China's housing reform is progressing smoothly, with 24 provinces and autonomous regions as well as 35 large and medium-sized cities releasing detailed plans, according to the Ministry of Construction.

The ministry source said that provinces such as Jiangsu, Hebei and Hunan have completed a survey of housing conditions, and other provinces have announced regulations for selling houses.

According to the housing plan released in August, China will stop allocating houses as a form of welfare and new houses and older public-owned housing will be sold rather than rented.

Government employees will have to buy their houses with public housing funds and loans. People living in poverty can qualify for low-income housing offered by the government.

People without housing or living in sub-standard housing can apply for housing subsidies based on their length of employment prior to the establishment of the public housing fund system.

The plan also stipulated that the Chinese government will gradually raise rents on the present public-owned apartments, while families in extreme poverty, even those receiving subsidies, are eligible for exemptions or rent reduction.