For most Westerners, we relish in the independence of renting our own apartment. It’s a rite of passage that many young people feel honored to experience. However, compare us to the Chinese and we see how different our renting culture is. For example, what principles separate the West and the East in terms of acceptable land-lording? Well, for most of us, we will find that the Eastern way of renting is not only different, but rife with its own hassles. The best way to learn is to prepare in advance, and keep some guidelines in mind. So, I’ve prepared some tips for new and seasoned renters in China. These tips are mainly concerning contracts, maintenance, deposits, privacy and security.

1) The housing contract
Is a housing contract the same in every country? Of course not. One look at a Chinese contract might get your head spinning, especially if you do not read Chinese. Well, some folks question the legality of these contracts, and I fully agree with them. Many words seem “extra” and some wording seems “questionable.” It’s good to have specific points in mind while looking at a contract before you sign. 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 and/or landlord.

Always make clear the days and prices, 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.

2) Maintenance
Maintenance is a simple request in most of our minds. Our sink is broken, and we need it fixed. Our first instinct is 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, i.e. wikihow. Learning how to fix something by yourself will not only save you time, but will also give you a valuable life skill.

3) 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.  Even six months is steep by most standards. Most landlords will return your deposit in full, but of course there are always the horror stories. There is no way to ensure your deposit will be returned to you. This is generally decided by the landlord’s character.

4) Privacy and security
Privacy and security are two things we take for granted in the West. Our homes are our homes, whether rented or otherwise. Landlords do not have the right to enter without permission or unless certain circumstances arise. However, you will find your Chinese landlords to be overtly suspicious in most cases. Landlords renting to foreigners may be very distrustful, but why shouldn’t they be? 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. The truth is hard to decipher in these cases. Some people have encountered absurd situations where the landlords have the neighbors spy on them, and then they show up and yell at you for “breaking the rules.” Furthermore, security is a huge issue when you know that your landlord can burst in at any minute. Some renters have shared woes of having their valuables taken from their apartment without any damage to the keyhole. Was it a case of the landlord breaking in?

In conclusion, these are just a few tips for your safe and happy renting experience. Some other things to look out for are registration. Landlords must have their homes registered by the government to allow foreigners to rent. Because this costs money, some landlords will lie about the registration. But if you want to avoid hassle with the government, because it will most likely be your responsibility and not the landlord’s, you should take the initiative to find a suitable location.

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.  Yes, there are some horror stories about renting in China. There are also many good experiences. Happy hunting and don’t forget the aforementioned advice.