My friend from South Korea was apartment hunting in Beijing. She found a listing on 58.com. Beautiful photos. Bright, modern, spacious. ¥6,500/month.
She met the agent at the building.
"The apartment from the photos is rented," he said. "But I have something similar. Same building. Same price."
It was not similar.
The reality:
The "similar" apartment had:
• A bathroom with mold on the ceiling
• A kitchen that hadn't been cleaned in years
• A bedroom facing a construction site
• A living room with a cracked window
The photos? They were from a completely different unit, possibly Photoshopped.
Common rental scams in China:
1. Bait-and-switch photos
Agents use photos of nicer apartments to lure you in. When you arrive, the "real" apartment is completely different.
2. The fake listing
Great apartment. Great price. Doesn't exist. The agent just wants your contact info to show you other places.
3. Hidden fees
• "Service fee" — ¥500-2,000, sometimes non-refundable
• "Key fee" — not a real thing, but agents charge it
• "Management fee" — sometimes double what it should be
4. The sublet scam
Someone rents an apartment, then sublets it to you at a higher price without the landlord's permission. When the landlord finds out, everyone is in trouble.
How to protect yourself:
Use verified platforms:
• Beike (贝壳/Lianjia): Agents physically verify listings. 80%+ listings in major cities are verified.
• Ziroom (自如): Professional management. Higher prices but zero scams.
• Wellcee: Roommate-focused. Good for shared apartments.
Never pay before seeing the apartment:
No "holding deposits." No "reservation fees." If they ask for money before you step inside, walk away.
Verify the property license (房产证):
Ask to see it. Check that 用途 says 住宅 (residential), not 办公 (office). Office-zoned apartments can't be used for residence permits.
Take timestamped photos:
On move-in day, photograph everything. Every wall. Every floor. Every appliance. Send them to the landlord via WeChat immediately. Creates a record.
Check the contract carefully:
• Deposit return conditions
• Maintenance responsibilities
• Early termination penalties
• No random "fees"
Red flags:
• Price 30%+ below market
• Agent pushes for immediate payment
• Can't see the apartment today
• No property license shown
• "Key fees" or other random charges
• Photos look too perfect
What my Korean friend did:
She reported the agent to the platform. Left a 1-star review. Found a real apartment through Beike two days later.
Her rule now:
"If the photos look like a magazine spread and the price looks like a typo, it's a scam. Real apartments in Beijing have flaws. Embrace the flaws."
Anyone else been bait-and-switched by a rental agent in China?
Posted on 2026-5-30 15:13:58