A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal sub-letter
- Joined: Jul 5th, 2011
- Posts: 24
Unfortunately it's too late to do ensure nobody has the misfortune of living with the creature I had to endure, but I can just post my story in the hope it will deter people from dealing with ANYONE but the REAL landlord of a property.
About 7 weeks ago I decided to live with somebody who'd posted an ad looking for a room mate on here. Naively, I didn't think it strange that she didn't allow me to contact the land lord and I signed a contract with her (with the mistaken idea that she was a reasonable person).
Once I'd given her 3 months of rent we had to go to the police station to register, to which she had to bring the ORIGINAL contract she'd signed with the landlord. I found out me and my other flatmate were being mugged off. I was paying 2700, he was paying 2500, and the overall cost of the flat was 2600, meaning she was only paying 400 yuan a month, something she'd neglected to mention to either of us before moving in.
When I told her I wanted to move out after I returned from traveling she told me If I didn't take my things with me I'd find them on the street and that I could kiss my deposit goodbye. The terrible shame of the matter is I know she'll be searching for new foreigners to cheat from this very website and all I can do is post this infuriatingly vague forum topic to try and deter it...
geedo
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
overall cost was 5600* sorry, major typo.
Herbz
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
Geedo, perhaps if you posted her number with the last numeral replaced with an * you might gain some closure on the matter and also save other people the trouble of dealing with such pond life.
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Monkey King
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
To be honest, I don't see anything wrong with what the woman did, except with how she handled your wanting to leave.
You obviously found the price reasonable, if you agreed to pay it. Why do you care how much she is paying? She's the one who took the initiative to sign the original lease and seek out sublettors. That's a fair amount of work and risk she undertook.
It's not like she even lied to you. She just didn't tell you the lease details, and it sounds like you didn't ask.
I do agree she was something of a c**t with how she handled your wanting to leave, although it sounds like you may not have broached the subject particularly diplomatically, in which case her response was probably in kind.
"China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese."
--Charles de Gaulle
chaofan
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
Exactly! and most leases clearly state that you can not rent the place out to someone else so she of course did not want to let you meet the landlord.
geedo
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
Perhaps it's just me, but if I was seeking a room mate I would definitely not behave ask them to pay 7 times the amount I paid. I understand she took a risk being the main tenant, but I don't think that justifies the inflated rent price and it certainly doesn't justify her behaviour once I decided to leave. I found the price reasonable because I'm a moron, I'm just not familiar enough with how much a place should cost in Beijing. Besides, it's more the dishonesty that ticked me off than how much the place cost.
Herbz, thanks for the suggestion: 158102596**
dan4
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
And how much is she paying when the rooms are unrented, or when someone runs off without paying? What if one of you strangers steals or breaks something? Are you willing to make up the difference?
I've had all kinds of shitty, shady types screw me over while sharing a flat.
Damn I'm hot. I'm on fire!
geedo
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
How much she pays when the rooms are un-rented is her responsibility and does not, in my opinion, justify lying and making profit from people you pretend to want to make friends with. If one of us "strangers" breaks something then she has a big old 2700 deposit to cover it with.
As for your last sentence; So have I, and she takes the crown.
dan4
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
2700rmb isn't very much. My TV alone was 17000.
Also I think its funny you think she's on the hook when a room is unrented because she is taking all the risk, yet you seem to think you deserve some magical discount being a short term renter. Your food stamps don't work here ya bum.
Damn I'm hot. I'm on fire!
chaofan
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
roomates, oh my, I outgrew those when I was about 25. I could never have another roomate again. Well, I guess if it was one of the opposite sex with benefits I might think about it but in the end that would not be acceptable either.
I pay way too much for rent but it is worth every penny to have the place to myself!
dan4
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
Chaofan is totally awesome! Rock on dude!
Damn I'm hot. I'm on fire!
geedo
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
The TV in that flat might be worth 1000 yuan. So unless I deliberately decided to destroy the entire flat then my deposit would more than cover damage.
All the risk? It's not exactly difficult to find a flatmate around Wudaokou is it mate. The only risk is on behalf of the unknowing housemate who ends up living with that failed abortion.
And mine was a 6 month lease, which is not short term.
Food stamps? What are you on about you battyman? End yourself.
teacherken
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
This thread is too funny. Cheap douches like geedo are the reason foreigners have a bad rep, and make it difficult to get a decent flat.
Go buy a tent you cheap effer.
geedo
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
How about a deal? I'll buy a tent when you stop putting off the real world by taking the easy way out and teaching English in China. Or is the God complex that being white in China gives to you too empowering after the switch from flipping burgers back home?
dan4
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
Geedo, the beggar that expects free room and board from the locals, is calling out a stranger with racist comments and insulting a profession he can't break into.
Stay classy geedo.
Damn I'm hot. I'm on fire!
geedo
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
I will if you will sweet cheeks
dan4
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
You should look for someone that owns their apartment...so in your mind, your rent share should be 0rmb.
Damn I'm hot. I'm on fire!
geedo
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
You must have been up all night thinking up a comment that hilarious and sophisticated! Give yourself a pat on the back from me.
dan4
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
Is it free? Will you give me some sort of coupon?
Damn I'm hot. I'm on fire!
rory22
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
got to agree with the op. found myself in the same situation. why the hell should someone whos illegally subletting an apartment be allowed to make a profit from doing nothing. sick of the amount of times chinese have tried to make a living off of me and doing nothing but lie and cheat in return
rory22
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
got to agree with the op. found myself in the same situation. why the hell should someone whos illegally subletting an apartment be allowed to make a profit from doing nothing. sick of the amount of times chinese have tried to make a living off of me and doing nothing but lie and cheat in return
chaofan
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
Kick his ass C-Bass!
dan4
Re: A cautionary tale of being tricked by an illegal ...
You really sound like a retard. What if they paid off their home and they owe nothing, and pay no rent. In your world they should give you the room for free?
If someone signs a lease they are on the hook for the full rent and all damages. It is their choice to let you live there. You are free to negotiate the price, unless you are too stupid to do so....well nevermind.
If you don't like the price, go find a cheaper room!
Damn I'm hot. I'm on fire!