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Q: renting an apartment
my wife just phoned me saying the landlord wants to put the rent up by 500rmb so instead of paying 3000 a month we will be paying 3500 a month.
he said you either pay it or move out,the apartment is old and needs to be fixed up.we had to buy a water heater and we replaced the air filter that was in the kitchen.
we live in Shenzhen (the Meilin area),the apartment is old and paint is falling off the walls its not good.The landlord wont even come and take a look at the place and fix anything up.
we are not rich and trying to find a place big enough for around 3000 a month is very difficult in Shenzhen. I hate the way they do things here and its done right before Chinese new year.
The landlord is in Hong Kong and he prob sits on his bum doing nothing all day just collecting his money.
more shit to worry about again.
it s going to be expensive to get another apartment.
You can consider moving around the end of the longhua line (qinghu and longhua station), very accessible by subway and rent is cheaper.
When does your contract with him end? He can't change the existing contract without your concent. I am afraid that he will be an a-hole from now on. You had best get looking for a new place. He legally can't up the current rent but once the contract ends then you haven't a leg to stand on. If you don't have a contract for some foolish reason then get looking tomorrow you have till the end of the month so get moving quick.
Aye, because we all know that contracts in China are binding!!!! 
I guess that you've paid him a security deposit as well that he is going to use every lie in the book to keep for himself (the paint peeling and fabrication dropping to pieces will no doubt be blamed on you).
Joys of China, I'm afraid - like it or lump it.
(But certainly you need to be finding a way out of there).
the contract is almost up,
Hotwater:
Unfortunately he's within his right then to increase the rent for a new contract. Though a 16-17% increase is taking the piss. Depends how much he's put it up in previous years.
I've been lucky in GZ that my landlord has increased the rent from 4500 to 5000 over two years. It's even more expensive 1-2 metro stops from me!
Lord_hanson:
The cost of living in big cities is spiralling out of control. Luckly the locals 5 insurances also help with rent/mortgage payments or there would be social disharmony.
icnif77:
@Hot: 'Did you ever consider Chinese charge laowai higher, because of our higher pay than Chinese?
We'll give you higher pay, because you're foreign expert, but we'll make you spend more, so most of that (extra) money stays in China.....'
I'm having that feeling since ever in China.
One of the reasons, I refused to pay Broadband transfer fee (50 Rmb) in Fujian, when I had to move to a different apartment, because School was unable to stop noise in old apartment. I demanded School covers 50 Rmb fee, and they served me with Dismissal notice instead.
Some posters here implied 'how cheap I am', but it was just an principle. Why Chinese should worry, how I spend my higher salary?
Hotwater:
@icnif.....did you ever consider that sometimes Laowai's get charged the same as locals? I've never paid more rent than what was advertised on the boards in th eletting agent offices. Locals might be able to negotiate down a little though my wife tried on this place and didn't get any discount.
Where Laowai's get stung in Guangzhou is the rental tax. We all know it shoul dbe paid by the landloard but we also know that they pass this cost onto the tenant. As a foreigner in GZ I have to register with the local street centre....and to register I have to show the apartment is registered for tax...
You can consider moving around the end of the longhua line (qinghu and longhua station), very accessible by subway and rent is cheaper.
Hey Rob, I have suggested it before but if you value your lifestyle perhaps you should think about a move across the ditch to the west of the Pearl River.
Here, just a 30 minute train ride from Gz or Zhuhai/Macau for 3000 rmb rent per month you would live like the rockstar that you are and salaries are much the same as Sz.
Clean city, quite civilised people (on the whole), restaurants are cheap and lots of nature parks for bushwalking/biking, slower pace than the big PRD cities. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Please don't tell anyone these secrets
I'd hate to see an influx.
