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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Can you trust rental agents?
We are signing the contract tonight and moving in tomorrow.
As part of the agreement they are replacing the bed, sofa and TV with new ones. They would not budge on price, but agreed to upgrade these things.
Can I trust them to do this or will I be screwed once I move in?
Also does everyone have to pay an agent fee? I knocked them down from 1750 to 1000...should I try harder?
I hate that I have to deal with middlemen here unlike back home.
I agree with you that the concept of middleman is b.s here. If I were u I would inspect the "new replacement items" before I sign anything. Their idea of what's acceptable and what u think is ok is probably miles apart. Be careful of that. Years ago, I got an agency to go to 700rmb. Everyone associated with that negotiation was pissed at me. As in, "How dare you tell us the agency fee was too high?" Even my translator at that time was not happy with me. lol
The law is different in each city. In shanghai they can charge 35% of a months rent, in Hangzhou 50%, in Suzhou its one month. As far as I understand its different in each city.
As for whether or not they will change the fixtures you should be ok. If it were me I would get it in writing so thats its part of the condition of you renting it, ie if they dont change the stuff you wont rent the place. I would like to say you should be ok, but its China so who knows.
Thakkudu:
Or write the contract with low rent and add a "non refundable deposit"... so the agent fee will be reduced if they are basing it just on montly fee...
In Beijing they can't charge the renter the fee. It's illegal. Not sure about where you are.
I think it would be alright to trust them. If you have a messy place the landlord may check up on you on no notice at all.