Beijing moves to tighten rules on home requisitions

The State Council has released a draft regulation on home requisitions and redevelopment compensation for wider consultation in a landmark move to address growing public discontent over forced evictions.

If passed after the consultation period, which will last until February 12, the new regulation will replace the controversial housing demolition regulation introduced in 2001, which has been widely criticised for encouraging the excessive use of forced evictions.

The draft regulation says regional governments should only demolish housing if it was in the public interest and developers would not be allowed to use excessive measures such as cutting off electricity or water supplies to homes to press ahead with evictions.

Under the new regulation, county level and above governments can give the go-ahead to redevelopment projects if at least 90 per cent of homeowners agree. And developers must obtain two thirds of the yes vote from prospective evictees before any compensation package could go to local governments above the county levels for approval.

Peking University law professor Shen Kui said the clauses could be a bone of contention over the rights of the remaining 10 per cent of homeowners.

Still, academics like Shen hailed it as a big step forward in housing development legislation.