Beike Research Institute said its study of 10,239 valid questionnaires and interviews found that the rental market is becoming more segmented, as more owners weigh whether to list homes as standard rentals or use managed leasing services, according to Jiemian News. The report said 15.9% of owners had considered selling their property but switched to renting because of a longer resale cycle and weaker-than-expected prices.

The report also said 40.6% of owners are willing to take moderate operating risk and spend limited time in exchange for stable rental income, while 31.5% would accept a modest rent cut and some effort to preserve the condition and value of the home. Jiemian News reported that Shanghai Real Estate Brokers Association vice chairman Tang Jun said more than 90% of rental listings are still provided by individual owners, creating mismatches in product, service and operations.

Beike's managed rental product, Beike Shenxinzu, does not profit by subletting or splitting units, but charges an agreed service or management fee after a lease is signed. The platform said it pays owners 50% of one month's rent as a guarantee from the start of the leasing period, and compensates them with a deposit if the unit is not rented. It also front-loads cleaning, basic repairs, light refurbishment, smart-lock installation and utility safety checks.

For the January-May 2026 period, Beike Shenxinzu said the average time to first lease was 19.9 days, the lease success rate was 82.3%, and the owner renewal rate at lease expiry was 72.3%. The report said 54.9% of standard-rental owners believe they can choose tenants themselves, while 51.5% think they can set rent on their own. It also said 73.4% of rental agents saw old housing conditions and owners' reluctance to prepare units as the biggest bottleneck for standard rentals.

Beike began rolling out its HQI housing quality score in 2025, ranking homes across five dimensions: condition and fittings, rent competitiveness, information completeness, convenience and payment flexibility. In Shanghai, Beike Shenxinzu said its managed portfolio has exceeded 106,000 units, with average monthly leasing volume of about 14,000 units, average leasing time cut to 12.9 days, an owner renewal rate of 83% and a first-lease success rate above 93%.