Whether you are here to study or to work, renting in Shanghai does not work the way it does in Mongolia. Landlords speak only Chinese, the lease is written in Chinese, and there is an agency commission on top. If you do not know about these in advance, the costs arrive as a surprise.
🧩 What is included
📹 Choosing before you arrive
You can pick your apartment while you are still in Mongolia and move in the day you land. No arriving with nowhere to sleep.
💰 How the payments split
- Deposit up front 500 ¥
- After the lease is signed 500 ¥
The fee is non-refundable.
- 1 month rent 2,000–4,000 ¥
- 1 month security deposit equal to the rent
- Agency commission 10% of total rent
From the second month you pay only the rent.
🧮 Worked example
After that it is 3,000 ¥ per month only. The deposit comes back when the lease ends. The LFS fee of 1,000 ¥ is on top of this.
🏢 What the apartments are like
- Fully furnished — bed, desk, wardrobe and appliances already in place
- Rent of 2,000–4,000 CNY a month — depending on the district and the number of rooms
- Available in every district, so you can pick one near your school or work
- Any term from one month upward — usually 3, 6 or 12 months. Whatever the term, the deposit is always one month
- Water, electricity, internet and gas are paid by the tenant
📋 What documents you need
- Passport
- Visa
- Admission letter from your school
Your passport is enough. Someone who entered without a visa, on an entry stamp alone, can still sign a lease.
You do not need this before renting. Students arrange it themselves through the staff member responsible at their school.
❓ Common questions
Why is there an agency commission?
Most apartments in Shanghai are let through an agency. The commission is 10% of the total rent over the lease — for example, an apartment at 3,000 CNY a month taken for 10 months means 10% of 30,000 CNY, so 3,000 CNY. It is separate from the LFS fee and goes straight to the agency.
Do I get the deposit back?
Yes. The deposit is returned when the lease ends and you hand the apartment back, provided there is no damage and everything has been paid.
Can I sign a lease without a visa?
Yes. If you are not a student, a passport is enough. Mongolian citizens can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days — the visa-free rules are here.
How many apartments do we see in a day?
Two or three in one day. If nothing suitable comes up that day, we agree the price for a second day of viewings.
When do I pay the fee?
500 CNY before the work starts, and the remaining 500 CNY once the lease has been signed. The fee is non-refundable.
Can I choose the apartment before I arrive?
Yes. We visit and show you the place by photo and live video. Once you pick one, the Chinese agency holds it for 5-7 days. You sign and move in the day you land.
What if something goes wrong after signing?
Get in touch. Talking to the landlord, repairs, a dispute over payments — we help with whatever we can after the lease is signed. The relationship does not end when the fee is paid.
Who pays for water and electricity?
The tenant pays for water, electricity, internet and gas. They are not included in the monthly rent.
Ready to start looking?
Tell us your budget, the area you need and your arrival date. If you only have questions for now, ask them first — there is no obligation.