REDSTAR Hangzhou October 2019

HANGZHOU FAMILY
TIPS FOR RENTING AN
APARTMENT IN CHINA
By Kyla Robertson
Renting an apartment anywhere
can be stressful - there’s a lot
at stake and you want to feel
comfortable in your new home.
When you first move to China, not only
do you have to adjust to a new culture,
you most likely also have to decide on
a new place to live relatively quickly.
Although you’ve probably already
determined where you are going to live
for the moment we’ve answered some
of the most frequently asked questions
people ask when renting an apartment
in China. We hope you’ll find these useful
for the future if you decide to relocate
or useful to share with a friend or new
colleague who is preparing to make the
move here.
1) FINDING AN
APARTMENT
Is there a certain time of day I
should look for apartments?
Aim to look for apartments during
daylight hours. Not only will
this give you a good idea of the
amount of light in the apartment,
but you can also check-out to see
if there is ongoing construction
near your potential apartment.
Construction can begin very early,
and depending on your lifestyle,
could really put a damper on your
sleep schedule.
What should I check for inside the
apartment?
checking the water pressure is a must,
as this can be an issue with certain
apartments. If it’s not great you can
double-check with the landlord to see
if they have it turned down. If you’re
really keen on the place you can buy a
water pressure pump on Taobao, but
installing it might require the services
of a professional.
Check the cupboards and be on
the lookout for evidence of bugs or
potential dampness issues. Indicators
like bug spray or insect repellents can
help when the pests themselves can’t
be easily spotted.
46 redstarhangzhou.com