“租购同权”住房租赁新规落地：押金不得克扣 非居住空间禁改群租

Core Viewpoint - The newly published "Housing Rental Regulations" marks the first administrative regulation specifically governing the housing rental market in China, set to take effect on September 15, aiming to address long-standing issues such as deposit withholding, overcrowding, and false listings in the industry [1][3]. Group 1: Regulatory Framework - The "Housing Rental Regulations" establishes a comprehensive framework consisting of a general principle, three categories of norms, and regulatory responsibilities, which includes encouraging the activation of existing properties for rental housing supply [1][2]. - The regulations specify that rental properties must meet safety and health standards, and non-residential spaces cannot be rented out for living purposes, with limits on the number of tenants and minimum living space per person [2]. Group 2: Market Impact - The implementation of the regulations is expected to significantly curb existing issues in the housing rental market, such as false listings and rent inflation, by imposing strict prohibitions on misleading information and requiring source management for listings [3]. - The rental population in China has reached nearly 260 million, with a notable increase in the proportion of renters aged 35 and above, indicating a shift towards higher quality rental demands [3]. Group 3: Challenges Ahead - The new regulations face challenges in enforcement due to the diverse and dispersed nature of rental market participants, making comprehensive supervision difficult, especially for individual landlords and small rental enterprises [4]. - Compliance costs for rental companies and agencies are expected to rise due to the new requirements, which may lead to increased operational costs and management difficulties, potentially accelerating industry consolidation [4].