Property rentals and purchases

Renting a property

1. Arranging a viewing

Ask your employer or a licensed real estate agent to find properties for you to view.

2. Taking out a lease

Sign a lease contract with the lessor and pay a deposit. The lessor and the lessee must put the lease on record with the property management agency and the local residents' committee.

After signing a letter of intent to rent, the lessee and the lessor should sign the lease contract, and the lessee should pay relevant fees (including the deposit and rent). The amount of the deposit (or penalty) shall be specified in the contract and the deposit shall be returned after the tenancy ends. If a lease contract cannot be signed on the spot, but the lessee still intends to rent, a letter of intent to rent may be signed and an advance paid. The amount of the advance shall be agreed by both parties, but should generally be no more than one month's rent, and shall be returned to the lessee once the formal lease contract is signed.

In the event of any discrepancy between the Chinese and English versions of the lease contract, the Chinese version shall prevail. For foreign lessees, bilingual contracts are usually signed to avoid any misunderstandings. You should bring your passport and residence permit with you when you sign a lease contrast. After signing, it is usually necessary to go to the local police station with the lessor to put the lease on record, which also protects the legitimate rights and interests of both parties, especially the lessee. Foreign lessees need to bring their passport, residence permit, and lease contract with them to the police station.

Purchasing a property

Overseas institutions and expats working and studying in China can purchase commercial housing for personal use, subject to meeting the points requirement, upon presentation of an employment contract valid for at least one year. In accordance with Shanghai's current restrictions on property purchases, non-registered households in Shanghai can only buy one property and must have paid personal income tax or social insurance in the city for at least two years. The following table sets out the points system that governs the purchase of new properties. It does not apply to the purchase of second-hand homes.

Source: Expat Guide: Work and Live in Shanghai