From Chinese Press

Seeking roof above their head

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-02-22 07:57

House rents in first-tier cities have increased sharply. Macroeconomic statistics for January show that the increase was about 7.1 percent, far higher than that of many other commodities, says an article in Qilu Evening New. Excerpts:

To rent a house in a first-tier city, a person would have to dish out several thousand yuan a month, which is too high for most people to afford. Rents have risen in some second-tier cities, too, making the lives of fresh college graduates and migrant workers even more difficult. Such people are more disadvantaged and need more help from the government.

Rents have risen to such an extent that many young people prefer to buy a house instead, for which they have to borrow money and pay back in higher installments.

The government has focused a lot on housing policies but less on those for house rents. The market alone cannot solve the high house rent problem. Since high rents concern people's livelihood, the government can solve the problem only by improving social security policies.

Public rental housing, earmarked for low-income families, cost about 20 percent less than the market rate. But the availability of such low-rent houses in cities is quite limited.

The government has made efforts to earmark more low-rent houses, but the public rental housing policy is still found wanting in providing housing security, coverage of low-income people and rents.

The fact remains that the number of people who cannot afford to rent a house is rising and unfortunately, housing security policies cannot ensure that all people get a decent place to live.

(China Daily 02/22/2011 page9)