More Housing Input for Low- and Medium-Income Citizens

By staff reporter Liu Qiong

Qi Ji, vice minister of housing and urban-rural development, said on March 11 that China would increase investment in housing projects for low- and medium-income families. “In 2009 we will improve the living conditions of 2.6 million more low-income households. Of them 70 percent will receive affordable homes from the government, and the rest will get rent subsidies.”

In 2009 the central budget earmarks RMB 3.3 billion for construction of low-rent homes, which is several times that of 2008 and ten times that of 2007. This fund will be supplemented by local governments’ revenues from treasure bonds.

The Ministry of Land and Resources has instructed its departments to ensure sufficient land for low-income housing projects. And the state is considering several measures to increase the supply of low-rent homes, such as demanding a particular amount of low-rent apartments in residential buildings to be built.

Mr. Qi urged local governments to oversee that low-rent homes are located in areas with easy access to public transport and complete infrastructures, and that their quality meets state standards.

    The government will also provide public apartments for lease to people who are above the “low-income” stratum, but not affluent enough to buy or rent homes at market rates.  Such apartments are run by the government or public institutions, and are leased at lower prices to people such as the newly employed and migrant workers as interim housing. This program has started in several cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Xiamen and Shenzhen.