HOUSING CONSIDERATIONS - Living Abroad in Beijing - page 167

for properties over RMB5,000 a month the finders fee will be paid for by the landlord, and
for properties under RMB5,000 by the tenant. This varies greatly from landlord to landlord,
and is something that can be discussed when bargaining. If you're only considering renting
places for around RMB4,500-5,000, then it might be worth calculating what you'll really be
spending on average with the extra finder's fee factored in, and then look at better, slightly
more expensive apartments for which that won't be a cost.
BARGAINING
If possible try to arrange a time when the landlord is there at the same time as the real estate
agent. Real estate agents will work at virtually any time you need, so evenings can be easi-
est to connect with the landlord if they're working. Having the landlord present will make
the bargaining process easier and more transparent, and will also give you the opportunity
to suss out what kind of person you're going to be dealing with long-term.
RENTING CHECKLIST
When you go to inspect a house or apartment, make sure you check a few critical
parts.
Air conditioners: Do these work? Are they in the rooms you'll be in most?
Hot water: Is it really hot enough? Is it gas or electric? How many minutes before
it runs out? Can you shower comfortably in that time? Is the hot water at all the
faucets? For example, it might not be available at the bathroom sink.
Kitchen: Do all the burners on the stove work? Most apartments will have appli-
ances such as a fridge, a microwave, and maybe a rice cooker. Check if they work.
(There is unlikely to be an oven, but countertop options are cheap and easy to buy.)
Drinking water: What do you use for drinking water? Some high-end apartments
and houses will have drinkable filtered tap water; however, often you may need to
have a water dispenser and to purchase bottled water. Bottled water usually costs
RMB10-22 per 19-liter (5-gallon) bottle. Watsons Water has an English-language
service and is generally well regarded. Unfortunately, bottled water has been known
to be fake, so try to purchase from a reputable seller. As this is something that's hard
to be sure of, website www.myhealthbeijing.com suggests that the best option is to
buy a quality-brand water filter, such as Aquasana, to install in your kitchen.