Start with your confirmed workplace, working hours and budget. Then compare homes by the actual commute, the amount due before moving in and the terms you understand and can accept.
An apartment described as “near the metro” may still involve a long walk, an inconvenient transfer or a difficult journey after your final lesson.
Choose a search area around your working week
Get the exact workplace address and your likely start and finish times. Test routes from several possible areas before committing to a neighbourhood. Include the walks at both ends and a realistic transfer allowance.
For a role at Flying English, verify the reporting location with recruitment rather than assuming every historical school address is current. See how to test a Shanghai commute.
Compare the full amount due
Ask for a written breakdown of rent, deposit, advance payments, agency or service charges, utilities and any other mandatory costs. Record when each amount is due.
For illustration only, if a hypothetical home costs RMB 5,000 per month and its terms require one month as a deposit plus three months of rent in advance, the initial amount is RMB 20,000 before other charges. This is arithmetic, not a typical rent estimate or a statement that those terms apply to all Shanghai homes.
A housing allowance may help your recurring budget without covering that initial payment. Check the allowance's timing and conditions in your offer.
What should you check during a viewing?
Look beyond the photographs. Try the shower, taps, lighting and appliances; check storage, ventilation, noise and the route into the building. Ask who handles repairs and how problems are reported.
If something needs fixing, have the agreed work and timing recorded before committing. Ask to see the actual unit you would occupy, not only a similar room or an old video.
Which lease terms matter?
Understand the duration, payment schedule, deposit arrangements, repairs, renewal and early departure terms. Check who is entitled to rent the property to you and who will receive payments. Get help reviewing any wording you cannot read confidently.
Shanghai's official rental guide for international students offers useful general viewing and contract checks. Its student-specific requirements should not be treated as employment rules for teachers.
Keep copies of the agreement, payment records and an agreed record of the property's condition. Ask how the accommodation-registration process will be supported; use the official registration service for current instructions.
Should you choose the cheapest home?
Compare what the saving costs you in time and practicality. A lower rent may be worthwhile; a tiring journey may not be. Use your actual schedule and preferences rather than a generic “best neighbourhood” list.
Bring the chosen home's costs into your offer comparison and arrival plan before deciding what is affordable.