOS sales exercises usually accept both Green Form and White Form applications. Flats are allocated according to the designated quota ratio, while the order for selecting flats is determined by the application category and ballot results.

For HOS 2025, the quota ratio for Green Form and White Form applicants was adjusted to **50:50**. Whether the same ratio will apply to the next HOS sales exercise depends on the relevant sales announcement.

After successfully purchasing an HOS flat, a Green Form applicant will generally have to surrender the original PRH flat or deal with the original rental flat in accordance with Housing Authority requirements. The application guide and sale-and-purchase documents for the relevant exercise determine when the flat must be surrendered, whether the original residence may be retained until the new flat is occupied, and how family members should be listed.

Can Green Form Applicants Buy GSH Flats?

Yes. GSH is a subsidised-sale housing scheme primarily intended for Green Form applicants. Eligible PRH households, designated HKHS tenants, and people holding an applicable Green Form Certificate may apply under the relevant GSH sales exercise.

GSH flats are generally sold at a discount below assessed market value. For example, **GSH 2025** included newly built GSH flats and a group of recovered Tenants Purchase Scheme flats. The price, discount rate, number of flats, and flat-selection arrangements for a new GSH project are announced in the sales information for the relevant exercise.

Applicants should note that, although both GSH and the Green Form category for HOS applications are based on Green Form status, their detailed eligibility requirements are not identical. For example, GSH may impose additional requirements relating to the commencement date of the PRH tenancy, the length of time the household has lived in the flat after allocation under the Express Flat Allocation Scheme, and the scope of a Green Form Certificate.

Can Green Form Applicants Buy Second-Hand HOS Flats?

Yes. Green Form applicants may apply to purchase flats on the HOS Secondary Market. These are generally unpriced HOS, GSH, Tenants Purchase Scheme, or other eligible subsidised-sale flats.

The Housing Authority’s Green Form Secondary Market applicants include:

- Housing Authority PRH tenants;

- tenants of HKHS Category A rental estates or elderly-person housing;

- recognised residents of Housing Authority interim housing;

- holders of a Green Form Certificate applicable to the HOS Secondary Market; and

- beneficiaries of the elderly-person rental allowance scheme.

Both single applicants and family applications may apply, but an applicant and the family members in a family application will generally need to be related. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Married applicants are generally required to include their spouse in the same application, except in situations such as a legal divorce, the death of the spouse, or where the spouse does not have the right to enter Hong Kong.

Basic Process for Buying a Second-Hand HOS Flat with the Green Form

The first step is to apply for the certificate of purchase eligibility required by the Housing Authority. The second step is to look for an eligible flat on the HOS Secondary Market. The third step is for the buyer and seller to sign a provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase and complete the nomination, formal Agreement for Sale and Purchase, and assignment deed in the prescribed format.

Before signing a provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase, the buyer should verify that the flat may still be sold on the Secondary Market, that the buyer meets the Green Form requirements, and that the flat is not subject to special transfer restrictions. The resale period, categories of buyers who may be accepted, and premium arrangements may differ between flats.

What Is the Green Form Mortgage Loan-to-Value Ratio?

Under current mortgage arrangements for subsidised-sale flats, the maximum mortgage loan-to-value ratio for a Green Form buyer can generally reach 95% of the purchase price, and the maximum repayment period is generally 30 years. In theory, this means that a Green Form buyer may need a down payment of approximately 5% of the purchase price. However, the buyer must still set aside money for legal fees, stamp duty, mortgage-related fees, and other transaction costs.

A “maximum of 95%” does not mean that every Green Form applicant will automatically receive a 95% mortgage. Banks assess applications based on income, liabilities, credit history, the age of the building, the property valuation, and repayment ability. For second-hand subsidised-sale flats, the age of the building and the Housing Authority’s mortgage guarantee period may also affect the actual loan-to-value ratio and repayment period available.

Applicants should also note that the mortgage documents and bank arrangements for a newly built GSH flat may differ from those for a flat purchased on the HOS Secondary Market. Before signing sale-and-purchase documents, applicants should consult a participating bank or authorised financial institution and first assess whether they can afford the monthly repayments.

Comparison of Green Form, White Form, and GSH Eligibility

What Should You Check Before Applying Under the Green Form?

Before applying, check the following:

- Are you a Housing Authority PRH tenant, an eligible tenant of an HKHS rental estate, or the holder of a valid and applicable Green Form Certificate?

- Does your Green Form Certificate apply to HOS, GSH, or the HOS Secondary Market?

- During the specified restriction period, have you and the family members listed on the application held no residential property in Hong Kong?

- Have you previously benefited from HOS, GSH, the HOS Secondary Market, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, or another subsidised home-ownership scheme?

- If you are married, are you required to include your spouse in the same application?

- After a successful purchase, when must the original PRH or HKHS rental flat be surrendered?

- Is your income and level of debt sufficient to support the mortgage, even if the bank does not approve the maximum 95% loan-to-value ratio?

- If you are buying a flat on the Secondary Market, does it still meet the transfer conditions applicable to Green Form buyers?

 Frequently Asked Questions

Does having a Green Form necessarily mean that I am a PRH tenant?

No. PRH tenants are the most common Green Form applicants, but certain eligible HKHS tenants, holders of Green Form Certificates, recognised residents of interim housing, and beneficiaries of the elderly-person rental allowance scheme may also qualify for designated Green Form schemes. The definition in the relevant sales exercise applies.

Does the Green Form have an asset limit?

The Green Form generally does not have the type of uniform household income and net-asset limits that apply to White Form applications. This does not mean that there are no checks at all. The Housing Authority may still verify residential-property ownership, previous subsidised home ownership, and whether the applicant meets the Green Form requirements.

Will holders of a Green Form Certificate undergo an asset assessment?

This depends on the type of certificate and the application scheme. The Housing Authority may check residential property, family members, housing status, and previous subsidy records. Holding a Green Form Certificate does not exempt an applicant from all eligibility checks.

Can Green Form applicants buy both HOS and GSH flats?

Yes. Green Form applicants can generally apply for new HOS flats and for GSH flats, which are primarily intended for Green Form applicants. The two schemes have different application requirements, flat supplies, discount rates, and flat-selection arrangements.

Can Green Form applicants buy flats under the White Form Secondary Market Scheme (White Form Secondary Market Scheme, or “White Form HOS Secondary Market”) ?

Green Form applicants cannot participate in the White Form Secondary Market Scheme in their capacity as White Form applicants. They may, however, apply for HOS Secondary Market flats using their Green Form eligibility. The Green Form Secondary Market and the White Form HOS Secondary Market are separate application arrangements.

How much down payment is needed to buy a second-hand HOS flat with the Green Form?

Under current general arrangements, the maximum mortgage loan-to-value ratio for a Green Form buyer can reach 95%, meaning that the theoretical down payment is approximately 5% of the purchase price. In practice, the required down payment may be higher because of the bank’s valuation, the building’s age, mortgage approval, transaction costs, and restrictions applicable to the particular flat.

Can I keep my original PRH flat after buying a GSH flat?

Generally, it cannot simply be retained. The application, purchase, and surrender of the original PRH flat must be handled in accordance with the Housing Authority’s application guide and sale-and-purchase documents for the relevant GSH exercise. Applicants should understand the surrender timetable and the arrangements for household members before applying.

Conclusion: Three Main Green Form Home-Buying Routes

The three main subsidised home-buying routes for Green Form applicants are **applying for a new HOS flat, applying for a GSH flat, and purchasing a flat on the HOS Secondary Market**. GSH is the scheme most directly aimed at Green Form applicants. HOS applicants compete with White Form applicants for designated quotas, while the HOS Secondary Market gives Green Form buyers the opportunity to choose existing unpriced subsidised-sale flats.

The most common misunderstanding among Green Form applicants is that the Green Form involves no asset checks at all, or that every Green Form Certificate allows its holder to buy every type of subsidised housing. In reality, Green Form status, residential-property restrictions, previous housing subsidies, the purpose of the certificate, and the transfer conditions of the individual flat may all affect the application outcome.

Before submitting an application, applicants should rely on the application guide and sales information for the relevant Housing Authority exercise and verify their personal circumstances with the Housing Authority, HKHS, or a bank.

> Note:The applicable rules may change, so applicants should check the latest official Housing Authority or HKHS requirements for the relevant sales exercise.