Ziroom Allows Foreigners Outside China to Terminate Their Leases

原创 Joey Knotts theBeijinger

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China's blanket ban on foreigners entering the country has meant that many expats who departed in the early days of the pandemic are now left stranded and unable to return to their life and work here, even as schools and businesses prepare their return to normalcy. Moreover, those with long-term leases have found themselves in a particular pickle, forced to pay rent on an apartment to which they cannot return.

Now, there is good news for stranded renters who are lucky enough to have signed through Ziroom. With no end to the entry ban in sight, over the weekend the real estate company announced a new policy aimed at allowing foreigners stuck outside of China the opportunity to cancel their lease without losing their deposit and remaining service fees.

For those who take advantage of the policy, Ziroom will also box up renters' personal belongings and hand them over to a designated entrusted person. How the belongings are handed off will be determined on a case-by-case basis, but the company will only ship the belongings domestically, deducting the shipping costs from the service fee prior to the refund.

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The new policy comes as many Beijing expats report that some agents of Ziroom and other rental companies are unable or unwilling to rent to foreigners. As we previously reported, there is no municipal rule that requires companies to scrutinize foreign renters, but some agents or landlords may be forced to comply with the discriminatory rules of a local community.

Jack Balavadze, head of Ziroom's international department, which devised the above policy, told the Beijinger that if foreign renters experience discrimination or other hurdles when signing or extending a lease, they should contact his department for help (email: jack@ziroom.com; WeChat ID: JackBalavadze).

"Due to COVID-19, local communities have imposed restrictions upon newcomers into the communities and especially foreigners," says Balavadze. "Though, we have certain communities where we can move the customers in without any problem."