Accommodation in Shanghai

Living in Shanghai has all the advantages of living in a major Chinese city, including great access to nightlife, restaurants, excitement and a real sense of local culture. The downsides are also familiar: depending on the suburb, it can be polluted, loud, crowded and expensive.

The Huangpu River runs through the city’s centre, effectively splitting Shanghai into two regions – Pudong, east of the river, and the older downtown area of Puxi to the west. Exploding outwards, much of Shanghai’s growth has occurred in the last two decades, with developments becoming newer the further one travels from the city centre.

The city’s immense growth has been accompanied by increasingly congested traffic and long commutes. When choosing where to live in Shanghai, you need to consider the distance to work and school and their public transport options.

Areas and suburbs in Shanghai

Shanghai is home to 16 administrative districts, each with several neighbourhoods, so you’ll find plenty of areas and suburbs to live in the city. Most expats are likely to live in Puxi, where there are plenty of amenities, international schools, and much of the city’s commercial area.

Changning District is one of the oldest expat areas in Shanghai; here, you can find excellent public transport links, international schools, and many green spaces. Hongqiao, Jinqiao, and Minhang are other family-friendly suburbs in Shanghai.

Young professionals looking to live in the financial district will enjoy Lujiazui in Pudong. The district is Shanghai’s largest financial and commercial centre. Zhongshan Park is perfect for young professionals and couples who value proximity to downtown Puxi but prefer a more residential and quiet area.

Read Best (and worst) Areas and Suburbs for more on where to live in Shanghai.

Types of accommodation in Shanghai

Accommodation in Shanghai is varied, with old and luxurious homes pressing against new high-rise developments and suburban neighbourhoods. Shanghai’s city centre has several decadent and old residential neighbourhoods that act as oases within the city’s storm, but these desirable properties come with exorbitant price tags.

Often, even small flats in high-rise apartment blocks in the city centre can be pricier than renting a large house in the nearby suburbs. Accommodation in Shanghai may be furnished or unfurnished, and the price should reflect that fact. You should be sure to have an inventory of all furniture items on the property.

If you have a flexible budget, you can find serviced apartments or compounds, which expat families prefer, although these are in high demand. Shanghai’s serviced apartments come fully furnished and offer housekeeping and cleaning services, among other amenities.

Flatshares are also common, particularly among young expats and students on a tight budget.

Finding accommodation in Shanghai

While many Shanghai properties can be found online, some of the best deals are not found on the internet. The online classifieds section of local newspapers or asking friends and colleagues for leads are good ways to find property while potentially avoiding agent fees.

If you don’t speak Mandarin, you can enlist the services of a real estate agent. Agents often work with specific apartment buildings, meaning they can usually show a few properties at the outset. From the beginning, it is important to be specific about your budget, location preferences and transport routes’ proximity.

Agents sometimes try to overcharge unsuspecting foreigners or pressure them into moving into properties that they haven’t been able to get off the market, so it’s best to stand one’s ground and investigate the property and lease agreement first. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find something immediately, and do use several agencies.

Useful links

• Shanghai Lianjia
• Anjuke.com
• Fang.com

Renting accommodation in Shanghai

Making an application

After finding a suitable property, you can submit an application, and your real estate agent will negotiate a lease agreement with your landlord. Sometimes, it might be necessary to pay the landlord an amount to reserve the apartment if the contract is to be signed later.

We recommend having your application documents ready before beginning the process to ensure you are ready to apply as soon as you find an apartment you like. The landlord will likely need the following documents to process your application:

• identification documents (ID or passport)
• residence permit
• bank statement or proof of employment

You will need a copy of your landlord’s ID and their proof of ownership of the property so that you can register your presence in the country with the Public Security Bureau (PSB).

Leases, costs, and fees

Leases are usually valid for one year. Short-term rentals in Shanghai are generally pricier, while longer leases can be negotiated for less. Bargaining is a widely accepted practice in China, and expats with the necessary skills often get between one and 10 percent off their lease.

When negotiating leases, tenants should also discuss the payment method for the monthly rental fee and what works best for both parties. When both tenant and landlord are uncomfortable in one language, leases should ideally be drawn up in both Chinese and English, and tenants should ask for a translator to validate these.

Landlords will often ask for one or two months’ rent immediately and one month’s rent as a deposit, so be prepared to have a lot of cash on hand. Agents will also charge a commission, usually the equivalent of a month’s rent or a percentage thereof, and this should be budgeted for.

Read Accommodation in China for more on rental processes in the country.

Utilities in Shanghai

Tenants are typically responsible for utilities in Shanghai. There are normally prepaid electricity meters, while official individuals regularly visit to read meters for gas and water. Be sure to ask the agent or landlord how utilities must be paid.

Electricity

State Grid Corporation of China is the primary electricity provider in the city. Most households use a prepaid system, meaning you’re likely to receive an electricity card from your landlord, which you can top up at kiosks across the city.

If your building uses a post-paid system, you may have to set up an account with your local supplier. You can visit a local State Grid Corporation of China office or log into their website to set up your account. You’ll typically need to provide your passport, residence permit, and lease agreement, and you may also have to pay a small initiation deposit.

Once your account is active, you should receive information about billing cycles and payment methods. It might be worthwhile to take a Mandarin-speaking colleague or friend with you or to ask your agent for assistance, as the process is done in Mandarin.

Gas

Natural gas is largely supplied by China Gas Holdings, which provides metered gas. If you need to set up an account, you can visit a local office with your identity documents and lease agreement. Otherwise, most tenants receive a monthly bill from their landlord.

You can easily make payments through bank transfers and online platforms like Alipay or WeChat Pay.

Water

Shanghai Municipal Waterworks supplies water throughout the city. Although the water quality is generally considered adequate, many locals filter their water, buy bottled water for drinking, or boil it.

Water bills are issued monthly, and you can make payments through bank transfers or online platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay. The easiest way to pay your monthly bill is to set up a direct debit to avoid missing payments.

Bins and recycling

Waste collection in Shanghai is managed by the Shanghai Municipal Government, which emphasises China’s waste sorting policy. Residents are encouraged to sort their waste at source into dry, wet, recyclable, and hazardous waste. The city provides red bins for hazardous waste, blue bins for recyclables, brown bins for wet waste, and black bins for dry waste.

There are fines for non-compliance, so it’s essential to ensure you are aware of the regulations. The city collects waste regularly, with differing schedules for each neighbourhood. Your landlord or real estate agent will be able to provide you with specific information on schedules in your neighbourhood.

Useful links

• Shanghai Electric Group
• China Gas Holdings
• Shanghai Municipal Waterworks
• Shanghai Municipal Government