Before paying a water, electricity or gas request for a rented home, match the charge to the right service account and check who the lease says bears it. A message containing only an amount and a payment code is not enough to establish which property, billing period or provider it covers.
Identify each service separately
Ask for a recent bill or provider notice for the apartment's water, electricity and gas services. Record the provider name, service address, account number and billing period shown for each. Ask the landlord or property manager which account is attached to the unit and whether any balance predates your move-in. A utility account may be handled differently from the lease, so do not infer its holder from the tenant's name alone.
Read the lease before agreeing how to settle
Shanghai's housing-leasing regulations say a housing lease generally includes the method for bearing property-management, water, electricity, heat and gas costs. The actual split for your rental must be read from your agreement and the applicable local rules; the Shanghai provision does not establish that every Chinese tenant pays every utility directly. If the owner pays first and seeks reimbursement, agree what bill and payment record will support that request. Keep meter readings or handover notes where available, so the starting point is clear.
Use a payment method matched to the account
Shanghai's municipal utility guide describes online payments through Alipay or WeChat Pay and offline options at utility service outlets and other listed payment points. For the WeChat Pay route, it tells users to select location, payment type and provider and to enter the account number; it says that number can be found on a bill, an SMS notice or through the provider's customer service. These are Shanghai instructions, not a promise that every wallet, account or city offers the same menus. Check the provider and account shown on the final payment page before authorising a transaction.
If the number or amount does not match
Do not guess an account number or pay a newly sent code simply because it appears in a chat. Compare the request with the lease, bill and provider record. Ask for clarification on an old balance, a shared meter or an amount that covers a period before your tenancy. If an online route is unavailable, Shanghai's guide also describes in-person channels; in another city, follow that locality's utility provider instructions. Save the receipt and note which billing period it covers.