How to Rent an Apartment in Chinese — Housing Phrases for Finding, Viewing, and Renting

The most common way to find rentals in China is through apps and agents. Use 我想租房子 to say you want to rent an apartment. Add details: 一室一厅 for a one-bedroom living-room setup, 两室一厅 for two bedrooms. Specify location with 在...附近 for near a place, e.g. 在地铁站附近 for near the metro station.

When contacting an agent or landlord via WeChat, start with 你好，请问还有房子出租吗 to ask if they have places available. Ask 可以看一下照片吗 to see photos. For budget, say 我的预算是...一个月 — my budget is ... per month. Ask 中介费多少 for the agent fee. Common platforms: 贝壳找房 (Beike) and 链家 (Lianjia) are the largest; 自如 (Ziroom) offers managed apartments with English support.

When you arrive for a viewing, the agent will show you around. Ask 这个房子多大 for the size in square meters. Check the floor: 在几楼 for which floor, and 有电梯吗 for whether there is an elevator. Ask about direction: 朝南 for south-facing — preferred in China for sunlight — or 朝北 for north-facing which can be darker.

Utilities and appliances: ask 水电费怎么算 for how water and electricity are billed, and 有暖气吗 for heating (crucial in northern China). Check appliances: 有洗衣机吗 for washing machine, 有冰箱吗 for fridge, 有空调吗 for AC. Ask 网络怎么样 for internet quality. For shared apartments, ask 几个室友 for how many roommates and 男女 for male or female roommates. Noise is a common issue — ask 晚上吵不吵 for whether it is noisy at night.

The standard deposit in China is 押一付三 — one month deposit, three months rent paid upfront. You can sometimes negotiate this to 押一付一 — one month deposit, one month rent. Ask 押金多少 for how much deposit, and say 押一付一可以吗 to request monthly payment instead of quarterly.

Negotiate the rent: say 能便宜一点吗 to ask for a discount, and 包含物业费吗 to ask whether the property management fee is included. The contract is 合同 — ask to see it before paying: 可以先看一下合同吗. Key terms to check: the rental period 租期 (usually one year), the break clause 违约金 for early termination, and who pays for repairs 维修. Signing is 签字 or 签合同. After signing, you pay and get the keys 钥匙.

On move-in day, the landlord or agent should give you keys, access cards 门禁卡, and show you basic utilities. Ask 垃圾扔哪里 for where to throw trash, and 门禁几点关 for when the building gate closes. Take photos of any existing damage and send via WeChat — say 先拍一下 existing problems 以免误会 to avoid disputes later.

Paying rent monthly: the landlord may prefer WeChat transfer or Alipay. Confirm the due date: 每月几号交房租 for which day each month. Say 房租转给你了 for "I have transferred the rent." For maintenance issues: 水龙头坏了 for a broken faucet, 马桶堵了 for a clogged toilet, 空调不制冷 for AC not cooling, 没热水 for no hot water. Ask 能帮忙修一下吗 to request repairs. Before moving out, say 我准备搬走了 to give notice and arrange the deposit return 退押金.