Agents must not collect or pay rent and deposits; payments go directly to landlords
Grade ABig benefitMoneyFreeLittle timeSome willpower
By rule, rent and deposits must not be collected or paid through an agent — pay the landlord directly. Every time the money passes through the agent, there is one more chance for them to take it and disappear. Before you pay, check that the payee’s name matches the name on the title certificate.
- Cost
- No cost at all. It takes just a few minutes to verify the recipient before paying. The hard part is resisting any pressure from agents to send the money to them instead.
- Benefit
- Administrative rules explicitly forbid real estate agencies from collecting or paying rent and deposits on behalf of landlords. This means agents have no legal authority to handle such payments. Keeping money out of their hands eliminates one major risk factor for fraud and financial loss.
- Notes
- Before paying, double-check that the recipient’s name matches the one on the property title. If it does not, ask for a written authorization and keep a copy for your records. Agents are only permitted to charge a commission fee for their intermediary services.
Sources · 1
- 国务院 (2025). 住房租赁条例（国令第 812 号，2025 年 9 月 15 日施行）（第二十五条）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_70329…