How China’s mobile leasing platforms have made renting a home cheaper
The platforms may also exempt deposit or brokerage fees for mobile users with higher credit points
Renting an apartment in one of China’s major cities is becoming easier. Sometimes it can be done with only a few touches on a mobile phone.
In April, 26-year-old Liu Yun rented an apartment without any deposit or brokerage fee in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province.
Liu selected an apartment, placed an order, signed the contract, and prepaid the rent all through an official housing rental account on Wechat. Afterward, she received a password to unlock her apartment.
Amid China's campaign to push forward the development of the home rental market in large and medium cities to address rising demand, more young people are choosing to rent through mobile platforms for leasing homes.
“Tenants with higher credit points can even rent apartments without paying deposit or brokerage fee,” Liu said.
Such exemptions are an upside, compared with the conventional mainland Chinese practice that requires tenants to pay a three-month deposit plus one-month advanced rent, and brokerage fee equivalent to a half to one-month rent.
Moreover, what impressed her most is the living experience. If any furniture or electric appliances are broken or electric appliances, tenants like Liu can rely on the “rental housekeeper”, employed by the rental platform to look after the apartments like a janitor.