Renting in Guangzhou as a foreigner.

01 · Your first days

Start with the life you’ll live here.

Moving to Guangzhou for work or study? Start with your daily journey, then look for a room that fits.

• Ask your employer or university for the exact campus or workplace address. Check the journey at the times you will actually travel, including the walk to the metro.
• Set a monthly budget, arrival date, length of stay and number of occupants. List your essentials: a desk, cooking space, lift access, or a quieter room.
• Keep a short, flexible arrival stay in mind while you view homes. Ask your university whether it has its own accommodation requirements before signing an off-campus lease.

02 · Owner & space

Check the owner and the room.

Match the exact building, floor and room number across the listing, viewing and lease. Guangzhou’s rules require the landlord to show identification and ownership or other evidence of the property’s lawful source.

• If someone manages the room for the owner, ask for their written authority. If it is a sublet, ask to see the main lease and the owner’s permission.
• Check the registered property use and whether your intended use is permitted. Ask the relevant local office about your exact address before paying if this is unclear.
• Compare gross title area, in-unit title area and measured usable floor space separately. Shared allocation is not private space; in-unit title area may include walls or balconies and is not the same as usable floor space.

Guangzhou rental rules, Articles 10–11 (Chinese) ↗

03 · The viewing

Look beyond the nice corners.

A video is a useful first look. An in-person viewing, or a live walkthrough that you direct, helps answer the everyday questions.

• Listen with the windows open and closed. Ask about nearby construction, renovation upstairs, road noise and building quiet hours. If possible, return in the evening.
• Test the air conditioner, hot water, water pressure, drains, sockets and appliances. Look for damp, ventilation and signs of leaks.
• Check the entrance, locks, stairs, lift and escape routes. Ask how visitors, deliveries, rubbish and maintenance requests work.
• For a remote viewing, ask to see the room number and a continuous walk from the entrance through the actual unit. Request current photos of any existing damage.

04 · The full budget

Budget for the whole bill.

Ask for a written breakdown in Chinese yuan (¥) before you decide. The advertised monthly rent may be only one part of the cost.

• Confirm rent, deposit, how many months are payable in advance, and any agency or service fee. Ask exactly what is due before keys are handed over.
• List electricity, water, internet, building management, rubbish and any other recurring charges. Ask which tariff applies to this unit, how readings are taken and who issues the bills.
• Ask whether furniture, bedding, cleaning and repairs are included. Get the cost of optional services and any receipt or invoice arrangements in writing.
• Keep an arrival buffer for transport, temporary accommodation and essentials. Compare homes using the total monthly cost and the total move-in payment.

05 · The agreement

Read the lease before signing.

Guangzhou’s rules call for a written lease. Keep a signed copy and arrange a translation you understand before committing; a translated summary should not replace checking the actual agreement.

• Check the parties’ names, exact unit, permitted use, occupants, start and end dates, rent, deposit, due dates and named payment recipient.
• Agree on repairs, access for maintenance, visitors, pets, smoking and changes to the room. Record promises about furniture or work to be completed.
• Read early termination and cancellation terms, notice periods, renewal arrangements, deposit deductions and the date and method of the deposit refund.
• Ask what happens if the agreed move-in conditions or required registration arrangements cannot be met. Put the agreed outcome in the lease rather than relying on a chat message.

Guangzhou rental rules, Article 13 (Chinese) ↗

06 · Paying rent

Can I pay rent without a Chinese bank account?

Yes, we can agree a payment method before you open a Chinese bank account. For rooms on this site, I accept UnionPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Visa, Mastercard and bank transfer, and can accept foreign currency by agreement. Confirm the payment channel, currency, exchange rate and fees with me privately. I provide payment details directly and privately after the terms are agreed; no payment is taken on this website.

• Some international cards can link to Alipay or WeChat Pay, as described in China’s visitor payment guide. Confirm the channel for your card with me; support still depends on the provider and issuer.
• Being able to buy a coffee with a linked foreign card does not guarantee that you can make a personal transfer or pay rent. Check your exact card, recipient type, amount, fees and limits with your bank and payment provider.
• Ask the landlord which payment methods they actually accept, in whose name, and how a receipt will be provided. Match the payee to the lease or obtain a clear written explanation and authority.
• Confirm a permitted backup method for both the deposit and future rent. Do not depend on an untested transfer arriving on move-in day.
• After verifying the owner or agent and the agreement, confirm that the agreed method works before a large payment. Keep the payment reference and receipt.

Official payment guide for overseas visitors ↗

07 · Two registrations

Two registrations. Two different clocks.

Discuss both processes with the landlord before signing. Foreigners’ accommodation registration and Guangzhou’s lease filing are separate procedures.

See the two documents · personal details hidden

Examples from a previous tenancy, shared to explain the process. They do not confirm approval for another room or tenant and cannot be used for an application.

08 · Keys & goodbyes

A good handover makes for an easier goodbye.

Take a few minutes together when you get the keys. Future you will appreciate it.

• Make a dated inventory of furniture, appliances, keys and access cards. Photograph existing marks and damage, and record the meter readings together.
• Keep the signed lease, receipts, registration records and repair contact somewhere easy to find. Use secure channels for identity documents; never post them publicly.
• Report faults promptly in writing and agree how urgent problems will be handled. Keep a record of repairs and any agreed costs.
• Before leaving, follow the written notice terms, arrange an inspection, settle final bills and record the return of keys. Ask for a written account of any deposit deductions and refund.
• At the normal end of the lease, after move-out and settlement of water, electricity, any outstanding property management fees and other applicable costs, including equipment damage or cleaning, the remaining security deposit is returned within 1–3 business days.