If they did FT's would be able to stay
in a school/uni provided apartment over the summer (with no bills) and full pay. This is
how you attract and retain "foreign talent". Not by making them homeless and
leaving them penniless over the summer months.

I have never heard of this before. No pay for July and August seems normal, but your apartment is still your 'home' while you are in China and working for that school/uni. Any establishment that essentially evicts their FT's during the summer vacation is one to seriously stay away from. They don't deserve us !