Four Tips To Avoid Apartment Rental Nightmares in Beijing

Irene Li, Associate Editor | Dec 14, 2021 12:52 pm | Add a comment | 393 reads

When it comes to finding an apartment, each city has its unique set of quirks – and Beijing is certainly no exception. Unfortunately, such quirks can leave you living in a rental nightmare, especially if you're coming from abroad and don't know the lay of the land. To help you on your way, here’s our guide to avoiding bad rental deals in the capital.

1. Don’t pick the first floor

When renting in Beijing, try to avoid apartments on the first floor. Why? First floor apartments usually don’t get a whole lot of sunshine. This is especially true when renting in a complex surrounded by tall buildings. Moreover, first floor apartments are likely to attract moisture, which can lead to mold. Beijing is not a humid place, however, the city can get plenty of rain during the summer months, as was the case throughout the past year. So while winter might be alright, summer can cause a few headaches.

Plus, privacy is difficult unless you close all your curtains, and its usually roaches galore on the first floor as well, especially in summer months. Even if you keep your space as clean and tidy as possible, they'll always find ways to sneak in through the nooks and cracks of your apartment.

2. Stay away from streets

When apartment hunting in Beijing, try to seek out a place that isn't facing the street. Street-facing rooms let in more noise from the road, so if you're a light sleeper you run the risk of being routinely ripped from a peaceful slumber by car noises, thumping footsteps, and loud conversations.

3. Find a place with nearby subways

No matter the cost of a place, make sure your apartment is close to a subway or other form of public transit. And be wary of listings that say they're five or ten minutes away from the subway, as agents will generally just pick a random number and tack it on to a listing to attract more people. Which is to say, you could end up moving into a place thinking its five minutes away when it's actually a 20-minute walk from your apartment to the nearest subway or bus. At the very least you should check maps before you rent, however, a true Beijing rental pro would walk to and from the subway when visiting a potential dwelling, just to be on the safe side.

4. Know your landlord

Knowing your landlord is a godsend when renting in a city like Beijing. When dealing with a rental agent, you're gonna have to pay a service fee up front before renting – and sometimes each time you resign a contract – which is generally anywhere from a half month to a full month's rent. This plus the required deposit when first renting and up to three months rent up front means you'll be paying the equivalent of five months' rent all at once!

Rental services like Ziroom allow users to pay monthly, but they'll often raise the price per month when you select this option, adding the service fee to the rent so that it's paid off within a 12 month period.