Many foreign nationals have flocked to China's largest
cities in recent years, only to find that both the property market
as well as Chinese landlord-tenant law are substantially different
than in other jurisdictions. By typing "renting an apartment
in China" into any Internet search engine you will find that
the first results are stories about how different the experience of
renting an apartment in China is different than in Sydney, London,
Tokyo or New York. Usually, the comparisons are unfavorable and
contrast an expatriate's experience renting an apartment in
their home country of Australia, Britain or the United States with
China.
However, despite whatever horror stories an expatriate may
have heard about the difficulties of renting an apartment in China,
China's property market is simply different than in most
Western countries. The legal regime is completely distinct and the
sources of landlord tenant law are different as well. Custom also
is simply different.
