Ministry offers streamlined application procedures and low-cost apartments

Reforms to be rolled out in 2014 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Development aim to provide better access to affordable housing and more choices for those in need, according to a senior housing official.

The two main areas of reform are the combining of existing application procedures for affordable housing and the provision of government subsidies to help young couples and single people purchase property, said Qi Ji, the vice-minister of housing and urban-rural development, on Sunday.