“Fixed-term renting doesn’t differ that much around the world; it’s the terms and conditions that are the variables,” says Wendy Perez, Department Head Residential Corporate Services at Knight Frank.
“These include the differing levels of deposit, fees, contract terms, break-clauses and references. For example, you often have to pay your rent many months ahead in Dubai. And in Hong Kong you have to prove you’ve paid to have your curtains cleaned and that your air-conditioning contract is paid-up before you can move out.
“In the UK, the landlord pays most of the agent fees, in Hong Kong they’re split between landlord and tenant, and in the US the tenant usually pays.”