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BIZCHINA / Biz Media Digest
Construction: Disadvantages of house-renting in China
(crienglish.com)
Updated: 2007-09-15 16:55
In face of sky-rocketing housing prices, most Chinese people still can't
give up their hopes for owning their own homes. Some government officials
are suggesting that people can also rent instead buy a house, as many
people in the developed countries do.
Owning a stable home and a steady job are the essentials for the Chinese
people who are deeply rooted in agrarian culture. But nowadays, with
convenient transportation, house-renting should have been a modern
convenience. But the reality in China is different.
Wang Jianlin and his wife are from Hebei Province and run a newspaper
booth in Beijing. Their 5-year old daughter goes to a kindergarten close
by. Today, when Hukou, the certificate of one's officially-registered
place, is still heavily related to social benefits one can enjoy, it is a
blessing for such a migrant family to find a proper school for their
child.
"It stands to reason that the rent should be inversely related to the
length of the lease. But we rented for 3 years and the rent kept rising.
When we moved in, it was poorly furnished and all the electric appliances
were almost broken."
Li Zhuo is an architect working in Beijing. He got married and bought the
family's first house by mortgage last year. Before they moved into their
own dwelling, the couple rented 4 different apartments since they began 3
years ago.
"Mostly, what concerned me was the housing condition. The sewage systems,
especially toilets, were always the weakest point in the buildings. Many
people had bad hygienic habits. I couldn't stand the mess left in the
house I was going to rent. And the house structure was always
unsatisfactory. So we had no choice but to buy our own house."
Zhang Suhua, a filmmaker, has been working as a freelancer in Beijing for
3 years. In her words, she has been toughened during the process of
constantly having to move.
"My biggest headache is about renting sources. Now renting agencies have
monopolized all information and blocked landlords from tenants.
Furthermore, the information provided by agencies to tenants is sometimes
deceiving. "
Zuo Yi is in his late 70s. Owing to his health conditions, he has been
considering living part of every year in Hainan. After a one-year trial
period of renting a house there, he finally decided to buy a house
instead, also as an asset for his children in the long term.
"The rent is subject to random changes. What's more, you have to think
about the facilities in the neighborhood. The shopping markets,
transportation, post office and others, are all factors affecting your
living standard. I'd better settle down and adapt myself to a fixed
environment."
The Chinese people now travel more and more for business or for pleasure.
Huge market potential in house rentals has been proven by the emergence
of innumerable renting agencies. It is true that every country has
housing problems but a well-regulated and easy-to-handle residential
rental market is not impossible and is also necessary.
(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
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