HOUSING CONSIDERATIONS - Living Abroad in Beijing - page 168

Bathroom: Most places will have a Western toilet, but if you're moving into a
very old building it could be a squat toilet, and if you're in a sìhéyuàn or píngfáng,
you might not have your own toilet at all. How well does the toilet flush, and can it
handle “comprehensive” toilet use? Many toilets in Beijing don't cope even with toi-
let paper, especially those in hútòng residences, and rather than flush it, you'll need
to put it in a garbage bin. What's the water pressure like in the shower, and are there
any signs of leaks between your apartment and the one above or below?
Bedroom: Again, does it have an air conditioner? What is the bed like? (Places
like Ikea make a killing on selling mattress toppers to expats.)
Entertainment: Does it have a TV and DVD player? If not, these can usually be
worked into your contract without too much bargaining.
Flyscreens: For anything from the ground floor to about the sixth floor, mosqui-
tos can be a problem. Check for absent or unusually holey screens.
Telephone and Internet: Are these connected? The landlord should be respons-
ible for covering the costs of having the facilities, such as the sockets, but you will
mostly likely bear the costs of having them switched on. Normally the landlord or
agent can help you set up your services. You usually don't have a choice which
company you use, as given companies are assigned to particular complexes, but you
should be able to select the speed of your Internet connection.
Outstanding bills: Be clear about the credit or debt existing on the water, gas,
and electricity meters before you move in. Record the amounts/numbers on each
meter and note down any payments made or credits given. If there are 100 units of
credit on your electricity when you move in, for example, your landlord should de-
duct the value of this from your final settlement when you move out.
Fuse boxes and utility meters: Find out where all of these are and how to read
and use them. Occasionally there is more than one fuse box, one inside your abode
and another hidden outside in some obscure location. When you run out of electricity
you will need to know where these are to flip the main switch back on.
Storage: Landlords here are notorious for using their rental apartments as their
personal storage facilities. If they won't let you get rid of some of the unwanted fur-
niture, try to negotiate the rent down in accordance with the reduced space.