Shanghai is trialing an official online platform for home rental for three months as part of the local government's move to better regulate the city’s home rental market and foster its steady development.

Launched at the weekend, the public service platform www.shzfzl.gov.cn, backed by the Shanghai Housing and Urban-Rural Development Administration and the Shanghai Housing Administration Bureau, will verify listings, register users' real names and allow for online contract signing.

To enhance the platform's operation, Shanghai has set up a municipal level residential leasing service center which will provide policy-related consultancy through its 962269 hotline. District-level service centers have also opened around the city to offer online contract signing service.