Reading time is approximately 8 minutes.
After receiving the notice to select/take possession of the property:
An evaluation form for decision-making based on "location, floor, orientation, layout, and family needs".
Feeling anxious about choosing between express public housing, Green Form subsidized housing, and Home Ownership Scheme flats?
Using a rational five-dimensional spatial matrix, we selected the best unit for the whole family to live in long-term.
▲ TL Home 3D Interior Design Concept Image:
Design is about warmth; living is about attitude.
30-second summary of key points
揀樓現場每人只有短短幾分鐘做決定，若無預先準備心儀清單，極易在緊張慌亂下選中通風採光差的劣質單位。
Five key evaluation indicators: window orientation and sunlight exposure, noise and vibration from proximity to garbage rooms or elevator shafts, restrictions on furniture placement due to beam and column locations, window sill area utilization rate, and transportation and living amenities.
"Quick Feasibility Assessment of Floor Plans": In front of the building, view the potential for unit layout, which units are easy to convert into two bedrooms, and which units are more likely to be restricted.
核心決策與防伏對照表
Evaluation Dimensions
High-quality preferred features (bonus points)
Potential problems (deductions)
Can interior design remedy this?
Orientation and lighting
Southeast facing, warm in winter and cool in summer, with unobstructed sunlight through the main windows.
The west-facing sun is setting and extremely hot, while the north-facing sun is dark and damp.
For west-facing rooms, double-layered insulated curtains and heat-insulating film can be installed to improve light penetration; for dark rooms, sliding glass doors can be used to allow light in.
Floors and Views
Mid- to high-rise buildings offer expansive views and are away from street dust and noise.
The very low floors (1st to 3rd floors) are easily affected by noise, mosquitoes, and backflow.
Lower floors can be fitted with high-density soundproof windows and reinforced mosquito screens.
Beams and Columns and Layout
The walls are straight with few irregular corners, and the beams and columns are placed around the perimeter of the walls.
The main beam spans the center of the living room, and the main entrance faces the toilet door.
A central beam can be transitioned using an arched ceiling; a direct clash can be mitigated using a foyer partition or a hidden door.
Nearby public facilities
Stay away from the building's elevator machine room, back staircase, and garbage collection room.
There is a low-frequency humming noise right next to the elevator shaft; there is an odor near the garbage room.
Adding sound insulation cotton and noise damping panels to the wall near the elevator shaft improves noise reduction.
Kitchen and toilet ventilation conditions
Open kitchen and bathroom, with direct ventilation windows on the exterior walls.
The dark toilet and the culvert are too long and meandering.
Dark restrooms must be equipped with a high-powered, silent ventilation system and an odor-proof vent ceiling.
Follow along step by step: Standard operating procedure
01
Download the sales manual or unit list in advance.
Log in to the Housing Authority website to view the aerial views, elevations and cross sections of each building.
Tip: Find out if there are any new buildings in the surrounding area that will block sunlight.
02
List your first, second, and third choice options.
Units available for selection on-site can be snapped up by previous applicants at any time, so at least 10-15 backup units must be prepared.
Tip: Sort by preference to create a pocket list.
03
On-site inspection of the surrounding environment and traffic flow of the housing estate
Before choosing a property, personally visit the perimeter of the estate to experience the morning and evening traffic, supermarket and wet market facilities, and the walking distance along the slope.
Tip: Take an elder or push a stroller to test the real walking experience.
04
Contact TL Home for a floor plan renovation potential assessment.
Send the floor plan to the designer for a quick assessment of whether it is legal to partition rooms and build a platform according to the needs of family members.
Tip: Check the design feasibility before buying/choosing a property for a more secure move-in experience.
TL Home Space Magic Perspective
How can designers simplify complex designs?
Using color to enhance the sense of visual space
For units with lower floors or insufficient natural light, the entire ceiling is painted with high-reflectivity ultra-white paint, paired with light wood flooring to create a transparent, natural, and bright feel.
Custom-made storage unit with irregular recesses
Make good use of irregular spaces and recesses left by the building structure to customize narrow storage cabinets or vacuum cleaner charging cabinets, turning waste into treasure.
This FAQ is a quick and easy guide.
Q: Are the flats selected under the Express Public Housing Allocation Program necessarily poor or weird?
A: Not necessarily. Some express units do involve lower floors, are haunted properties, or have environmental defects; however, many others are simply due to previous tenants moving out, older renovations, or being located in remote areas. With careful selection and targeted renovations, the price-performance ratio can still be extremely high.
Q: If my preferred unit is already sold out on the day of the selection, can I give up and wait for the next round?
A: It depends on the application category. Applicants for Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) or Green Form Subsidized Housing (GSP) can choose to withdraw their application on the spot if they don't have a preferred unit when their turn comes; this will not affect their future applications for other subsidized housing. However, there are corresponding cooling-off periods or relocation restrictions for Express Housing; please refer to the current regulations for details.
Q: I have a floor plan, but I don't know if there are any two-bedroom apartments?
A: Generally, a living room with at least one independent main window for natural light, and a clear width of no less than 2.3 meters, can potentially be divided into a master bedroom and a light-filled multi-functional room using a partition. T.L Home can provide a free preliminary floor plan assessment.
The above information is for reference only, and our company assumes no legal responsibility whatsoever.
Related Lazy Person's Guide
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New Public Housing Occupancy Renovation Guide: A 7-Step Checklist from Application and Measurement to Start of Work
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Home Ownership Scheme/Green Form Subsidized Housing Handover Inspection Checklist: 8 Key Locations to Check 48 Hours Before Move-in
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Can the perimeter walls of public housing be modified? A must-read before demolishing walls, installing sliding doors, false walls, and open-plan designs.