Beijing eases previous ban on flats sold on commercial land
Beijing has bowed to pressure, lifting a ban on agents to sell commercial apartments, but homeowners fear the change introduced uncertainties that will deter further purchases
Beijing has lifted a ban prohibiting local property agencies from marketing and selling previously-owned apartments built on land zoned for commercial or office use, bowing to public pressure following weekend protests from homeowners.
The Housing and Urban-rural Development Commission issued a statement on Tuesday evening saying that apartments purchased before March 26 can be listed and sold via local property agencies.
The policy is an apparent softening of restrictions imposed in March which blocked the sale of new apartments built on plots that were originally acquired as commercial or office land.
Shortly after that policy was unveiled, officials demanded property agents take down listings for previously-owned homes built on commercial land, or so-called “commercial apartments”.
The Beijing city government’s concessionary move to back down from its heavy-handed approach is the first among 55 mainland cities that have rolled out about 160 new policies to strengthen curbs on frenetic purchases and skyrocketing property prices since last October.
It reflected the government’s wariness of the prevailing social undercurrents and a potential backlash in the months running up to an important party congress in the autumn.