Moving Apartments in China: Deposit, Movers, Handoff

The most expensive hour of your Chinese lease is the last one. You hand over the keys, the landlord walks the flat, and suddenly a month of deposit turns into “cleaning fee, plus wall touch-up.” We have done this dance more times than we would like in Shenzhen and Zhuhai, so here is the version that keeps your money.

TL;DR: the 30-second version

Give 30 days’ notice in writing, in WeChat. Book the truck the night before and lock an all-in price in the app chat first. Clean or pay for the clean — paying is usually cheaper than arguing. The handoff is a 20-minute walk with the landlord: read the meters together, photograph every mark, then hand over the keys. Your deposit comes back within a week if the flat matches the move-in photos you took a year ago.

The short answer

A same-city one-bedroom move runs roughly 300–600 RMB with a helper, your deposit is usually one month’s rent, and the handoff walk decides what you actually get back. Nail those three numbers and the whole move is boring.

Tell your landlord a month out

Standard leases roll with 30 days’ notice, and “notice” means in writing — a WeChat message works. Say you are not renewing, name the date you will hand over the keys, and keep the message. Locals do this all the time; nobody takes it personally.

If your new place starts a week before the old one ends, overlap the leases — that week means moving day is not also deep-cleaning day.

Book the truck the night before

Huolala (the freight service known as Lalamove abroad) is the default. Kuaigou — literally “fast dog,” the company is not embarrassed about it — is the backup. Quotes are roughly the same.

Two things most people learn the hard way:

The listed price is an estimate, not a contract. Confirm the yikoujia (all-in price) in the in-app chat before the truck rolls up. The classic trick: a quote that grows on arrival — “floor fee,” “two trips.” The app keeps the chat, so you have proof.
Freight vans with blue plates face daytime driving restrictions in most city centers, so real moves start early — 7 to 9 a.m. slots go first.

Air-conditioner relocation is a separate trade, not a mover’s job. A licensed tech runs about 150–300 RMB per unit and needs refrigerant tools; in summer, book a week ahead.

What a move really costs (2026, rough)

Ranges we have seen, for moves inside the same city:

Studio or one-bedroom, no disassembly: 300–600 RMB.
Two-bedroom with a sofa or bed taken apart: 600–1,000 RMB.
No elevator: add 5–10 RMB per floor.
Extra helper beyond the standard two: add roughly 100–200 RMB.
Declared-value insurance for electronics: a few RMB — worth it for the laptop box.

Try it yourself with a taxi: three trips, and your back files a complaint.

The paper trail that saves your deposit

The yajin (deposit) is usually one month’s rent, so it is worth fighting for — and it is easier to fight with a paper trail. On move-in day, photograph every wall, floor, and appliance, and send the photos to the landlord in WeChat. The message carries a date and kills most “damage” claims before they start. Pay the deposit by transfer with “deposit” written in the remark field; cash is how arguments are born.

On move-out, clean like someone is coming to judge you. A baojie (professional deep clean) runs about 150–300 RMB for a small flat, and paying for it beats losing a month’s deposit over dust.

This guide is information, not a moving or agency service, and not legal advice. Rental rules and city regulations change — check with your landlord, the property office, or a qualified professional before acting. Read our disclaimer.

Moving day: the handoff walk

The handoff is a moment, not a meeting. Walk the flat with the landlord and check, out loud: walls, faucets, the AC remote, the balcony door, the gate card, every key. Read the meters together — electricity, water, gas — and photograph the numbers. If the landlord points at a scuff, your move-in photos answer. Agree on any deduction on the spot, in the WeChat thread, before you leave.

Deposit timing: contracts commonly say the money returns within seven days of handoff. If it drags, the 12345 city hotline and the local housing authority handle tenancy disputes. One polite message with the contract page and the meter photos usually resolves things fast.

Quick answers

Q: How much notice do I need to give my landlord? A: Usually 30 days, in writing. A WeChat message is enough, and it doubles as your record.

Q: What does moving a one-bedroom cost in China? A: Roughly 300–600 RMB inside the same city with a helper, plus per-floor fees if there is no elevator — confirm the total in the app chat first.

Q: Can the landlord keep my deposit for cleaning? A: Only for real damage or unpaid bills, per the contract. Move-in photos and a joint meter reading are the evidence that gets it back.

Q: Do movers move air conditioners? A: No — AC relocation is a separate job for a licensed tech, about 150–300 RMB per unit, and it books out in summer.

Editorial review: EasternReset Team · Snapshot: 2026-09. Found an error? Email us.