Rental Health: The Crucial Questions to Ask Before Renting Your Home

Below are some phrases to help you find your perfect Beijing home and not to get caught out by sneaky landlords.

Location

Where’s the nearest _________?
最近的_______在哪儿? Zuìjìn dì ________ zài nǎr?
• subway station 地铁站 dìtiě zhàn
• bus stop 公车站 gōngchē zhàn
• ATM 提款机 tíkuǎnjī
• convenience store 便利店 biànlì diàn
• hospital 医院 yīyuàn

Infrastructure

What year was this building constructed?
这个房子是哪一年间的建的? Zhège fángzi shì nǎ yī niánjiān de jiàn de?
How many square meters?
有多少平米? Yǒu duōshǎo píngmǐ?
Which direction is it facing?
这个房子的朝向是 ______ ? Zhège fángzi de cháoxiàng shì ______?
Is the elevator 24-hours?
这儿的电梯是24小时的吗？Zhèr de diàntī shì èrshísì xiǎoshí de ma?
How many entry points does this residential compound have?
这个小区有几个入口？Zhège xiǎoqū yǒu jǐ gè rùkǒu?
Have there been problems with insects or vermin?
这个房子又没有过虫蛀问题? Zhège fángzi yòu méiyǒuguò chóng zhù wèntí?
Does this residential compound have round-the-clock security?
这个小区有24小时的保安吗? Zhège xiǎoqū yǒu èrshísì xiǎoshí de bǎo’ān ma?
Does this apartment use community heating or independent heating?
这里是区域供暖还是按用量计算? Zhèlǐ shì qūyù gōngnuǎn háishì àn yòngliàng jìsuàn?
Is there hot water in both the kitchen and bathroom? If not, can you have a plumber redo it?
厨房和卫生间有热水吗?如果没有，你可以请人安装吗？Chúfáng hé wèishēngjiān yǒu rèshuǐ ma? Rúguǒ méiyǒu, nǐ kěyǐ qǐng rén ānzhuāng ma?
Is the hot water available 24 hours?
热水是24小时的吗?  Rèshuǐ shì èrshísì xiǎoshí de ma?
Is the hot water heater gas or electric?
热水器是使用煤气还是电? Rèshuǐqì shì shǐyòng méiqì háishì diàn?

The Basics

How long ago was the apartment renovated?
上次装修是什么时候？Shàngcì zhuāngxiū shì shénme shíhou?
Will you clean it before I move in?
我搬进来之前你能清理一下吗？Wǒ bānjìnlái zhīqián nǐ néng qīnglǐ yíxià ma?
Can this room be repainted?
能粉刷一下这个房间吗？Néng fěnshuā yíxià zhège fángjiān ma?
Can I hang things on the walls?
墙上可以挂装饰品吗？Qiángshàng kěyǐ guà zhuāngshìpǐn ma?
Can you remove this?
你能把这个拿走吗？Nǐ néng bǎ zhège ná zǒu ma?
Can you buy a ________?
你能买一个________吗？ Nǐ néng mǎi yíge ________ ma?
How old is this item? Can it be replaced before I move in?
这个用了多久了? 我搬进来之前你能换新的吗? Zhège yòngle duōjiǔle? Wǒ bān jìnlái zhīqián nǐ néng huàn xīn de ma?
Can you provide more furniture?
能提供更多家具? Néng tígōng gèng duō jiājù?
Write it down. Put it in the contract.
写下来吧。在合同上标出。Xiěxiàlái ba. Zài hétóng shàng biāochū.

Money

How much is the rent?
房租多少钱？Fángzū duōshǎo qián?
Who pays the agency fee?
谁交中介费?  Shéijiāo zhōngjiè fèi?
Who pays the property management fee?
谁交物业费? Shéijiāo wùyè fèi?
How to pay the gas bill?
在哪儿能交煤气费? Zài nǎr néng jiāo méiqì fèi?
How to pay the electricity bill?
在哪儿能交电费?  Zài nǎr néng jiāo diàn fèi?
How to pay the water bill?
在哪儿能交水费?  Zài nǎr néng jiāo shuǐ fèi?
Whose name is on the phone account?
在电话账户上是谁的名字？Zài diànhuà zhànghù shàng shì shéide míngzi?
Who pays the heating fee?
谁交暖气费?  Shéijiāo nuǎnqì fèi?
TV – how many channels? Is the fee included?
电视有几个频道? 是含在房租以内吗? Diànshì yǒu jǐ gè píndào? Shì hán zài fángzū yǐnèi ma?

Listen for:
The payment method is …
交款方式是… Jiāo kuǎn fāngshi shì…
(1) monthly 月付 yuè fù
(2) quarterly 季付 jì fù
one month’s deposit, three months rent
押一付三 yā yī fù sān
(3) half-yearly 半年付 bànnián fù
• deposit 押金 yājīn
• normal wear and tear 正常磨损 zhèngcháng mósǔn
• rechargeable card IC卡 IC kǎ
• pay at the bank 银行 yínháng
• meter reader 抄表 chāo biǎo

Building Maintenance

If this breaks, who is responsible for fixing it?
如果这个坏了，谁负责修理？Rúguǒ zhège huàile, shuí fùzé xiūlǐ?
Where is the property management office? What’s their phone number?
物业办公室在哪? 电话号码是多少？Wùyè bàngōngshì zài nǎr? Diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo?
Can you recommend a ____________?
能推荐一个__________? Néng tuījiàn yíge ________?
• handyman 修理工 xiūlǐgōng
• plumber 下水道修理 xiàshuǐdào xiūlǐ
• locksmith 锁匠 suǒjiang  
• electrician 电工 diàngōng

Checklists

The Shell
Ceiling for signs of leakage
Walls for stains or cracks
Flooring for unevenness or holes
Size of the windows and whether there is cross-ventilation
Screens and locks on all windows (look for rips in the screens)

Security
Whether the windows have bars (on a lower-level apartment)
Whether the front door has a solid lock

Furnishings
Amount of storage space
Whether your current furniture will fit in the apartment (and through the door)
Mattress for firmness

Electrics
Functionality of all appliances (stove, fridge, hot water heater, air conditioner, washing machine, cable TV, microwave)
Number of electrical outlets in every room
Phone/broadband jacks
Cellphone reception inside the apartment
Lighting fixtures for brightness (and whether light bulbs can be easily replaced)
Speed and power of all fans
Location of fuse box and the electricity meter
Location of the radiators

Bathroom and Kitchen
Amount of cabinet space
Location of the main gas valve and water valve
Location of gas meter? Electricity meter? Water meter?
Water pressure and functionality of the showerhead
Sturdiness of the faucets (do they leak? do they need to be replaced?)
Amount of counter space
Drainage speed in all sinks and tubs
How well does the toilet flush?
Does the toilet seat need to be replaced?)

Outside
How much natural light does the apartment get?
Is the neighborhood noisy?
How close is the nearest street? How soundproof is the apartment?
Location of garbage cans and recycling bins
Location of bike racks

Photo: Andrew Turner (Flickr)