Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, July 21, Premier Li Qiang recently signed a State Council order to promulgate the Housing Rental Regulations (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"), which will come into effect on September 15, 2025.

The Regulations aim to standardize housing rental activities, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of parties to housing rental activities, stabilize housing rental relations, promote the high-quality development of the housing rental market, and promote the accelerated establishment of a housing system that combines rental and purchase. The Regulations have 7 chapters and 50 articles, mainly stipulate the following contents.

First, clarify the overall requirements. It is emphasized that the development of the housing rental market should implement the line, principles, policies, decisions and deployments of the Party and the country, adhere to the combination of market dominance and government guidance, encourage the increase in the supply of rental housing through multiple channels, and cultivate market-oriented and professional housing rental enterprises.

The second is to standardize rental and leasing activities. It is stipulated that the housing used for rent shall comply with laws, regulations, rules and mandatory standards in construction, fire protection, etc., and shall not endanger personal safety and health, and non-residential space shall not be rented out separately for residence; the lessor and the lessor shall sign a housing rental contract in real name, and the conduct norms that the lessor and the lessor shall abide by.

The third is to regulate the behavior of housing rental companies. It is stipulated that housing rental companies should publish true, accurate and complete housing information, establish housing rental files, and improve internal management systems; those engaged in sublease operations shall establish housing rental funds supervision accounts in accordance with regulations.

The fourth is to regulate the behavior of brokerage institutions. It is stipulated that before publishing housing information, housing rental brokerage agencies should check and record the identity information of the client and housing ownership information, check the housing supply on site and prepare a housing status description; clearly mark the price for paid service items.

Fifth, strengthen supervision and management. It is clear that local people's governments at or above the municipal level shall establish a housing rent monitoring mechanism and regularly publish rental level information; the real estate management departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall work with relevant departments and industry organizations to implement hierarchical and classified supervision of housing rental enterprises and their employees based on credit status; industry organizations shall strengthen industry self-discipline management.

Sixth, strict accountability. Strict legal responsibilities are stipulated for illegal acts by lessors, lessees, housing rental companies, housing rental brokerage agencies and staff of relevant government departments.