Ministry urges offer of more rental homes

China's housing authorities said cities with net population inflows need to accelerate the development of rental housing projects, including encouraging cities to increase land supplies for residential rental projects.

According to a circular issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the authorities have piloted longstay rental programs in 12 cities - Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Wuhan, Chengdu, Shenyang, Hefei, Zhengzhou, Foshan and Zhaoqing.

These cities will pilot multiple-channel housing offerings to residents who do not buy their own homes, including university graduates, migrants and relocated staff, said the notice released on the ministry's website on Thursday.