Meng Xiansheng, a lawyer at Beijing Renhe Law Firm, remarked that the Langqinyuan property management mode is an appropriate pilot for the present relevant law system. It reveals the advantages of a trust when introduced into property management.

This trust indenture management mode has since been promoted in many communities in Beijing, but is still at an experimental stage.

Encourage Participation

Shuiyan Mingju resident Yu Lin and some of her neighbors spent six months setting up their property owners’ committee. The time was mainly taken up going to the local administrative office, meeting with developers, liaising with the property management company, exchanging ideas with individual residents and checking related laws. “At first we were all very enthusiastic about our tasks of following the procedures and distributing materials. But neither the property management company nor the developer was cooperative. According to law, the latter should have allocated us a room as an office. But they did not, so we had to hold meetings standing in the yard or at one of our homes. This so dampened our spirits that some members lost interest and dropped out. Also, as most property owners are about 40 years old and at the busiest time of both their careers and family life, many stood down from the committee shortly after it was set up.”

Ms. Pei was elected vice chairperson of the Fengdan Lishe community property owners’ committee last year. Now 57, she retired two years ago. Her experience has shown that property owners are keen enough on establishing the owners’ committee but not on participating in the actual work. As the committee runs on a voluntary basis, it’s hard to get young professionals to join in because they are focused on their careers. “But retired property owners lack the energy and drive necessary to pursue solutions to the problems that arise,” Pei said.

“Low participation by property owners is the main obstacle to establishing owners’ committees, probably because we Chinese are too accustomed to being administrated and fostered. But to protect your own interests, you have to be proactive in standing up for them. Owners are becoming more aware of this, as evident in the new owners’ committees established every year,” Shu Kexin concluded. He mentioned that Beijing’s Haidian District is trying to set up owners’ committees in each commodity housing district. “The Property Law is important for communities’ healthy development because it gives them property rights and also the right to self-administration through the help of property owners’ committees.”