Shanghai apartment rental strange situation?

Question

I’ve been looking for a place to stay for one month for my boyfriend and I..

I went to inspect an apartment that was still under renovations last week.. It was a local girl who organised the inspection (she didn’t live there, works for some company called “shanghai shares”. Actually noone lived there as it was still under renovations but she was leasing rooms out.. There was quite a few people at the inspection.

One of the conditions is that they need a deposit of 1 month for a 1 month stay. But the only way you can get your deposit back is if you find a tenant to replace you after you leave.

Thought it was a bit dodgy and we didn’t want to leave such a large deposit for a short term stay with the possibility of losing it, so we left.. She texted me this morning telling me all rooms in that place have been taken, but she has a larger room in another place for the same price, but the deposit can be halved.

So I organised a time to go, and had a look.. It was nice, but there were no tenants there, the kitchen and bathroom looked so clean. We peeked in one of the rooms and there was a laptop and some belongings.. They demanded a 1500 RMB deposit to hold the room, we settled on 800. Again, same arrangement, find a replacement tenant or lose your deposit. We’d agree to settle the rest of the finances when we move in on Monday. She showed us a way to let ourselves in – there was a key to the place that was in a cabinet outside the front door (super weird!?)

We left feeling a bit eerie about it. Is it normal for you to have to find a replacement tenant to get back your deposit? We’re scared we’ll lose it and end up having to pay too much for the place.

wafri · Answer

Don’t have a bar of it.
You are better to go to a “serviced”, as there are no conditions. Or a budget hotel. Again no conditions.
You did not mention the asking price, or bedrooms etc.

K8TIE · Answer

Asking price was $3200 for a master bedroom + private bathroom in a 4 bedroom apartment in Zhongshan Park. Deposit required was $1500.

We decided it was too risky to lose $1500 so we dropped the hold (lost our $200) and checked into a cheap hotel in People’s square.. We both left that place with a bad feeling, but good to know we made the right decision.

DaveLaws · Answer

Well, presumably there was no contract, which places you in a very hairy area.

Been involved in rentals for about 8 years, but never come across the requirement of finding a replacement, but short-termers have a habit of making up their own rules.
Frankly, you are often better to go with a good agent, get a rental agreement for 6 months, and the protection it offers, than if you leave early, lose the deposit, and you may be better off. Try to get a one-month deposit only.

If you mean $’s. that would be an exorbitant amount for a room. It would be better to talk only RMB.
Think you are better out of there.

Shanghai apartment rental strange situation?

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