When I moved out of my Shanghai apartment after a year, my landlord pointed at a tiny scratch on the floor and said "¥3,000 for repairs." The scratch was smaller than my fingernail.
My deposit was ¥6,000. He wanted half of it for that scratch.
This is a VERY common scam in China. But I got my full deposit back. Here's how.
Step 1: I Documented Everything on Move-In Day
This saved me. On day one, I took photos of EVERYTHING — every wall, every corner, every appliance, every pre-existing scratch. I sent them all to the landlord via WeChat and said "Just so we both have a record of the current condition."
He read the message. That was key. He couldn't claim he didn't know about the existing scratches because I had timestamped proof.
Step 2: I Knew What "Normal Wear and Tear" Means
In China, landlords are supposed to distinguish between "damage you caused" and "normal wear from living there." A floor scratch from normal walking? Wear and tear. A hole in the wall? Damage.
I calmly explained that the scratch was pre-existing (photo proof) and even if it wasn't, it fell under normal wear. He didn't like it, but he couldn't argue with the photos.
Step 3: I Involved the Building Management
When he still refused, I went to the building management office (物业管理处). They know every landlord in the building and have seen this scam a hundred times.
The management manager called my landlord and basically said "Give the foreigner his deposit back. This is ridiculous."
Deposit returned in full.
How to Protect Yourself From Day One
• Take timestamped photos of everything on move-in day
• Send them to the landlord via WeChat/email (get a read receipt)
• Read the contract's deposit clause carefully
• Get every payment receipt (发票) — especially the deposit
• Know that landlords MUST return deposits within a reasonable time after move-out
• If they refuse, building management is your first stop. If that fails, the local housing authority can help.
Red Flags to Watch For
❌ Landlord asks for deposit before showing the apartment
❌ No written contract
❌ "You don't need a receipt, we're friends"
❌ Contract says deposit is "non-refundable under any circumstances"
❌ Landlord refuses to show the property ownership certificate
Bottom line: Most Chinese landlords are honest. But the dishonest ones prey on foreigners who don't know the rules. Document everything, know your rights, and don't be afraid to push back.
Anyone else have a deposit horror story? Or a landlord who was surprisingly great?
Posted on 2026-5-22 14:08:58