I moved here in January 2007.
The transition was tough but renting an apartment was (still is) a nightmare. I want to vent to all about my experience with the real estate company I used and want to warn every one else about.
I have had gas leaks, my water turned off(previous tenant didn't pay), gas turned off(previous tenant didn't pay), my kitchen sink drains into the roof drain, and I was rented an illegal suite that the management of the complex will not deal with.
Is it wrong for me to spread the word about Phoenix Properties and how they "helped me" rent this apartment! And how they won't ever return my calls when I have a problem.
Am I wrong ??

No I agree, information like this should be shared among expats to avoid other expats having to go through the same kind of problems. Chinese companies should start to get serious about their business an not just think about the quick buck. I have warned people again and again, but do they listen .... obviously not .... sign a god damn contract about everything you do here in China, it's going to be hard finding people willing to do it, bu those who do can be considered reliable!

We need this kind of information. tnx!

Share away! That it is one of the only ways people can spread the word about companies that take advantage of individuals.

KEEP CALLING PHOENIX!

Apply gentle and persistant pressure until they solve the problem.

And it they don't, share your experience.


(must add that i was under the impression that phoenix relo was a decent company. perhaps things have changed. if they have, stick it to them... they are taking advantage)

oh. what a dreadful things to happen!
The real estate in China, I hate them.

We rented this apartment through Phoenix. They neglected to tell us (although they claim they didn't know) that the previous tenants had to move out because the noise from the club in the basement is so bad - even though it's 6 floors down - the walls are hollow or something.

The landlord will keep our deposit because we have to leave before the end of the contract, but we have no choice, we can't sleep at nights...

I blame the landlord and Phoenix - and the club of course!

By the way, whilst we're flinging mud, the club causing the problem is the Mural Bar and the owner refuses to add insulation or keep within the noise limits set by the police.

ARGH!!!

Amazing - our last apartment from HELL was also rented to us from Phoenix. A guy called Stanley, in fact. They also neglected to tell us that major construction would start on the apartment upstairs from us a week after we moved in, for 7 months! Followed amazingly by construction in the apartment below. We went through so many problems with the apartment, finally were able to move out, but Phoenix stopped returning our calls after the lease went through. We also found out after we moved in what a ridicuoulsy bad deal we got - we paid almost twice what other expats even were paying in that building despite the "determined" negotiations Phoenix said they did. We blame ourselves partly for that though, for not doing enough research. I'll never forget that guy Stanley - apparently during that time, his girlfriend had broken up with him and he cornered my husband at one point and poured out all his gried to him for about half an hour. We were really nice to him and he still gave us a bad deal!