After a series of measures designed to slow down China's booming
property market, seven government departments took further action
on Wednesday by issuing proposals for stabilizing soaring
residential property prices.
The proposals were jointly issued by the Ministry of
Construction, the State Development and Reform Commission, the
Ministry of Finance, the Ministry
of Land and Resources, People's Bank of China,
the State Administration of Taxation, and the China Banking Regulatory
Commission.
China's average housing prices rose by 14.4 percent in 2004. In
the first quarter of 2005, housing prices rose by 12.5 percent
year-on-year.
In east China's Shanghai Municipality, which has one of the
highest housing prices in China, average prices in urban and
suburban regions have exceeded 10,000 yuan (US$1207.7) per square
meter.
Experts say improper supply structures of commercial housing and
disordered markets contribute to the rising prices.
Zheng Jingping, spokesman of the National Bureau of Statistics,
said recently that the proportion of affordable housing had reduced
from 6.1 percent in 2003 to 4.6 percent in 2004.
To ensure an adequate supply of small to medium-sized properties
at low to mid-priced levels, the proposals demand that local real
estate administrative departments obtain the necessary information
from developers before they are permitted to begin
development.
The proposals recommend reducing construction costs, and
restricting developers' profits to three percent.
The proposals also recommend curbing land speculation. Owners of
land undeveloped one year after the date of purchase will be
charged a "land idling" fee. Developers who fail to develop their
land for two years or more after purchase will have their
development rights revoked.
Experts say that this policy will be helpful in cracking down on
land "hoarding", a practice that has become increasingly popular of
late. Land owners, whether private companies or individuals, leave
their land undeveloped, waiting for further prices increases in
property prices so as to sell at a profit.
As of June 1, 2005, owners of residential property who opt to
sell after having lived in the property for less than two years -
compared with one year under current taxation policies - will be
subject to a business tax, which is the difference between the sale
and purchase price.
Experts say this measure should prove useful in curbing
speculation in the residential property market by increasing the
trading costs to speculators.
Other measures proposed include a requirement that purchases be
made under the buyer's real name, and prohibiting advanced sales in
uncompleted projects.
(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2005)