How do I find somewhere to live in Shenzhen?
Short answer
Most people find a flat through an agent, pay a fee of half to one month's rent, and put down one to three months of deposit plus the first month up front. Get copies of the landlord's ID and the property ownership certificate, because you need both to register with the police.
Where to start
Read the district guide first, because where you live decides your commute, your rent and how much of the city you actually see. Then look at what is available.
Most listings sit on Beike (贝壳) and Anjuke, both Chinese-only but navigable with Pleco. Agents cluster around every metro station with photographs in the window.
What you will pay
Rent varies by more than a factor of three across the city. Nanshan and Futian are the expensive ends, Bao’an and Longgang the affordable ones. The district guide has current ranges area by area.
On top of the rent, budget for:
- Deposit: one to three months, returned at the end if nothing is broken
- Agency fee: half to one month, paid once
- Utilities: electricity, water, gas, building management fee, internet. Ask what is included before you sign anything.
Before you sign
Ask for, and photograph:
- The landlord’s ID card
- The property ownership certificate (房产证), and check that the name on it matches the ID
- The contract, with the rent, the deposit, the notice period and who pays what
Insist that the landlord registers you, or that they come to the police station with you. No registration means no residence permit, and no residence permit means no bank account, so the whole chain stalls at this one step.
Renting a room rather than a whole flat
Shared flats and single rooms are common and much cheaper, and they are how most students who live off campus manage. The same rules apply, so you still need the landlord’s documents and you still need registering.
One last warning
Never transfer a deposit before you have stood inside the flat. Photograph everything on the day you move in, including the meter readings.
Also asked
How much deposit is normal?
Commonly described as two plus one, meaning two months of deposit plus one month in advance, though smaller places are often one plus one. The agency fee is typically half a month to a full month, paid once.
Can I rent before I have a residence permit?
Often yes, though the landlord still has to register you with the police. Walk away from any landlord who does not want you registered.