Do not rent subdivided units: the minimum rental unit is the originally designed room; kitchens, bathrooms, and balconies must not be lived in
UpdatedGrade AMedium benefitMoneyFreeLittle timeNo willpower
By rule, the smallest unit you may rent is the room as originally designed. Kitchens, bathrooms, balconies, and basement storage must not be lived in. During the lease the landlord also cannot raise rent unilaterally on a whim.
- Cost
- No monetary cost. The trade-off is that on the same budget you live farther out or in a smaller place.
- Benefit
- The rules state clearly that the minimum rental unit is the originally designed room; one room must not be partitioned into several units rented separately. Per-person living floor area must not fall below the local minimum. Kitchens, bathrooms, balconies, and basement storage must not be rented for people to live in. During the lease the lessor may not unilaterally raise rent at will. For violations of Article 8, the competent authority shall order the lessor to correct within a time limit; if the lessor fails to correct on time, a fine of 5000 yuan to 30000 yuan may be imposed.
- Notes
- When an illegal subdivision is enforced, the fine falls on the lessor. But correction means tearing out the partitions, so tenants living there have to move — that follows from this rule. Deposit and rent already paid are often not recovered; that is the author’s experience. Safety is worse too: partition walls often block escape routes, and many people in one unit share one circuit. When viewing, check three things: whether walls were added later, whether the room has a window, and whether the meter can handle that many people.
Sources · 1
- 住房和城乡建设部 (2010). 商品房屋租赁管理办法（令第 6 号）第八条：「出租住房的，应当以原设计的房间为最小出租单位，人均租住建筑面积不得低于当地人民政府规定的最低标准。厨房、卫生间、阳台和地下储藏室不得出租供人员居住。」第九条：「出租人应当按照合同约定履行房屋的维修义务并确保房屋和室内设施安全……房屋租赁合同期内，出租人不得单方面随意提高租金水平。」第二十二条：「违反本办法第八条规定的，由直辖市、市、县人民政府建设（房地产）主管部门责令限期改正，逾期不改正的，可处以5000元以上3万元以下罚款。」gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1845070.htm