Our reporter Cao Zheng

  "If you lose more in a month, it is better to rent the house first by lowering the price." In a housing agency in Beiyuan, Chaoyang District, the agent's words dispelled the landlord's intention to increase rent during the graduation season.

  Beijing's rental market has always had two peak seasons after the Spring Festival and the graduation season. However, affected by the sudden epidemic, both peak seasons have been cold. Due to the delay in graduation from colleges and universities, the rental market is even more frequent with fewer guests. The data obtained by the reporter from a number of intermediaries shows that the volume and price of the Beijing leasing market have recently fallen, and that the volume of intermediaries has dropped sharply by more than 30% last week. The long-term rental apartment companies that have been expanding significantly have also slowed down, and there has been a suspension of housing.

  Landlords lower prices for rent

  In Beiyuanjiayuan Community, Chaoyang District, after a set of two-bedroom units was hung out at a price of 7,200 yuan/month, he was unable to rent out. Recent transaction records show that some houses of similar size and size have fallen below 7,000 yuan. But in the same period last year, the rent for this type of apartment was around 7,500 yuan/month.

  "If the price is lowered by a few hundred yuan, it will be easier to close the deal." Xiao Huang, an intermediary broker, calculated an account for the landlord: if the house with a monthly rent of 7,500 yuan in the past does not fall, it is likely that the house will be vacant for a month. Reduce the income by at least 7,500 yuan; if it drops to 7,000 yuan, it will be able to rent out soon, and the income will be reduced by 6,000 yuan a year. In comparison, the loss of reduced price rental is smaller.

  In the case of more housing and fewer tenants, many landlords can take the initiative to reduce rents in exchange for stable rentals. Last month, the rent of Ms. Chen, a citizen who rented a house in South Second Ring Road, expired. When she renewed her rent, she did not encounter the landlord's rent increase as she did in the past. Instead, she won a rent discount of 400 yuan. "There were few people who rented houses during the epidemic, so it was not easy to find new tenants. With this in mind, we offered to reduce the rent. The landlord agreed without saying anything!" she said.

  The transaction data of several intermediaries also confirmed the current status of the Beijing rental market. I love our research institute to disclose that the brokerage’s Beijing leasing transaction volume fell 5.78% compared with the same period in May and 3.17% lower than the same period in June 2019 in the first three weeks of June, of which the third week of June (June 15-21 ) The leasing transaction volume fell 19.27% ​​from the second week, which was a larger decline; and the leasing data of Lianjia in Beijing also showed that the transaction volume in the third week of June decreased by 31.0% compared with the previous week.

  Some long-term rental apartments suspended

  "Some houses have been vacant for more than 200 days and have never been rented out." A housekeeper, Ziru, revealed that the district he is responsible for has more than 60 houses vacant yet not rented out, so it is not good for some types of houses and not profitable. High listings have been suspended. At the same time, rents to landlords have also decreased.

  The long-term rental apartment companies with obvious expansion intentions are slowing down. "Due to the impact of the epidemic at the beginning of this year, the demand for Beijing's rental market has been postponed this year. The epidemic prevention and control in Beijing is more stringent than in other cities, and the market has been slower than most other cities." Huang Hui, a senior analyst at the Shell Research Institute, said The rental market heat in May mostly stems from the gradual release of rental demand accumulated in the previous period. However, the time for the start of school and the return of graduates to most schools has been further delayed, and the demand for rental housing has continued to be delayed. Therefore, the peak rental season in June has weakened compared with previous years.

  The weakening market demand has also led leasing companies to throw out various discounts to attract graduates. For example, the free launch of the Haiyan plan, in addition to sending moving vouchers, also combined with many companies to launch "bundle benefits"; eggshell apartment launched a zero deposit for graduates, up to 3 months cashback, free rental and other activities. "Now a large number of preferential activities are grabbing graduates, because the occupancy rate of apartments has dropped significantly." The market leader of a well-known apartment revealed to this reporter that the occupancy rate of white-collar apartments and blue-collar apartments he is responsible for has fallen due to the epidemic. After two to three percent, so everyone is fighting for graduate customers.

  There is also pressure on leasing companies that have an urgent need for cash flow. The above-mentioned person in charge said that the demand on the market side is not high, and the income has decreased, which also led to the capital side not optimistic about the current leasing market. Unlike the increase in investment in the past, it is equivalent to pressure on both ends. "So the current discount is not a price war, because if the rent is too low, you can't collect the cost, which is equivalent to drinking thirst to quench your thirst." He said.

  Lower rents will delay the release

  According to rent data, the average rent level of Beijing Lianjia in the first three weeks of June was 84.6 yuan per square meter, a decrease of 5% compared with June last year. In I love my family, the average price of the entire leasing transaction in Beijing's housing leasing in the first three weeks of June was 5743 yuan/set, down 7.43% from the same period in June 2019.

  Affected by the epidemic, rents in Beijing have been weak after the Spring Festival this year, and the overall rent level is significantly lower than the same period last year. Analysts at I Love My Research Institute believe that the scale of Beijing's leasing transactions in May this year has basically returned to the high levels of March and July last year, and the market has ushered in the peak season delayed by the epidemic.

  If there is no further impact of the epidemic, the transaction volume from May to July this year will continue to remain high and the rental price will continue to rise. However, the new round of epidemics caused a significant decline in trading volume in the third week of June. The original market expectation will be lower and rents will also stop rising.

  "June to July is the traditional peak season, and the main demand is the rental needs of college graduates." Huang Hui said that affected by the epidemic, the rental demand for graduates was postponed this year, but the demand will still exist. With the effective prevention and control of the epidemic, the heat of the Beijing leasing market will gradually recover, but the overall demand will decline compared with previous years.