Should I sign a lease that is written in Chinese?
Obviously signing any legal document if you are not sure of its meaning is never advisable but signing a Chinese contract is almost unavoidable when looking for properties here in Shanghai. Although some contracts may have an English translation for your convenience it is important to realize that in the event of a dispute the Chinese version will prevail. Having faith in your agent becomes vital as you need to be able to trust that the English version of the contract supplied by the agent is an accurate translation of the Chinese. Attached to your lease contract should be an inventory list of furniture in the apartment. Be sure to check this thoroughly and make amendments where necessary prior to signing the lease. Finally, remember that whilst a lease contract is a legal document it is really only as good as the parties to it. If you have reservations regarding the trustworthiness of the other party exercise good judgment as to whether to go ahead and enter into a deal with that party or not.
Back
