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Beijing restricts group housing rentals

BEIJING'S housing watchdog today announced tougher house rental rules that mandate that each room in an apartment should accommodate no more than two tenants in effort to crack down on rampant group rentals.
The new rules specify that tenants should have a minimum per-capita living space of at least five square meters. Also, landlords are prohibited from subdividing apartments into smaller rooms and renting them out in order to earn more rental income. The kitchen, bathroom, balcony and basement can't be leased for living purposes, according to the new rules.
If landlords are found to be involved in severe violations, they will be fined from 5,000 yuan (US$815) to 30,000 yuan, local housing management authorities said.
In a recent report, 25 people were found living in an 80-square-meter apartment in Beijing. Two bedrooms and a living room were stacked with bunk beds. Each tenant was reported to be paying 800 yuan per month.
The real estate agency earned a total of 20,000 yuan per month but gave only 8,000 yuan to the apartment owner.
Group rentals are widespread in many mainland big cities where housing costs are rising alongside an expansion of the migrant population.
The practice raises security, fire hazard and health risks, but these concerns haven't kept migrant workers and young college graduates from avoiding such arrangements. The problem is propagated by some landlords and housing agents who seek more money.



 

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