Core Insights - The article highlights the challenges faced by renters in the traditional rental market, including high agency fees, misinformation, and difficulties in finding genuine landlords. It emphasizes the rise of direct rental platforms as a solution to these issues, supported by government policies aimed at reducing intermediary costs [2][4]. Group 1: Market Challenges - Renters face significant obstacles such as high agency fees, misinformation, and the prevalence of subleasing, which complicates the rental process [2][4]. - The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development's 2024 guidelines encourage direct rental models to reduce costs for tenants and minimize intermediary roles [2][4]. Group 2: Rise of Direct Rental Platforms - New platforms that connect landlords directly with tenants are emerging, eliminating agency fees and ensuring the authenticity of listings through technology [4]. - Examples of such platforms include Douban rental groups, which are effective but require careful filtering, and Xianyu, which offers a wide range of listings but necessitates vigilance against potential scams [4][6]. Group 3: Cautions for Renters - Even with zero agency fee platforms, renters must remain cautious. Key recommendations include verifying the landlord's identity, inspecting properties at different times of the day, and ensuring contracts include essential terms [6]. - The article stresses the importance of avoiding illegal rental properties and highlights the rights of renters to terminate contracts if they encounter such issues [6].