NEW PROBLEMS IN CHINA’S HOUSING LEGISLATION AND ITS SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Since China’s reform and opening up in 1978, the housing system in China had undergone two major reforms; currently, the third major reform (also called the second housing revolution) has started. This article analyzes the historical course of the reforms, investigates the gains and losses of the reforms, seeks the directions for deepening the reform of housing system, and in turn, establishes the patterns of housing construction and consumption in accordance with Chinese actual conditions. The report of the 17th National People’s Congress pointed out that “housing guarantee” is a heavy task “to ensure and improve people’s living standard, to promote social equity and justice, and to build a harmonious society.” The Real Right Law of China plays a positive role to protect housing rights, but it only gives limited protection of housing right. Meanwhile, the Real Right Law itself introduces new problems to the housing security. In order to protect housing rights and achieve the objective of “housing guarantee,” China needs to further improve the housing system and advance the housing legislation. The main approaches in this article include: (a) carrying out the “three-three housing policies,” there are basically three types of housing systems, three means of land provision, and three teams involved; (b) employing the bidding method of “four decisions and two biddings” for land supply, it means that the government should take the responsibility to decide land prices, construction standards, tax rates and profit rate; and the bidder is determined by scoring each of the bidders as for his house price bidding and building program bidding; (c) establishing the system of habitation right in China’s Housing Law and maximizing its function of social security; and (d) further improving relevant regulations in the proposed housing act or housing security law and paying attention to the establishment and implementation of supporting measures.