Government and Policy
Idle low-rent houses could be recalled
By Zuo Likun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-05-05 11:07
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In face of the misuse of low-rent houses that includes illegal re-letting and idle occupation, the Chinese government issued a circular recently, threatening to recall the coveted welfare housing from improper hands.
The nationwide welfare project aims to provide affordable housing to low-income families in Chinese cities where skyrocketing real estate prices have for long fermented public discontent on social inequality. However, the antidote project is not without loopholes, said a newsletter of the recent circular which was jointly issued by Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD), Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Civil Affair.
Swindling applicants and tenants defaulting on rent, idly occupying unwarrantedly or illegally re-letting could be dispossessed of the low-rent houses offered by MOHURD and their rights to reapply could be suspended, the ministry said on its website.
The circular reiterates the government's tough stand against corruption and embezzlement among officials allocating welfare houses. It also calls for geared-up construction and maintenance of supporting facilities for low-rent housing projects.
