Housing
How to pay the rent
Rent here is paid in advance and in large chunks — that changes the budgeting considerably.
How the payments work
Payment is more often quarterly than monthly. “Deposit plus three months up front” is the usual arrangement.
Payment goes through a bank or a payment service. Always with a record: a handwritten cash receipt convinces very few people here.
Utilities
Electricity, water and gas are usually not included in the rent and are paid separately, often in advance through an app.
The internet is connected in the tenant’s name and registered against a passport.
The estate management charge may fall on the owner or on the tenant — it is a clause in the contract, not a general rule.
Tip
Keep proof of every payment for the whole tenancy. When the deposit comes back, the argument is most often about the utilities.
Checked: 26 August 2026
Editor: The PANDA editorial team
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Sources
- PRC government portal for foreignersofficial source
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