Rental demand opens door for more players

Banks, internet giants, property developers eye growth from long-term leasing

Real estate developers, finance institutions and internet giants are stepping into China's booming long-term rental market as demand surges, business insiders said.

With the market volume expected to increase to 5 trillion yuan ($797 billion) by 2030, the projected growth has attracted a number of players from outside the real estate industry, according to Beijing-based 5i5j Group, one of the country's major real estate intermediary agencies.