Real estate agents must not collect or remit rent and security deposits; payments go straight to landlords

Cost: No cost at all. It takes just a few minutes to verify the recipient before paying. The hard part is resisting pressure from agents who try to get you to send the money to them instead.
In plain terms: By regulation, real estate agents are prohibited from collecting or remitting rent and security deposits; all payments must go directly to landlords. Any time money passes through an agent’s hands, it creates one extra chance for them to abscond with the funds. If that happens, you lose both your rent payments and your right to stay in the property. Always confirm that the recipient’s name matches the name on the property title before paying.
Benefit: Administrative rules explicitly forbid real estate agencies from collecting or remitting rent and security deposits on behalf of landlords. This means agents have no legal authority to handle such payments. Every time money moves through an agent’s hands, the risk of them running off with the money rises significantly.
Evidence grade: A
Sources:国务院 (2025). 住房租赁条例（国令第 812 号，2025 年 9 月 15 日施行）（第二十五条）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_7032956.htm
Notes: Double-check that the recipient’s name matches the name on the property title before making any payment. If it does not, ask for a written authorization first. Agents are only allowed to charge a commission fee for their matchmaking services.