Daily Life
Apartment Move-In Inspection in China: Foreign Renter Checklist
Document condition, meters, furniture, keys, safety, utilities, and repair promises before taking possession of a rental apartment in China.
Rules and procedures can change. Check the linked official sources before acting on time-sensitive information.
Quick answer
What you need to know
A signed, photographed move-in record helps foreign renters separate existing damage from later problems and makes repairs, utilities, and deposit settlement easier.
- Inspect and photograph the apartment before unpacking or accepting vague repair promises.
- Record meter readings, keys, access cards, furniture, appliances, and visible damage.
- Put repair responsibility, deadlines, and handover condition in writing.
- Confirm lease or dispute questions with the landlord, agent, local authority, or qualified adviser.
A move-in inspection creates the baseline for repairs, utility bills, and the eventual deposit return. Do it while rooms are empty and before normal wear hides existing problems.
This is practical rental information, not legal advice. Lease terms and local procedures vary; confirm consequential questions with the landlord, agent, housing authority, or a qualified adviser.
Prepare the handover record
Bring the lease, inventory, phone charger, flashlight, measuring tape, and a checklist. Ask the landlord or agent to attend. Record the date, people present, exact address, key count, and unresolved items.
Review the broader apartment renting guide even if you live in another city.
Inspect room by room
Take wide photos and close-ups. Test:
- entrance door, locks, windows, and balcony doors;
- water pressure, drainage, hot water, and visible leaks;
- electricity outlets, lights, air conditioning, and heating;
- gas equipment only according to provider and safety instructions;
- refrigerator, washer, cooker, and supplied appliances;
- walls, floors, ceilings, cabinets, and furniture; and
- smoke alarms or other installed safety equipment.
Do not attempt unsafe electrical or gas repairs. Report concerns and ask a qualified service provider to inspect them.
Record utilities and access items
Photograph water, electricity, and gas readings with enough context to identify the meter. Note prepaid balances if visible. List every key, access card, remote control, parking card, router, and utility token.
Confirm who holds utility accounts, how bills are paid, and which balances belong to the prior period. See utilities for foreign renters for a settlement table.
Turn defects into written actions
For each defect, record its location, condition, photo number, responsible party, proposed remedy, deadline, and access method. Distinguish urgent safety or habitability concerns from cosmetic items.
Avoid accepting a blank inventory or signing that everything is satisfactory when the defect list is unfinished. Keep the final signed record and send identical digital copies to the parties.
Protect the future deposit discussion
Store move-in photos at original quality with the lease and payment receipts. When you later leave, compare the same angles and document final readings. Our rental deposit and move-out guide explains the other half of the evidence trail.
Move-in inspection checklist
- Every room has wide and close-up photos.
- Existing marks and damage appear in the written record.
- Water, electricity, and gas readings are documented.
- Keys, cards, remotes, furniture, and appliances are counted.
- Essential services and locks were tested safely.
- Repairs identify owner, deadline, and access arrangements.
- Both parties received the same handover record.
- Original files, lease, inventory, and receipts are backed up.
Official reference points
Local rental registration, building, utility, and contract practices differ. Use the real lease and locally applicable guidance for decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
When should I inspect a China rental apartment?
Inspect immediately before or at key handover, ideally while the apartment is empty and the landlord or agent can acknowledge the record.
What should be photographed?
Photograph every room, existing damage, meters, appliances, furniture, windows, locks, keys, cards, and any item listed in the inventory.
Is a chat message enough for promised repairs?
Keep messages, but important repairs should also identify the issue, responsible party, access arrangement, and target date in a signed handover record or addendum where possible.
What if the landlord refuses to sign an inspection record?
Send a dated copy of the photos and defect list through a traceable channel, preserve the response, and seek local professional advice if the condition affects safety or the agreement.
