The Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development recently announced it would launch a special pilot housing program for the so-called new Beijingers.

The term new Beijingers refers to those who do not have a Beijing hukou (household registration) but are stably employed in the city. According to the commission, the pilot program plans to allocate 30 percent of public rental housing to these new Beijingers. In the future there will be a special long-term mechanism for housing new Beijingers.

According to the commission, 30 percent of the 300 public rental housing units in Chaoyang district and 100 public rental housing units in Daxing district will be allotted to new Beijingers who qualify to purchase housing in the capital. No less than 30 percent of the 780 units in Changping district will be allotted to these households, as well. Those new Beijingers who work in the same district as the housing units will have priority. Experts said the policy aims to solve the housing difficulties faced by new Beijingers and will help cool the housing market.