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Housing & status: Real property guide · Police registration (24h) · Selling property & remittance · Expat banking
Essential contract clauses for expats
- Parties — landlord must be the title holder or authorised agent; demand property certificate copy
- Term and rent — amount, payment currency/account, due dates, late fees
- Deposit — amount, return conditions, inspection checklist at move-in/out
- Early termination — notice periods, break fees, job-loss / visa-loss clauses if negotiated
- Utilities and fees — who pays property management, heating, internet
- Sublease and guests — written rules; unauthorised sublease is a common dispute trigger
- Language — if you sign Chinese only, you are bound by the Chinese text; bilingual versions should state which language prevails
Broader property framework: China real property law guide.
Landlord cooperation for police registration
Private residential stays generally require temporary residence (police) registration. Landlords or hosts often must appear in the system or provide ID/property proof. A landlord who takes deposit but refuses registration creates both housing and immigration hygiene risk — push for cooperation in writing before move-in.
Red-flag lease terms and practices
- No landlord ID / no property certificate
- “Deposit non-refundable in all cases” blanket clauses
- Forced cash-only without receipts
- Agent fees and rent amounts that do not match the written lease
- Landlord retaining passport “for safekeeping”
Deposit disputes and escalation
- Photograph the empty flat at move-in and move-out; keep WeChat/payment records.
- Send a dated written demand for deposit return with bank details.
- Use community mediation / rental platforms’ complaint channels where applicable.
- Litigation or arbitration depends on contract and amount — real property counsel for material deposits.
Visa and job-loss interface
If employment ends, you may need to exit or move quickly — see job loss visa timeline. Negotiate early-termination terms before you sign if your assignment is unstable. Overstay while fighting a landlord is a bad stack of problems (overstay).
Legal basis & authorities
- Civil Code contract and lease provisions
- Local housing and rental filing practice
- Exit-entry accommodation registration rules for foreigners
Browse Real Property lawyers (e.g. Wei Chen). Bring the signed lease, payment proofs, photos, and landlord communications.