Police authorities in Beijing have sparked heated debate by
banning homeowners from renting their properties to people with
"irregular lifestyles", including those who return home late at
night.
In an order issued recently, police warned homeowners to avoid
renting to any of five groups of people.
Guan Xihuan, an official from the population administration
division of the Beijing municipal public security bureau, said the
groups cover people who have no legal identification documents;
those who conduct illegal religious activities; people running
illegal commercial operations; those who handle or deal in
dangerous goods; and people who keep unsociable hours and are
suspected of wrongdoing.
"Our aim is to strengthen the administration of the leasing
market to safeguard public security and maintain social order,"
Guan said.
But the suggestion that owners should not rent to those who keep
unsociable hours has sparked the most debate.
"This will not address crime but cause chaos in the rental
market," Wu Ge, a director at a law firm, said.
"This will result in the systematic discrimination of migrants
who often cannot get jobs with regular hours. And it is unfair for
those who cannot afford to buy a house in Beijing," he said.
Another concern is that the rules will be very difficult to
implement.
"Homeowners sign contracts with whoever can provide the right
documents and pay the rent," Wu said. But they have no idea if the
documentation is false or not. And it is impossible for owners to
check their houses every day, he said.
Jin Yusong, the vice-general manager of letting agent Beijing
Lianjia, agreed.
"We have thousands of clients and it is impossible to check what
time they go home at night or what they do inside the house. This
is ridiculous," he said.
Zhang Jin works for a small barber's shop in downtown Beijing
and rents a flat with friends. She usually returns home late at
night.
"I can't even dream of being able to afford to buy a flat in
Beijing because of the sky-high prices. I do not know where I shall
go," she said.
But Guan said the regulation was designed to counter the crime
peak that corresponds with the mid-autumn festival.
"What we are doing is reminding homeowners about the potential
dangers in house renting. It is for their own good," he said.
(China Daily September 7, 2007)