Full Comparison of Subvented, Contract and Private Residential Care Homes

1. Introduction: Four Home Types, One Older Person

“Mum has been assessed as needing a home, but we do not know which type to choose.”

That is often where families begin. Hong Kong’s residential care system is structured, but the labels are confusing: subvented homes, contract homes, Enhanced Bought Place Scheme places (EA1 and EA2), nursing homes, and private non-subsidised homes. All may be called “residential care homes”, yet monthly fees can range from HK$1,660 to more than HK$60,000, and waiting times can range from a few weeks to nearly two years.

This guide uses the latest official 2025-26 figures to explain the practical differences, then helps you match care needs and family budget to the right route.

To skip the reading and get a direct match, use the home matching wizard →.

2. Quick Comparison Table

Tip: As of the end of December 2025, the Central Waiting List had 17,664 active applicants[11]. Another 38,013 inactive applications were deferred or using community care instead[13]. The /faq section covers common waiting-list questions.

3. Subvented Homes

Who runs them?

Subvented homes are operated by NGOs and charitable organisations. The Government funds them through the Lump Sum Grant and Funding and Service Agreement system[28]. They are non-profit in nature and form the backbone of Hong Kong’s elderly residential care system.

As of 31 March 2025, Hong Kong had 120 subvented care-and-attention homes providing 15,284 places, and 6 subvented nursing homes providing 1,574 places[24].

Monthly fees

Eligibility and application

• Age: 65 or above; people aged 60-64 may apply if they have proven residential care needs[22]
• Assessment: assessed under the Standardised Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services (SCNAMES)
• Mental suitability: mentally suitable for communal living[22]
• Application: free application through Integrated Family Service Centres, medical social workers, District Elderly Community Centres and other service units[23], then registration on the Central Waiting List (CWL)

Waiting reality

The average wait for subvented and contract homes was 21 months as of December 2025[12]. If care needs are urgent, relying on the queue alone may not be realistic. Families can consider RCSV in parallel. See the RCSV application guide →.

For application questions, start with the FAQ →.

4. Contract Homes

Who runs them?

Since 2001, SWD has selected private operators for contract homes through competitive tendering[5]. Unlike subvented homes, the operator is a private business, but the service standards and subsidised fee arrangements are governed by the Government contract.

As of March 2025, Hong Kong had 50 contract homes providing 4,527 places[24].

Service standard

Contract homes provide services that are the same as subvented care-and-attention homes and subvented nursing homes[4]. The private operating model should not mean a lower formal care standard.

Monthly fee

The monthly fee for a subsidised place is HK$2,060[3]. Contract homes may also provide non-subsidised places, with fees to be confirmed directly with the home.

Application

Applications also go through the Central Waiting List. Waiting time is similar to subvented homes, averaging 21 months[12].

5. Enhanced Bought Place Scheme (EBPS)

Scheme background

The Enhanced Bought Place Scheme (EBPS) was introduced by SWD in 1998. The Government purchases places from private homes and requires improved staffing ratios and floor-space standards, both to raise private-home quality and to expand subsidised supply[29]. The scheme has two grades: EA1 and EA2.

As of March 2025, 196 private homes participated in EBPS, providing 11,216 EBPS places[24].

EA1

EA2

Waiting-time advantage

EBPS places use a separate matching channel, and the average wait was only 6 months[12], much shorter than the 21 months for subvented and contract homes. If the older person’s care need is urgent, tell the social worker after assessment that EBPS places should be considered.

6. Nursing Homes and the Nursing Home Place Purchase Scheme (NHPPS)

Who they suit

Nursing homes serve older people with severe loss of physical functioning who need extensive help with daily living and a high level of professional nursing care, but who do not need continuous medical supervision[27]. Applicants must also have no persistent tendency to violence, self-destruction or disruptive behaviour[30].

Monthly fee

The Nursing Home Place Purchase Scheme (NHPPS) monthly fee is HK$2,060[9].

As of March 2025, SWD managed 5 self-financing nursing homes with 280 places[24]. There were also 6 subvented nursing homes with 1,574 places[24].

Staffing requirements

Under SWD’s Code of Practice for Nursing Homes, June 2024 edition[19]:

• At least 1 registered nurse must be on duty at all times
• At least 1 care staff member is required for every 3 beds or fewer
• At least 1 nurse is required among every 3 care staff members or fewer

Waiting time

The average wait for nursing home places was 8 months as of December 2025[12], shorter than the 21-month wait for C&A places. This reflects a smaller applicant pool and more concentrated supply.

As of the end of December 2025, 1,940 applicants on the CWL were waiting for nursing home places[11].

7. Private Non-Subsidised Homes

Fee range

Private non-subsidised homes set their own prices. Monthly fees are market-based:

• Standard private homes: around HK$7,000-$25,000, depending on care level and room type[21]
• Premium private homes: HK$12,000-$60,000+, with some individual examples reaching HK$82,000[21]

Main advantages

• No SCNAMES assessment required, and no Central Waiting List queue
• Short admission lead time, often days to weeks
• More flexibility over district, room type and service package

Main points to check

• Fees vary widely, so compare several homes
• Use the SWD Elderly Information Website to check licensed homes and fee information
• Private homes are still regulated under the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance and must be licensed

Browse licensed homes in the Hong Kong home database →, or use the home ranking tool → to filter by price, care staffing and other indicators.

8. Residential Care Service Voucher (RCSV)

RCSV follows the “money-following-the-user” model. The Government subsidy goes to the recognised home chosen by the older person, rather than the Government assigning a place directly.

Voucher values from April 2026

Scheme scale

As of 9 June 2026, 243 recognised service providers (RSPs) participated in the scheme[26].

Eligibility

• The older person must already be actively waiting for subsidised long-term care services on the Central Waiting List[10]
• A formal application can begin only after receiving an invitation letter from SWD
• Using RCSV does not affect the older person’s Central Waiting List ranking

For application steps and co-payment calculations, see the RCSV application guide →, or visit the FAQ →.

9. 2023 Ordinance Amendments: What Families Should Know

Legislative background

The Residential Care Homes Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2023 (Ordinance No. 12 of 2023) was gazetted on 16 June 2023. Most provisions took effect on 16 June 2024[14]. Staffing and floor-space requirements are being implemented in phases.

Transitional floor-space arrangements

Source: SWD Code of Practice for Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons), June 2024, §6.4[15][16]

Staffing improvements for care-and-attention homes

Under the June 2024 Code of Practice for Residential Care Homes:

• During specified hours, there must be 1 health worker on site and on duty for every 30 residents
• From 16 June 2026, the specified period increases from 11 hours to 13 hours per day[17]
• For care workers: 1 care worker on duty for every 20 residents during the specified 10 hours; outside that period, 1 care worker for every 40 residents[18]

Practical meaning for families

The amendments raise minimum standards, but the transition period is long, with some requirements not fully in force until 2032. When choosing a home, ask about the current actual floor space per resident and overnight staffing, rather than relying only on the word “licensed”. The home ranking tool → lets you filter homes by care-staffing indicators.

10. How to Choose: Decision Guide

By care need

If you are not sure which care level applies, the formal basis is the SWD SCNAMES assessment, which can be arranged through social welfare service units.

By budget

By urgency

• Need admission within weeks: a private non-subsidised home is the only no-queue option
• Can wait 3-9 months: EBPS or NHPPS may be realistic
• Can wait 1-2 years: subvented or contract homes have the lowest monthly fees, but the longest queue

Use the home matching wizard → to answer a few questions and get a personalised suggestion.

11. Next Steps

You now have the key differences between Hong Kong’s main residential care home types. Based on the older person’s care level and the family’s finances, the next step can be:

1. Use the home matching wizard →: answer questions on care needs, budget and district to get a home-type recommendation
2. Browse licensed homes in Hong Kong →: search by district, type and fee to understand real homes
3. Check the home ranking tool →: sort by fee, care-staffing ratio, RCSV net fee and other indicators
4. Register on the Central Waiting List: apply for assessment and registration free of charge through a nearby District Elderly Community Centre or Integrated Family Service Centre[23]
5. FAQ →: one place for common questions on applications, waiting and fees

Related reading:

• RCSV application guide →
• Central Waiting List application guide →