The best websites for finding a no-fee rental apartment in Beijing in 2021

The best websites for finding a no-fee rental apartment in Beijing in 2021

When you rent an apartment in Beijing, you may be dismayed to learn that you often have to pay a hefty broker fee, which typically an agent fee equivalent to 1 month rent. It can be a bitter pill to swallow—after all, you’re also putting down the first month’s rent and a security deposit which is a refundable deposit of 1 or 2 month rent.  

Broker fees are paid to agents who you have sought out to help you find an apartment. In some cases, enlisting the help of an agent and paying the broker fee is beneficial. Having an expert do the heavy lifting for you may be worth the hefty price tag if you don’t have a lot of time, can’t find what you want on your own, or your employer is paying for your broker fee as part of your relocation expenses.

However, if you have the time and grit to conduct your own search, and want to save some money upfront, consider looking for a no-fee apartment on websites that let you filter out fee-based apartments.

Pro Tip:

Ready to begin your search for a new apartment? Keep reading for  updated list of the best websites for finding no-fee rentals in Beijing, listed in alphabetical order. 

https://www.thebeijinger.com/

If you are only looking for a room in a shared flat, you can sometimes avoid agents. Look at the classifieds section of The Beijinger website. The ads posted by agents are easy to spot. Private posts clearly say “No agent fee”.

Weibo,douyin,wechat groups/word of mouth/social media/

Good for: Getting an apartment through a personal recommendation.

High-tech search options abound, but hearing from a friend of a friend or someone in an online community about an apartment is still a powerful tool in the world of Beijing real estate. The best deals and nicest places are often found via well-connected friends, family members, and coworkers, so don’t be shy—reach out to your network.

https://www.NestFinder.cn

Good for: Searching for serviced apartment.

NestFinder help expats to filter their long and short term serviced apartments with no-fee listings . Currently, there are 3000 no-fee apartments, which makes up about 100 percent of the site’s listings. 

The search results page leads to an interactive map, and individual listings include the exact address of the apartment, its amenities, and information about the exposures. Each listing also rates the condition of the building, though there aren't further details on how those ratings are determined.