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Q: Subleasing a Chinese apartment?
I won't be around for the last few months of my apartment lease, and I'd like to sublease it, but I don't really know how to go about this in China, due to the police station registration issue, and a subleaser's name not being on the contract. Has anyone ever subleased to another foreigner here? I have a foreign roommate who will remain there if that changes anything.
Do I talk to the agent or the landlord first?
Is there another agent fee involved?
Is it even legal technically?
Any insights are much appreciated
The "standard" rental contracts do not allow subletting. I am not sure if it is legal or not, but I know that most people think it is a bad idea as it gives an extra layer or people being able to speculate in the property market.
You need to talk to the landlord. As such there should be no need to involve the agent, they will only score some more of the fee. If you can agree with the landlord of making a new contract for whoever will live there while you don't then that should work. Possibly, when you get back you would need to have a new contract yourself.
Scandinavian:
note. I think, if we were to leave for a couple of months, we would stash our stuff at some fiends place and then simply quit our rental contract. Mind you, we do not own any big furniture that would need moving around.
SalaciousC:
Yeah that's currently my problem. I'd much rather just cut out early and lose the security deposit, but I'd end up screwing my roommate over.
Looks like I'll probably have to bite the bullet and just pay for the few months I'm not there.
Scandinavian:
If you have a roommate, how about signing over the contract to him/her and then he/she can find some temporary roommate until you are back. You should still clear this with your landlord, but it would be a more "stable" scenario for the landlord so an easier idea to sell.
SalaciousC:
Yeah I suppose that's true.
I'm just concerned about how the temp roommate would register at the police station.
I guess they wouldn't be able to, which probably wouldn't be an issue (for me or my roommate anyway), but I'd rather not do it nonetheless.
Maybe if I find a local Chinese person instead? I'm not really sure about their registration process or if it changes anything.
