As foreigners who want to live in China, sometimes you relish in the independence of renting your own apartment. However, do you know the principles of acceptable land-lording in China?
Well, in some cases, you may find that the Chinese way of renting is rife with its own hassles.
So the best way to figure out how to rent an apartment in China is to prepare in advance, and keep these guidelines in mind. 
01
The Housing Contract
Looking at a Chinese contract might get your head spinning, especially if you do not read Chinese. It’s good to have specific points in mind while looking at a contract before you sign, for example, check the dates and prices, including when the deposit shall be returned, which day rent shall be paid every month, etc.
While this might seem fairly obvious, it’s a good way of ensuring your position with the real estate agency or landlord because they happen to occasionally “change” on a whim.
It’s also good to take pictures, maybe video, of the entire process.
Remember that contracts in China are still just pieces of paper, rather than legally binding documents. There’s no shortage of horror stories about foreigners not having their deposits returned, and having no one to turn to.
02
Maintenance
When something in the house is broken, we need it fixed so your first instinct maybe to call the landlord. However, a few phone calls and many minutes later, we are given a very “round-about” answer.
Sometimes it sounds like this:
"Yes, I understand you.
I will send someone to fix it immediately."
Hours, maybe days later, we have to give another call to the landlord. We are met with vague responses such as
"There will be someone coming soon,"
or
"I will come fix it soon."
Maybe a week later, something gets fixed. There are also times when nothing is fixed. Even if your landlord comes over, don’t expect miracles. Many landlords have no idea about practical things such as fixing a running toilet. For the small things, do internet searches.
Learning how to fix something by yourself will not only save your time, but will also give you a valuable life skill.
03
Deposits
A rental deposit in China can be anything from 1-6 months’ rent up front. It’s actually quite a frightening thing if you are not sure about your deposit being returned. As a basic rule, you should not be putting down more than six months’ rent up front.
Most landlords will return your deposit in full. But remember, there is no way to ensure your deposit will be returned to you. This is generally decided by the landlord’s character.
04
Privacy & Security
Privacy and security are two things we take for granted. Whether or not you believe in privacy, Chinese landlords will often just show up at your home. They may invent vague excuses such as checking on the laundry machine, or looking at the pipes.
Furthermore, security is a huge issue when you know that your landlord can burst in at any minute. So remember that your homes are your homes, whether rented or otherwise. Landlords have no right to enter without permission or unless certain circumstances arise.
05
House Registration
You need to ensure that the house is registered by the government to allow foreigners to rent if you want to avoid hassle with the government, because it will most likely be your responsibility and not the landlord’s.
In addition, another thing to mention is that landlords might often sell their apartments during your tenancy, which means you may have four weeks or less notice to move out.
Find your suitable location, happy hunting and don’t forget the advice as above. Wish you have a good time in China.
Source: echinacity
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