This morning, a beautiful female tenant asked me if she could renew her lease next month and pay a lower rent. She has been renting from me for several years without any rent increase. I agreed to pay for any new furniture or appliances she wanted to replace, and everything has been peaceful since then.

I told her to ask the property agent about the current lowest price in the neighborhood, and I would rent to her at that price. I also checked with the neighborhood’s agent to see the market rate and plan to offer her a slightly lower price based on that.
Haha, do you know the situation? We all asked around, and the lowest prices are actually 5% higher than her current rent, and the renovations are much worse than ours. The beautiful tenant immediately said, “Let’s keep the original price,” fearing I might not rent to her anymore.
All my rental properties have been occupied for over ten years without a single week of vacancy. Here are some tips I share about how I manage to rent out my properties easily:
1. In Shenzhen, for rental properties, I usually buy units under 100 square meters, mainly 2-bedroom apartments, as they are the easiest to rent out. Larger units are not as easy to rent. 2-bedroom apartments are suitable for higher-income young people or small couples, who have some requirements for the decor.
2. Make sure to renovate and maintain the property well. After the initial renovation, I renovate every few years, updating old items with a fresh, modern style. Don’t be stingy—current furniture and appliances are cheap. For example, replacing a water heater or gas stove costs only around 1,000 to 2,000 yuan, and a couple of months’ rent can cover these upgrades.
3. Don’t focus too much on high or low rent. I usually set a median price based on the market, for example, between 5,000-6,000 yuan for this type of unit, depending on renovation and orientation. I keep all my units updated and at the most reasonable prices, so vacancy is rare. Over the past ten years, my small rental units have been rented out within three days of being listed.
4. If multiple people want to rent, choose tenants carefully. Understand their employment situation. If they work near the property, they tend to rent longer. Also, consider their industry. For example, I once had a unit for rent, and among three applicants, I chose one who was a sales manager at a nearby factory. Their products are in a stable market, so they are likely to stay longer.
5. The most important point: once a tenant moves in, I never raise the rent regardless of how many years they stay. I have a tenant I’ve never met; he has been renting since I bought the property and moved in. Everyone else’s units have appreciated a lot, but I’ve never increased his rent. He has never asked me for anything, and as long as he stays in Shenzhen for work, he probably won’t move.
6. Be good at calculating costs. If you frequently change tenants, there will be vacancy periods, and landlords have to pay half a month’s agency fee per tenant. For example, over five years, if you keep changing tenants every year, you’ll pay about 2.5 months’ rent in agency fees alone. Vacancies of at least half a month each time a tenant moves out, plus a week for moving in, add up to about half a year over five years. It may seem like you’re charging high rent, but the hidden costs and trouble add up. So, try to keep your existing tenants longer.
7. How to reduce vacancy periods? If a tenant wants to leave before their lease ends, I agree, but only if they list the property with the agent or find a new tenant themselves for renewal. I’ve done this twice, saving costs for everyone. When a lease is about to expire, we schedule a week to help show the property, open the door for viewings, and let the agent bring prospective tenants. We also help tenants save on property fees for that month. Most tenants cooperate.
This is my experience on how I manage to rent out my properties quickly and keep tenants long-term. Sometimes you have to give a little to gain more. Offering a lower rent to reduce vacancy is worth it. Meet reasonable tenant demands when possible—don’t be a difficult landlord. But if someone is unreasonable, don’t rent to them. Better to let them go than rent to problematic tenants.