Before you sign, make sure the apartment you viewed, the address written in the agreement and the place where you will actually stay are the same. For a foreign resident, this is also the address relevant to non-hotel accommodation registration. A signed lease does not itself show that the stay has been registered.
Confirm the address and the person letting the property
Ask the proposed lessor to show the full address, unit number and their connection to the property in the documents you are asked to sign. Check that the person named in the agreement can explain who will hand over the keys and who will respond about repairs. If an agent or another person signs, ask for the basis of that person's authority before paying. These are due-diligence questions, not a claim that one document set is sufficient in every city.
Put the practical handover terms in writing
Read the term, move-in date, rent and deposit provisions, payment recipient, maintenance responsibilities and how water, electricity, gas and property-management costs are allocated. Record the agreed condition of equipment at handover and how any disputed charge will be raised. Shanghai's housing-leasing regulations list identity and contact details, basic property information, term and delivery date, rent and deposit arrangements, maintenance, utility-cost allocation and dispute resolution among the usual contract contents. Those are Shanghai provisions; other cities' rules and the individual contract need their own check.
Plan accommodation registration for move-in
The National Immigration Administration explains that for accommodation outside a hotel, the foreigner or the person providing the accommodation must complete registration with the public security organ at the place of residence within 24 hours after arrival. Agree in advance who will provide the property details and who will make sure the registration record is completed. The NIA announced nationwide availability of online accommodation registration from 21 September 2026, while the offline route at local public-security organs remains available. Its current interpretation describes how to inquire about the completed registration record. If the host says they will handle it, ask how the completed record can be checked rather than treating that assurance as proof.
When an address or clause cannot be verified
Pause the payment or signature until the differing address, signing authority or allocation of costs is clear in the documents. For registration, use the NIA online route or the local public-security route and keep the resulting record.