Seoul Rental Guide for Foreigners: One-Room vs Officetel, Deposits & Safe Lease Tips

Seoul Rentals for Foreigners — The Field Guide for Students, Professionals, and Working-Holiday Makers

TL;DR (keep this for later)

• Pick your unit type with your commute and noise tolerance first, not price first.

• Lock the paperwork: owner verification, deposit/fee math in writing, maintenance scope listed, photos before/after.

• Keep leverage at move-out: never hand over keys before the deposit is settled or scheduled in writing.

• Route money & messages through FOHO: overseas card payments, automatic receipts, and a full chat log prevent “he-said, she-said.”

1) One-Room vs. Officetel: What fits your life (not someone else’s)

2) Rent Formats You’ll See (and how to choose fast)

3) The Cost Stack (so you don’t get surprised)

“If it’s not in the contract, it doesn’t exist.” Put extras (furniture, repainting, deep clean, repair of known defects) into Special Terms with dates.

4) The Process: From Search to Keys (no fluff)

1. Define non-negotiables: commute ≤ X minutes, noise tolerance, elevator needed, minimum natural light.

2. Shortlist: two neighborhoods that meet (1). Don’t chase the entire city.

3. View smart: visit 3–5 units back-to-back. Bring phone charger and take photos + 10-second video sweeps of each room and bath.

4. Run the basic checks: owner identity matches registry; no obvious red flags in liens/claims; maintenance inclusions are written.

5. Negotiate where it matters: deposit vs. monthly trade-off; small broker-fee adjustment within the legal cap; move-in fixes.

6. Sign, then pay: sign the contract with all special terms, then pay through FOHO (so receipts and chat logs exist).

7. Move-in photos: timestamp your photo set (walls, corners, bathroom ceiling, under-sink, windows, boiler, appliances). Share selected photos in FOHO chat to lock the baseline.

8. Within 14 days: complete move-in address procedures as required. Keep confirmations with your contract.

5) Red Flags & How to Answer (scripts you can copy)

“I’m ready to proceed after we sign and record terms. I’ll pay via FOHO so both of us have automatic receipts.”

“Let’s agree on the exact return date in writing and process it through FOHO. I’ll return keys when the deposit is settled or scheduled.”

“Please list included items (security/common electricity/elevator/cleaning) and state whether heat, water, gas, and internet are included or metered.”

“Please share dated photos and invoices. All payments run through FOHO, so we’ll attach documents to the thread and resolve with records.”

6) Move-in / Move-out Checklists (print-ready)

• Boiler on/off test; hot water within reasonable time

• Bathroom ceiling, corners, silicone seams (mold/leaks)

• Window tracks, condensation, draft

• Under-sink plumbing; any drip on tissue test

• AC cooling; filter condition

• Appliances power on; fridge seals; washer drain

• Door lock battery level; spare keys

• Meter readings (if individual)

• Photo sweep of everything; upload key photos to FOHO chat

• Notify move-out date in FOHO chat; confirm deposit-return method/date

• Repeat the same photo angles as move-in; attach to the FOHO thread

• Minor cleaning to “as received” condition; keep product receipts if requested

• Hand-over only after deposit is paid or a dated FOHO payment schedule exists

7) Broker Fee & Small-Talk Scripts (keeps things cordial)

• Cap & clarity:
“Can we write the broker fee as KRW ___ here so everything is clear? I’d like to pay it through FOHO with the contract.”

• Polite reduction within cap:
“Since we finalized on the first visit and paperwork is straightforward, is a small reduction possible within the legal cap? If not, I understand—let’s proceed.”

• Maintenance detail:
“Could we list what the maintenance fee includes and what is metered? It avoids misunderstandings for both of us.”

8) Why route everything through FOHO (and stop worrying)

“If you can’t prove it in the FOHO thread, it probably shouldn’t be charged.”

9) Mini-FAQ (students, professionals, WH)

FOHO is How You Rent in Seoul—Safely, Quickly, Confidently

Why renters choose FOHO

• Overseas card payments for rent and deposits—no local bank account hassle.

• Automatic receipts & a clean ledger for every transaction.

• One chat thread with your landlord—from pre-move-in to move-out—so agreements and requests stay on record.

• Responsive support that actually helps, before you move in and long after you settle.

• A wide, well-curated listing pool, so you pick the place—not the other way around.

If it isn’t on FOHO, it didn’t happen.