Around this time last year, I wrote a couple of posts detailing our adventures trying to find an apartment in Shunyi. Having now left Beijing for the seaside delights of Ningbo, I have the experience of househunting here as a comparison. Is Beijing’s reputation as a terrible place to rent justified? Or is the problem China-wide?

As will often be the case with expats, we had only a limited time to find somewhere and move in; a week, in our case. So we’d planned ahead. My wife’s school had arranged an agent to help us and we’d been in contact with her, explaining what we were looking for. We’d also found other agents via WeChat so that we would have options.

And everything went smoothly, right? Don’t be silly. This is China.

We met the agent the same afternoon that we arrived in Ningbo, so we were tired, and a little relieved that she only had two apartments to show us that day. The first was clean and modern, but we ran into a problem when we counted the rooms.

“There are only two bedrooms.”

“Here’s the third one,” the agent said brightly.

We looked into a space that might barely qualify as a cupboard.

“This is no good,” we told her. “Haven’t you seen our kids? They’re not babies, they’re enormous great galumphing boys. We need three proper bedrooms.”

The next apartment had three good-size rooms, but was in poor condition with broken work surfaces in the kitchen and a sink that hadn’t been plumbed in. We pondered why anybody would try to let a place in such a state, and whether anybody would rent it. Most of all, we worried that we were once again being shown all the places that had sat on the agent’s books for months because no one else wanted them.

So the next day we cheated on our agent and went to see properties with a different person. Still though, we were shown apartments smaller than the one we had in Shunyi.

“There are no bigger places,” he told us. “Not in this area, and within your price range.”

Another agency didn’t bother to send us any listings at all. I think I offended them when I asked whether they were going to ask us for higher rent than they would from locals. But that’s what happened last time, and I wanted them to know I was not going to be taken for a mug.

The school’s agent appeared at 3pm on day two, and again only had two apartments to show us. To our dismay, both had box rooms instead of proper third bedrooms. She hadn’t even checked the layout of the apartments. What made this even more embarrassing is that every viewing involves a huge gang of people: two from the agency, a few from the estate management office, the landlord, the landlord’s friend… only for us to walk in, see the place and walk out again.

“There are no bigger apartments,” the agent told us. “Not in this area, and within your price range.”

The embarrassment was compounded the next day, when Agent One took us to an apartment we’d already seen with Agent Two. At this point, we had to confess to our infidelity. But we’d already taken matters into our own hands.

Our hotel was on a pleasant little compound, handy for the school, with good restaurants and a community feel. So we found the lettings agents for the compound and got them to look on their books. In seconds they had found a four bedroom duplex apartment, within our budget.

Our “happily ever after” was still a little way off. The apartment was absolutely full of the landlord’s family’s belongings: school certificates and tennis racquets and Hello Kitty tissue boxes. And shoes. So, so many shoes.

“When are you moving out?” we asked him.

“We’ve already moved out,” he answered, looking puzzled.

However, he was a nice guy who spoke good English, so once he had overcome his surprise that we didn’t want to just move in and adopt his family’s lifestyle and interests, he was happy to clear the place out, and got the necessary repairs done quickly and without fuss. And we are delighted with our spacious new home.

What I have taken from this experience is that, in the property market at least, China is still adjusting to the idea of consumer choice. Agent One genuinely seemed to believe that she would show us two apartments and we would choose one of them. She paid no attention at all to what we had told her before we arrived, and after the first viewings; the right home for us was the one that happened to be on her books.

It was also an example of the elastic relationship with the truth that can make Chinese business dealings frustrating for the westerner. Both agents told us there were no larger apartments in the area, whereas in fact, our new home is in an entire thirty-story block of big duplex apartments.

The most important lesson though is that if you’re house hunting in China, you need to take control of the process. Download apps like Anjuke and 58, so you know what’s on the market. Approach the lettings offices of compounds where you want to live. And insist on any changes or repairs you consider necessary. Because few things are as important to quality of life as your family’s home.

Photo: Andrew Killeen

This is the second part of the Home Away From Home: Check Before You Rent Because Later Is Too Late article from our Home & Relocation Guide 2018-2019.

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.

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

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 ______?

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 the 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?

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?

Where can I pay the gas bill?
在哪儿能交煤气费? Zài nǎr néng jiāo méiqì fèi?

Where can I pay the electricity bill?
在哪儿能交电费? Zài nǎr néng jiāo diàn fèi?

Where can I pay the water bill?
在哪儿能交水费? Zài nǎr néng jiāo shuǐ fèi?

Can I pay by Alipay?
我可以用支付宝支付吗 Wǒ kěyǐ yòng zhīfù bǎozhī fù ma?

Can I pay by WeChat?
我可以用微信付吗 Wǒ kěyǐ yòng wēixìn fù ma?

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?

Location

Where’s the nearest _____?
最近的____在哪儿? Zuìjìn dì _____zài nǎ’er?
• 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
• internet company 网络公司 wǎngluò gōngsī

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
(3) one month’s deposit, three months rent 押一付三 yā yī fù sān
(4) 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

Photo: MichaelGaida via Pixabay
This article appeared on p30-31 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue

This is the first part of the Home Away From Home: Check Before You Rent Because Later Is Too Late article from our Home & Relocation Guide 2018-2019. See the second part here.

Checklists before you select a house

Security

• Windows: bars and grills (on a lower-level apartment)
• Front door: solid lock
• Community gate entrance policy (visitors, delivery men)
• Proper functioning of video and sound on door monitor

Electrics

• Functionality of 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/or replacement
• Speed and power of fans
• Location of fuse box and the electricity meter
• Location of the radiators

The Shell

• Ceiling for signs of leakage
• Walls: stains or cracks, power outlets
• Floor: unevenness, cracks, or holes
• Windows: cross-ventilation, screens, and locks

Bathroom and Kitchen

• Cabinet space
• Location of the main valves (gas and water)
• Location of meters (gas, electricity, and water)
• Water pressure and functionality of the showerhead
• Faucets: sturdiness, leakage, or need replacement?
• Amount of counter space
• Drainage speed in all sinks and tubs
• Toilet: flush, seat replacement?

Furnishings

• Amount of storage space
• Current furniture: space and door requirements
• Mattress for firmness

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: Adobe Stock Photo
This article appeared on p30-31 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue

Besides my day job for beijingkids, I also write a quasi-humorous column for The Beijinger, in which I take a sideways look at the magazine’s topic for the month. In July the topic was house hunting. However this was something I hadn’t yet experienced, since our first apartment in Beijing was provided for us by my wife’s school.

So I canvassed friends and colleagues for their apartment hunting horror stories, to use as material. I was deluged. Unfortunately the stories were variously depressing, shocking and frightening, and all completely lacking in any humorous potential. So I wrote instead a piece of frivolous nonsense about the “Central Baozi District” and a family of migrant workers living under the sink.

All of which is a roundabout way of saying that finding our apartment in Shunyi was our first experience of house hunting in Beijing. And it was awful.

The first batch of apartments we were shown was clearly all the properties which had been literally gathering dust on their books for months. One contained a houseplant which had not only died, but had developed an afterlife in the form of a blossoming crown of mold.

Once we had worked through all of these, we moved onto the places which were just, well… strange. Whether they were so crowded with furniture you could barely move, smelling of fish, seemingly decorated by Dali, or looking like someone’s old granny had just died there and was probably laid out on a table in another room, none of them felt like home.

We thought our search had ended when we found a newly renovated studio apartment which was spacious, clean, and modern. Then we went up the stairs. The upper floor had apparently been planned by a toddler with a lego set. None of the walls connected with any others, so there were hardly any actual rooms, except for one which had a glass roof and wall and in summer could have been used as a slow cooker. There was a bathroom the size of the average living room, with a shower and a toilet at one, distant end, and nothing else in it… we could have wept. We nearly did.

To add insult to injury, everything seemed more expensive than apartments downtown. We found out why when we discovered the Lianjia app, and looked at the listings for the apartments we’d seen. They were all being advertised for substantially lower prices than we’d been quoted. The estate agents, on hearing that my wife is a teacher, had assumed we were on a massive housing allowance and jacked up all their prices. When we told them otherwise, one was so disbelieving he actually rang the school to check.

With the lease on our old apartment rapidly expiring, we finally found a place which was at least livable. The décor and furniture was relatively contemporary, the showers were in cubicles and appeared to have been installed this century, and the kitchen actually had western-style hobs, rather than the usual two huge burners the settings of which are “hot” and “feichang hot.” OK, it was on the fourth floor with no elevator, but you can’t have everything.

Did we all live happily ever after? Next week’s post will reveal the answer. But I think you can guess.

Photo: WhisperToMe via Wikimedia Commons