Service Fee
-
Lease Agreement
-
Security Deposit
Service Fee - Lease Agreement - Security Deposit
Welcome to our FAQ section, find all your answers here, from payments, rental terms, check-in to moving out. Feel free to contact us on WeChat or by email if anything is missing.
Here | FAQ
Feel free to download our installation guide to get started in no-time in your new home in Shanghai.
Service Fee
-
Lease Agreement
-
Security Deposit
Service Fee - Lease Agreement - Security Deposit
FAQ | Shanghai
Getting Started
Before arriving, please follow these steps to get ready in no-time when arriving to China:
Download Chinese Apps: before arriving in China, download these apps to get started when landing with:
WeChat: the default app for messaging and integrated services (payments, transports, etc.) in China.
Alipay: the default app for payments and services in China.
DiDi: the default app for transportation in China.
Meituan / Elema: the default apps for food and grocery delivery in China.
Taobao: the default app for online shopping in China.
Baidu Translate: the default app to translate everything in China.
Setup a VPN: find a VPN provider making sure that the service can be used in China.
Link your bank card to Alipay / WeChat Pay: once downloaded WeChat and Alipay, link your bank card to these apps to enable payments in China.
Bring cash: always bring with you from CNY10,000 to CNY20,000 in case of issue with payment solutions in China to cover the costs of your accommodation.
Accommodations
In Shanghai you will find two (2) main kind of accommodations:
Lane House: usually small building with 5 floors and no elevators, from studio to 4 bedrooms and built in the mid 20th century. Our team do not recommend to live in such lane house for newcomers, we recommend the lanes for more experienced expats already living in China for few years due to the nature of the lanes (old, humid, noisy, shared areas, etc.).
Compound: usually large towers of 20+ floors, from studio to 6 bedrooms and built in the 80s - 90s. Our team recommend to live in such compounds to ensure better quality living in Shanghai (large volume, bright, nice view, etc.).
In addition, you can also rent villa (usually in the Hongqiao / Pudong areas) and service apartments (in all central locations in Shanghai).
The price may vary heavily depending on the layout, location, type of compound, etc., here are some example for compounds in downtown Shanghai with standard finishing:
Individual room: from CNY3,000 to CNY6,000
1 bedroom: from CNY5,000 to CNY10,000
2 bedrooms: from CNY10,000 to CNY20,000
3 bedrooms: from CNY15,000 to CNY25,000
4 bedrooms: from CNY20,000 to CNY30,000
5+ bedrooms: from CNY25,000
Service Apartment: starting from CNY15,000
Villa: starting from CNY40,000
FAQ | Payments
Payment Methods
Paying the security deposit and the first installment can be problematic as international bank transfers are restricted in China. Four options are working well:
Alipay / WeChat Pay: using Alipay and WeChat Pay to pay the landlord (you will need to link your bank card to Alipay and WeChat pay to proceed).
Wise: using Wise to pay the landlord directly (this solution works in most cases but may be restricted in terms of amounts sent). Find more information here: https://www.hererealestateagency.com/blog/paying-using-wise.
Local Bank Transfer:
Cash: using cash (in CNY/RMB) to pay the landlord.
We recommend bringing some cash (from CNY10,000 to CY20,000) to mitigate this risk and avoid extra stress when arriving in China.
At your arrival you will have to pay for three items (as per below sections):
Security Deposit: corresponding to 1 to 2 months rental costs, refundable at the end of your stay.
First Installment: corresponding to the first rental month(s) installment (from1 to 3 months).
Agency Service Fee: corresponding to our agency service fee for finding your accommodation in Shanghai.
As a kind reminder, always pay your rent on time to avoid extra penalty fees and the risk of being expelled by the landlord after a period of unpaid rents (your security deposit will also be lost in this process).
For more, find our dedicated article here: https://www.hererealestateagency.com/blog/payment-methods.
Payment Fees
Paying the security deposit and the first installment can be problematic as international bank transfers are restricted in China. Four options are working well:
Alipay / WeChat Pay: using Alipay and WeChat Pay to pay the landlord (you will need to link your bank card to Alipay and WeChat pay to proceed).
Wise: using Wise to pay the landlord directly (this solution works in most cases but may be restricted in terms of amounts sent). Find more information here: https://www.hererealestateagency.com/blog/paying-using-wise.
Local Bank Transfer:
Cash: using cash (in CNY/RMB) to pay the landlord.
We recommend bringing some cash (from CNY10,000 to CY20,000) to mitigate this risk and avoid extra stress when arriving in China.
At your arrival you will have to pay for three items (as per below sections):
Security Deposit: corresponding to 1 to 2 months rental costs, refundable at the end of your stay.
First Installment: corresponding to the first rental month(s) installment (from1 to 3 months).
Agency Service Fee: corresponding to our agency service fee for finding your accommodation in Shanghai.
As a kind reminder, always pay your rent on time to avoid extra penalty fees and the risk of being expelled by the landlord after a period of unpaid rents (your security deposit will also be lost in this process).
For more, find our dedicated article here: https://www.hererealestateagency.com/blog/payment-methods.
Security Deposit
A security deposit is a sum of money (usually from 1 to 2 months rental costs) paid by a tenant to a landlord before moving into a rental property. This amount serves as a form of financial protection for the landlord in case the tenant causes damages beyond normal wear and tear during their tenancy. Upon termination of the lease agreement, the security deposit will be refunded to the tenant within 14 days after the move-out inspection, provided there are no damages beyond normal wear and tear. Any deductions for repairs or cleaning will be documented and communicated to the tenant along with the remaining balance of the deposit. It is the tenant's responsibility to provide a forwarding address for the return of the deposit. Failure to do so may result in delays in the refund process. The security deposit refund will be refunded in the local currency by cash or local bank transfer
Deposit Refund Policy:
Upon termination of the lease agreement, the security deposit will be refunded in the local currency only to the tenant within 14 days after the move-out inspection, provided there are no damages beyond normal wear and tear. Any deductions for repairs or cleaning will be documented and communicated to the tenant along with the remaining balance of the deposit. It is the tenant's responsibility to provide a forwarding address for the return of the deposit. Failure to do so may result in delays in the refund process. The security deposit refund will be issued via check or electronic transfer, based on the tenant's preference.
First Installment
The first installment is the first rental payments made to the landlord, the first installment corresponds on average to one (1) to three (3) months rental costs. Always make sure to have enough funds to pay the first installment in full and in time to the landlord to avoid paying penalty fees and / or loose the accommodation.
Agency Service Fee
Our agency service fee is set between 25% to 50% commission of the first rental month depending on the services as follow:
FlexPals: 25% commission
Short-term rental: 35% commission
Long-term rental: 50% commission
Relocation Project: 35% commission
Commercial & Retail: 35% commission
The commission fee is a one-time fee to be paid at the start of the lease and includes the following services: visiting the options, negotiation with the landlord, drafting the lease contracts, doing the check-in and doing the check-out.
Ongoing Rental Payments
For the ongoing rental payments, proceed by paying the landlord using the above listed payment methods in “Payment Methods”, always pay on time and following the payment terms (every month, every 2 months, etc.) to avoid penalty fees or eviction of the property by the landlord.
Utilities
The utilities are paid monthly or bi-monthly in most cases, the utilities are made of three (3) components: water, electricity and gas. Always pay attention to your electricity consumption in summer when using the AC system and in winter when using the floor eating, wall eating and AC system.
The utilities are usually paid directly using Alipay / WeChat Pay dedicated utilities feature.
Always pay the utilities in time to avoid disruption from the local suppliers, please note that all outstanding utilities amounts will be deducted from the security deposit if unpaid.
For more, visit our dedicated article here: https://www.hererealestateagency.com/blog/paying-the-utilities.
FAQ | Lease Contract
Landlord
Having a good relationship with your landlord is fundamental to mitigate any potential litigations at one stage or another. Always pay the rent in due time, keep the accommodation in the same conditions you received it, respect your neighbors, etc. A good relationship with your landlord will always be fruitful, especially in case of lease contract renewal to renegotiate your lease terms (rent amount, free period, etc.) or when getting your security deposit back.
Short Term Rental
Important informations related to short term contracts in China and Shanghai:
Lease duration: always check the duration of the lease contract to avoid the scams. Some agents / landlords will make you sign for long term lease contract exposing you to loosing the security deposit as the contract will be breached.
Security Deposit: always check the security deposit refund terms to avoid the scams. Most security deposit will be refund at the check-out or within 14 days after completing the check-out.
Utilities: always pay attention on your electricity consumption in summer as using the AC system can significantly increase the utilities bill. Same goes in winter, pay attention on your electricity consumption as using the floor heating, wall heating and AC system can significantly increase the utilities bill.
For more, visit our dedicated article here: https://www.hererealestateagency.com/blog/renting-short-term-in-shanghai.
Lease Contract
Understanding the lease contract is fundamental to avoid any scams at a later stage, at Here Real-Estate Agency, we are using our lease contract standard template always provided in dual language (local language and English), offering full transparency to our clients.
All the terms of the lease contract are protective for our tenants to offer a hassle free journey in the APAC region. Additional terms can be added to the lease contract when specified during the negotiation phase with the parties.
In the event of breach of the lease contract, please note that the landlord has the right to keep the security deposit, for more information, see the “Security Deposit” section.
For more, visit our dedicated article here: https://www.hererealestateagency.com/blog/lease-contract-in-shanghai.
Breach
In the event of breaching the lease contract by the tenant(s), please note the following:
Security Deposit: the security deposit will be kept by the landlord in most cases.
Notice Period: try to notice as early as possible the landlord to increase your chance of taking back a fraction of your security deposit.
Replacement: in the event of early termination, finding a replacement for your lease contract may result in taking part or all your security deposit. Always try to find a replacement in all case to reduce your security deposit loss.
Check in & Check out
The check-in and check-out are critical moments during your stay with Here Real-Estate agency. During the check-in, our team of local agents will be here to accompany you in this process.
Few tips for the check-in: take pictures and videos to avoid future litigations with the landlord when the check-out time comes. Same goes during the check-out: take pictures and videos to avoid extra litigation with the landlord after the check-out.
Please note that all outstanding amounts will be deducted from the security deposit such as: utilities fees, unpaid rent amount, unpaid service fee, etc.
For more, visit our dedicated articles here:
Police & Registration
Important when coming to China: the police registration. First thing when arriving in China is the police registration that can be done online or at the nearest police station.
Important about the police in China as well, please be reasonable with doing noise at night (after 10.00pm) as your neighbors may call the police, creating unnecessary trouble during your stay.
FAQ | Useful Tips
Cleaning Services
We are offering cleaning services in collaboration with our local partners. Cleaning services are usually billed by the hour with a flexible approach: 2 hours/week, 4 hours/week, etc.
The cleaning company will send a cleaning person fully equipped with all the necessary cleaning products and tools, the cleaning agent can also use the clients products when requested.
Cleaning services can also be booked as a one-time service when requested by our clients. Cleaning services can be booked up to 24 hours in advance.
Moving Services
Moving services in China are relatively affordable and can greatly help you during the moving process. From full moving services including packing to regular moving only service, we have the perfect option for your needs thanks to our network of local moving partners. If you are interested, feel free to contact our team for more details.
WiFi & Data
WiFi is usually not included in the accommodation, we recommend using China Telecom with the 200mo plan at around CNY2,000 / year. Please note that because of the firewall, data might be significantly slow for browsing international websites, using a VPN is highly recommended.
For the mobile data plan, using China Mobile is recommended, in China, you will always have to top-up your plan, it will usually cost around CNY100 per month. Same advice as for the WiFi, using a VPN is highly recommended.
Still have some Questions?
Don’t worry! We are here for you, feel free to contact us on WhatsApp directly by clicking the below button or contact us as well by email at hello@here-group.com.
We will come back to you in no-time with all the answers for you to enjoy a hassle-free stay with us in Shanghai.
