Source: Guide in China

For most foreigners in Dalian, the only choices of your accomodation are dormitory or apartment. If you live in dormitory, you don't need to think about a lot of complicated things to deal with, but if you decide to try to live in apartment, today's post will help you understand some important concepts!

The Housing Contract

Every country has their own housing contract system, same with Chinese. If you are not able to read China, you might be in trouble. The best way to get full understanding about the contract is by using agency or bring one of your Chinese friends to help you to ask these several points, such as:

1. The dates and prices, including when the deposit will be returned.

2. What are the rules?
   

3. Which day the rent should be paid every month?

4. How to pay the rent?

5. If there is problem, whom to contact?

It seems obvious, but it's a good way for you to make sure about everything with real estate agency or your landlord to avoid problems in the future.

It will be even better if you can take pictures or video during the contract signing as evidence in case the term of your contract suddenly changed in the future.

In Dalian, usually people paid either every 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months. All the time distance have their own advantage. For example, if you pay every 3 months, you will be able meet your landlord and submit your complaint. While for 12 months, you will have the stability of renting price (the price will not change every time you pay).

Maintenance

One day, your sink is broken or your heater is not working anymore. You want it to be fixed, however you don't know whom to contact except your landlord. You call your landlord, but there is no action for hours, days or maybe even weeks.

Well, in China, it's not uncommon for such trouble to happened. Not every landlord have ideas about practical things such as fixing the broken toilet in their apartment.

What you need to do is start to equip yourself with the knowledge. Internet is your best bet to learn how to fix some of the little problems in your apartment. Learning how to fix something by yourself will not only save you time, but will also give you a valuable life skill.

If the problems that occured really big (for example your heater blow up), you might need to call your landlord to ask for your building maintenance person to help you.

Deposit

A rental deposit in China can be counted from 1-6 months' rent up front (in Dalian usually 1 month upfront). 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 if not, you need to ask the reason. Sometimes landlords will cut your deposit if they think you damage some of the furniture inside the apartment or they need to fix something for you. If you cut the contract before it ended, your landlord also have the ability for not giving you back your deposit. That's why you always need to refer to your contract.

Privacy and security

Privacy and security are quite tricky in China. Usually landlords do not have the right to enter without permission or unless certain circumstances arise. However, your Chinese landlords might be doing different things.

Sometimes, Chinese landlords can just show up at your apartment (and yes, they have spare keys for that). They may invent vague excuses such as checking on some furniture or looking at the pipes. So, it always a better option for you to keep your money in the bank and clean up your place in case there is sudden 'inspection' from your landlord. Or you can mention it during the contract if you prefer to be noticed before they decided to come.

Blue Paper

After receiving your contract, one thing you're not suppose to forget is making or updating your blue paper in the nearest police office. As foreigner, you're required to have this document updated everytime you change your address, visa, or passport.

If you fail to update your blue paper, you might get penalty from the government.

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. So, it always a good thing to have back up plan in case such thing happened.

It might be hard for you to rent apartment as foreigner, but it also will bring you great experience and more freedom to live with your own spaces.

Happy hunting!

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