Renting an Apartment

www.ezychinese.com

Introduction:

So you're in China and looking for a place to rent? You're going to need to know some vocabulary. Oh, and there's some things you need to be careful about. Join us in the Understanding section and we'll help you to avoid problems and find the place you're looking for.

Cultural Expansion

Finding an apartment can be exciting. Especially for those moving to China for the first time, the prospect of finding the right apartment is a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Things work differently here, and even for those whose Chinese is pretty good, the whole process can be a difficult one if you’re not versed in the ins and outs. But it can also be quite rewarding when you find the apartment that’s right for you. So today we’re going to give some tips to help you in your quest, hopefully answer some questions and let you be armed with all you need to know for a successful quest.

Like apartment hunting anywhere, many of the same rules apply. One of the first things you need to consider is location. Is the apartment going to be near enough to your work or your school? The place you need to go most days should ideally be close. Spending two or more hours on a combination of buses and subways every day is not something any of us want to do. Think this out carefully because transportation in some cities in China can be very slow due to the sudden rise in cars and increased traffic. Try to do the route you would take between possible locations at the time you would take it and see what the timing is like.

xi'anIs there convenient transportation? On the days that you want to go out and do other things (go shopping, clubbing, traveling, etc.) can you get there conveniently? A close subway stop in those cities that have subways is a real bonus. For other cities bus stations with convenient routes and a road where one can always hail a taxi are things to think about. Either go online and look at a transportation map or find one when you get to where you’ll be living at a hotel or travel agency. Try to familiarize yourself with the flow of the city.

After you find out locations you have to go looking. There are a couple of ways to look for apartments in China. One is to find a housing agency. In most bigger cities there are professional housing agencies that can find you apartments. The prices, however, are quite steep, and they usually only cater to the higher-end housing market. This is most fitting for those coming to China for business but who are still getting paid with decent Western wages.

For the rest of us we have two options. One option is to use an unofficial housing agency. Usually such an agency would consist of a group of people riding on bikes with two or three cell phones. They have a list of houses and can try to find one that fits your requirements. When you see stickers placed on walls around the city advertising housing you can usually bet that they were placed by one of these agencies.

Using such an agency can be dangerous for a number of reasons, however. One is that they are working illegally and if there are problems in the process of finding housing you could be left out of money and out of a roof over your head. Another downside to using these agencies is that these people usually charge a fee of half a month’s rent for finding you the apartment. You might consider that a worthwhile investment. Just be careful if you choose to go this route as many people have been burned.

Another option is to look for ads placed directly by landlords themselves. If you go online and can read and speak some Chinese you will find a large number of landlords who are looking for people to rent their apartments. Landlords often times like this because they don’t have to pay an agency money. Of course it’s good for you too because you don’t have to pay them money either.

The last option is to look on English forum sites for people looking for roommates in the areas you want to live. This can be a really good way to find a place, but there are some drawbacks here as well. If they are sub-letting to you without the landlord’s notice getting your Residence Permit (see more on this below) might become a problem. Make sure you ask a thorough number of questions before agreeing to anything.

Things you need to know when renting an apartment in China:

• Make sure that the landlord really is the one who has the authority to rent you the apartment. You should ask to see their certificate of ownership. If they do not have this, or it is not in their name (check by asking to look at their ID Card), beware. This can be a problem down the road if you want to install the internet, get cable or want to apply for your Residence Permit. I also know someone who rented an apartment from someone only to have the true owner come back and ask her to move out. She lost three months’ rent.

• Put everything in writing. If your Chinese is not good enough to read the Chinese contract, and your landlord doesn’t provide an English copy, bring a Chinese friend who can read it for you. Make sure the number on the gas meter, water meter and electric meter have all been written down when you move in and that you are only responsible for any fees incurred after you get in. Also, make sure it’s clearly spelled out who will pay for what. Is there heat? Who pays? What about garbage collection? Phone, tv, internet?

• Does it really have everything you want? Things like water heaters, AC and heat are not necessarily going to be provided, depending on where you’re moving. Make sure that the things you need are there and write them down in the contract. You might also like a washing machine, some dishes and furniture. Write them all down in the contract if they’re going to be provided so it’s clear for everyone. If you explain to the landlord they should see why this is good for both parties.

• You have to go to the local Public Security Bureau within 48 hours of your arrival in China. Your landlord needs to accompany you. When you go bring your passport with your visa, your landlord’s certificate of ownership for the apartment and the contract you have signed (in Chinese). The landlord is supposed to pay a tax based on a percentage of the rental amount. Almost every landlord is unwilling to pay this and the burden will usually fall upon you. You have to decide what to do about this. Most landlords are willing to write a separate contract to take to the Public Security Bureau that shows a rental amount that is less than the real amount, making the tax paid less. Again, you have to decide how you feel about this.

• After you go to the Public Security Bureau you will get a form that you need to bring to the Municipal Public Security Bureau to apply for your Residence Permit. This must be done within 30 days of your arrival in the country. Your landlord need not attend.

With these tips in mind you should be able to find an apartment that you’re happy with. And, more importantly, if you take heed of this points you should be able to avoid some of the traps that others before you have fallen into.

Related vocabulary
交通 JiāoTōng：Traffic，transportation
Zhè Lǐ De Jiāo Tōng Fāng Biàn Ma ？
这 里 的 交 通 方 便 吗 ？
Is the transportation convenient here？

中介公司ZhōngJièGōngSī：real estate agency
Zū Fáng Zǐ Yīng Gāi Zhǎo Yì Jiā Hǎo De Zhōng Jiè Gōng Sī .
租 房 子 应 该 找 一 家 好 的 中 介 公 司.
When looking to rent an apartment you should find a good real estate agency.

黑中介HēiZhōngJiè：illegal real estate agency
Qiān Wàn Yào Xiǎo Xīn Hēi Zhōng Jiè Gōng Sī 。
千 万 要 小 心 黑 中 介 公 司 。
You want to be extremely careful of illegal real estate agencies

中介费ZhōngJièFèi：fee given to a real estate agency
Zhōng Jiè Fèi Zěn Me Gěi ？
中 介 费 怎 么 给 ？
How do you calculate your fee？

房东 FángDōng：landlord
Wǒ De Fáng Dōng Hěn Hé Qì 。
我 的 房 东 很 和 气 。
My landlord‘s very kind

房本FángBěn ：certificate of ownership （for a house）
Nǐ Yǒu Fáng Běn Ma ？
你 有 房 本 吗 ？
Do you have the certificate of ownership for this house？

身份证 ShēnFènZhèng：identification
Xū Yào Yí Fèn Shēn Fèn Zhèng Fù Yìn Jiàn 。
需 要 一 份 身 份 证 复 印 件 。
I need a copy of your ID
合同 HéTóng：contract
Hé Tóng Shàng Yào Xiě Míng Péi Cháng Zé Rèn 。
合 同 上 要 写 明 赔 偿 责 任 。
Write clearly how to compensate for damaged goods on the contract

派出所PàiChūSuǒ：Public Security Bureau
Hái Yào Qù Pài Chū Suǒ Bàn Lǐ Yì Xiē Shǒu Xù 。
还 要 去 派 出 所 办 理 一 些 手 续 。
I still need to go to the Public Security Bureau and take care of some formalities

护照HùZhào：passport
Gěi Wǒ Yí Fèn Nǐ De Hù Zhào Fù Yìn Jiàn
给 我 一 份 你 的 护 照 复 印 件
I need a copy of your passport

签证QiānZhèng：visa
Nǐ Shì Shén Me Qiān Zhèng ？
你 是 什 么 签 证 ？
What kind of visa do you have

税Shuì：tax，taxes
Hái Yào Qù Pài Chū Suǒ Jiāo Shuì 。
还 要 去 派 出 所 交 税 。
I still need to go to the Public Security Bureau and pay some tax

公安局出入境管理处 GōngānJúChūRùJìngGuǎnLǐChù：Municipal Public Security Bureau
Nǐ Yào Dào Gōng ān Jú Chū Rù Jìng Guǎn Lǐ Chù Bàn Lǐ Wài Guó Rén Lín Shí Jū Zhù Zhèng 。
你 要 到 公 安 局 出 入 境 管 理 处 办 理 外 国 人 临 时 居 住 证 。
You need to go to the Municipal Public Security Bureau to get a Foreign Residence Permit


外国人临时居留证Wài Guó Rén Lín Shí Jū Liú Zhèng：Foreign Residence Permit
Nǐ Yào Dào Gōng ān Jú Chū Rù Jìng Guǎn Lǐ Chù Bàn Lǐ Wài Guó Rén Lín Shí Jū Zhù Zhèng 。
你 要 到 公 安 局 出 入 境 管 理 处 办 理 外 国 人 临 时 居 住 证 。
You need to go to the Municipal Public Security Bureau to get a Foreign Residence Permit


Links：
www.thatsbj.com
http://www.bjroom.com/index_en.aspx
http://www.jczdbj.cn/houselist.asp?typeid=15&gclid=CMapgq-x044CFQvgTAodU20B8A