Public rental housing for those with housing difficulties

There is no fee to apply. You must submit documents to the local housing authority and provide written consent for them to verify the information you provide. If any documents are missing, they will inform you of what needs to be added at once. The waiting period for housing allocation is called the “waiting queue period,” which generally does not exceed five years.

Those who satisfy all three conditions are eligible to apply. First, they must have no housing locally or live in a space smaller than the legal minimum. Second, their income and assets must remain below the prescribed limits. Third, migrant workers must have maintained stable employment locally for the required length of time. Specific criteria are determined and published by housing authorities in municipalities and counties. Individuals placed on the waiting list are referred to as “waiting queue candidates,” and housing authorities are obligated to assign them a dwelling within the waiting queue period. (This is a nationwide framework; exact eligibility rules and rental rates are set locally, effective since 2012.)

住房和城乡建设部 (2012). 公共租赁住房管理办法（住房和城乡建设部令第 11 号，第七、八、十条）. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2012/content_2226147.htm

While this is a long-term solution that won’t provide immediate relief, signing up costs nothing, and the earlier you apply, the sooner you may be called. Various other types of subsidized housing also exist locally, each with its own rules; please consult your local housing authority’s official website for details.