Hangzhou landlord wants cash deposit before adding my passport to the lease

canallease_73

I am trying to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Hangzhou before my current hotel booking ends. The landlord showed the property certificate and the agent's business card, but they want one month of deposit in cash before adding my passport details to the lease contract.

What I tried: I asked for a written receipt with the address, landlord ID number, deposit amount, and refund condition. The agent said this is normal and that the formal lease can only be printed after payment. I also asked whether the lease can be used for police residence registration, and the answer was vague.

Is cash deposit before a signed lease still common in 2026, or should I insist on a bank transfer and signed receipt first?

willow_keys

I would not hand over cash without a signed document. In Hangzhou, my agent used a one-page reservation agreement first, then the full lease after the landlord confirmed the move-in date. The reservation paper still had the exact apartment address, landlord name, agent company stamp, amount, and refund condition.

A bank transfer is cleaner because the transfer note can include the address and purpose. If they refuse both a receipt and transfer, that is a bad sign.

china-checkin-desk

Ask directly whether the lease will show the same address used for police residence registration. Some landlords are willing to rent but do not want the tenant registered, which becomes your problem later.

This guide on how to rent an apartment in China as a foreigner has a practical document checklist. The key point is that the receipt and the lease should identify the same apartment and payment purpose.

rentalreceipt_lane

If you continue, photograph the property certificate, landlord ID, agent license, keys, meters, and the apartment condition before moving in. Also put the deposit refund condition into the contract, including whether cleaning, paint, or agent fees can be deducted.

For foreigners, the residence registration part is not optional. I would make the lease and registration support a condition before paying more than a small holding amount.