Controversial Law Forces Rich Beijingers to Share Space with Poorer Neighbors

A controversial housing policy has many Beijing homeowners up in arms. The policy, which is now being strictly enforced, states that developers can no longer build walls or fences which separate different areas of communities, South China Morning Post reports.

Any physical partition which separates the "rich" and "poor" areas of communities must now be torn down. However, many wealthier homeowners are not happy about having to share their space and facilities with their less wealthy neighbors.

In Beijing, the law requires land developers to allot part of the land to build affordable housing for the city’s poorer residents. Developers who allot the biggest area to creating affordable housing typically win the bids for the land.

However, now that the housing policy is being so strictly enforced, developers will not be issued pre-sale permits if they construct any sort of barrier within a single community.

Last month, Jade Mansion – a community located in western Beijing – was forced to remove an iron fence, which separated the expensive houses from the subsidized homes. Those living in the subsidized housing are now able to use the grounds and facilities (including exercise equipment) of the wealthy residents.

However, the wealthy residents of Jade Mansion are not happy about having to share their facilities, which they pay a premium for.

“We pay eight to RMB9 per square meter per month as a property management fee, while they [the poorer residents] pay RMB3. How can it be fair that we all get to use the same facilities?” one resident said.

The less affluent residents of Jade Mansion argue that the facilities on their side of the fence are less than adequate and not what was advertised by the land developer.

“With the partition, the green part of our side is less than 30 percent of what was previously promised by the developer, while the fitness and child play facilities are all on the other side,” one resident said. “We hope the authorities will heed the grievances of our underclass.”

Now that the housing policy is being adhered to, the same scenario is unfolding in communities around the city.

[Image via South China Morning Post]