At the beginning of the New Year, many people come to the big city again to struggle, and the first thing many people come to the big city is to rent a house, but many inexperienced workers will be shocked by all kinds of strange shapes of the rent property! For example, a large number of rooms are separated by partitions(such as a rough plank), and a large number of people are packed into a apartment which is dozens of square metre area. In some situation, even the kitchen, the balcony are also transformed into a room for someone living, in which the room's wire connections are pulled disorderly standing a fire severe fire hazard. However, you could tell from the adverts such rent properties were economic benefits , convenient as well as safe before choosing it.

In fact, this kind of rent properties above said is called "group rent" that means by changing the internal structure of the it, in which the room is divided into several small rooms, and rented by room or by bed. There are a lot of security risks in "group rental", such as the existence of private wiring, no fire facilities, a large number of flammable, using toxic materials to divide the room and other fire hazards as well as the room personnel mixed, theft, illegal fighting incidents occur from time to time, etc. Therefore, in terms of the violation of the "group rental", the regulatory authorities around the country are also clearly prohibited.

Recently, the news of Shanghai's legislation banning group rental properties has also rushed to the hot search. Shanghai Municipality implemented the Housing Rental Regulations on February 1, 2023, and there are clear provisions for “group rental” in the third to fifth items of Article 15 of the regulations. On the basis of the regulations, Shanghai also issued a more detailed "on the strengthening of the city's residential district rental housing comprehensive management of the implementation of the opinions", in the opinion, there are more clear standards for “group rental”.

The regulations and follow-up opinions clearly define and divide group rental property, and also make it clear that kitchens, bathrooms, balconies, storage rooms and other non-residential spaces shall not allowed to be used as rental housing alone. The regulations also strengthen the responsibility and punishment from supervision departments.

On May 1, 2021, Zhuhai City Government implemented a legal regulation on rental property- "Zhuhai Special Economic Zone Rental Management Regulation". In the regulation, there are relevant provisions for the lessee and the lessor. Here below, it is being popularized by the writer:

Firstly, for the lessor:

1）The rental house should be declared and registered. The "Zhuhai Rental Regulations" stipulates that the lessor shall declare the basic information of the rental through the rental management service information platform within seven natural days from the date of the establishment and change of the rental relationship. Those who fail to declare in accordance with the provisions shall be ordered by the public security organ to make corrections within a time limit; Failure to change will be punished.

2）There are four types of prohibited rental houses: one is dangerous houses, such as major fire hazards, geological disasters and other circumstances; Second, kitchen, bathroom, balcony, underground storage room, garage and bicycle room and other non-living space; It is illegal to set up dormitories in production, operation and storage places; The fourth is to change the use function of the building without authorization. For “group rental”, Zhuhai City regulatory authorities are also firmly prohibited.

Secondly, the lessee's obligations:

First, the lessee needs to truthfully explain the number of tenants; Second, cooperate with the lessor to declare the basic information of renting, and handle the residence registration in accordance with the provisions; Third, use the house according to the purpose agreed at the deal time of lease, and do not change the use function of the rental property without authorization.

"Room by rent, however, home is for living." Therefore, it is particularly important to choose a comfortable living foothold. When we choose to rent outside from our home, we should not choose the "group rent" which is not compliant and unsafe.