New Housing Policy

Beijing authorities have begun soliciting public opinion on a draft house rental policy aimed at protecting the rights of tenants.

According to the draft, governments at the district level should increase the supply of houses available for rent around industrial parks and on collectively used land. Newly built houses should be rented to those working in the industrial parks or in the vicinity, and the areas should be equipped with education and medical facilities.

An online supervisory platform will be set up, which will also provide house rental information and electronic rental contracts, process applications and supervise transactions.

The draft guarantees the education right of tenants’ children. Beijing residents who do not own houses can apply for their children to receive compulsory education in the area near their rented home, provided they have lived in the area for at least three years and one member of the couple has worked in the area for at least three years.

Residents not originally from Beijing can also apply for their children to receive compulsory education in the area of their rented