Notice on Issuing the "Guiding Opinions on the Development and Construction of High-Quality Residential Projects in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region"

To the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureaus of Each League and City, as well as the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureaus of Manzhouli City and Erlianhot City:
 

To meet the rigid and improving housing needs of the general public, we encourage real estate enterprises to build high-quality residential projects that truly satisfy the people, thereby supporting the transformation and upgrading of the region’s real estate industry and fostering its high-quality development. We are now issuing the "Guiding Opinions on the Development and Construction of High-Quality Residential Projects in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region," accompanied by the "Technical Guidelines for High-Quality Residential Construction in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region." Please implement these guidelines according to local conditions. Should you encounter any challenges during your work, please provide timely feedback, and our department will make adjustments as appropriate.

Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development

September 29, 2024

Guiding Opinions on the Development and Construction of High-Quality Residential Projects in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
 

Building high-quality residential housing is a vital step to address the new stage of development in the region's real estate market—transitioning from overall supply shortages to structurally inadequate supply. It reflects our commitment to fully implementing the new development philosophy, actively fostering a new development paradigm, and proactively tackling emerging challenges while addressing pressing issues. To put into practice the goals outlined at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee—namely, "accelerating the establishment of a new model for real estate development"—as well as the requirements set forth in the "Implementation Plan of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development to Support High-Quality Development of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction in Inner Mongolia," we are now proposing the following guiding principles to strive toward constructing high-quality homes that truly satisfy the people.

I. General Requirements

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will comprehensively implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee. Upholding the people-centered development philosophy and taking the forging of a strong sense of community among the Chinese nation as the main thread, we will address both the rigid and improving housing needs of the public. To this end, we will refine policy measures covering high-quality residential planning, design, construction, acceptance, and maintenance, while encouraging real estate enterprises to focus on enhancing housing quality and living environments. By adopting innovative materials, cutting-edge technologies, and advanced construction methods, we aim to build high-standard homes that are safe and durable, healthy and comfortable, environmentally friendly and low-carbon, and smart and convenient.

II. Key Tasks

(1) Strengthen quality control measures. Before the commencement of construction projects, general contractors shall, based on the project’s specific conditions and current quality standards, submit a "High-Quality Residential Housing Quality Control and Prevention Plan" to real estate developers and the local housing and urban-rural development authorities’ quality and safety supervision agencies. This plan should clearly outline preventive measures for common quality issues such as leakage, hollow sounds, cracking, poor sound insulation, pipe blockages, inadequate sealing, and backflow odors from ventilation ducts. Real estate developers are required to reasonably determine construction schedules and costs, establish a robust project quality management system, promptly organize竣工验收 (completion acceptance), and fully implement the "Residential Quality Certificate," "Residential Quality Guarantee," and "Residential Quality Usage Manual." They must also set up systems for quality follow-up visits and complaint handling. Meanwhile, design firms should meticulously prepare high-quality residential project design guidelines, ensuring that design plays a critical technical role throughout the entire construction process. Additionally, they should develop detailed guidance documents addressing key technical challenges in the design and construction phases, focusing on issues like material durability, moisture and water resistance, soundproofing, noise reduction, and energy efficiency. Design firms should actively participate in researching and compiling technical promotion catalogs. As for supervisory units, they bear the responsibility of overseeing the quality of building materials and construction techniques, rigorously enforcing procedures such as witnessed sampling and re-inspection upon material arrival at the site, thereby ensuring that all materials and construction practices comply with relevant codes, standards, and design specifications. Finally, housing and urban-rural development departments across various leagues and cities must establish comprehensive quality, safety, and operation & maintenance oversight mechanisms tailored specifically for high-quality residential projects, continuously enhancing the standardization and precision of their supervision over construction activities.

(2) Eliminate safety risks and hazards. Strictly enforce the safety responsibilities of all parties involved in construction, thoroughly addressing potential safety hazards during the planning and design phases—including seismic resistance ratings, structural component load capacities, safe evacuation routes, fire detection and alarm systems, surveillance systems, access control systems, gas leak detection and alarms, and electrical safety for charging stations. Indoor doors that lack fire protection requirements and may interfere with each other when opened outward should be designed as inward-opening doors, ensuring adequate clearance for full operation. Underground parking entrances and exits must be equipped with canopies and water barriers, along with organized drainage systems. Additionally, the flooring in underground parking areas should feature wear-resistant, non-slip, and dust-free materials. External insulation materials used must meet or exceed current fire performance standards, and firebreaks should be installed according to established regulations. Outdoor air-conditioner unit placements must accommodate necessary installation and maintenance spaces while harmonizing with the building’s overall architectural design; moreover, the operation of outdoor air-conditioning units should not disturb neighboring residences. Within the residential community, the layout of water pressurization systems, piping networks, and substations should facilitate easy access for maintenance and repairs. Kitchen areas must include floor drains capable of efficiently managing wastewater. Finally, electric vehicle charging facilities should be specifically designed, and underground parking spaces designated for EVs must be outfitted with appropriate fire protection equipment.

(3) Enhance residential functionality. High-quality residential designs should fully and accurately reflect the people-centered development philosophy, aligning with evolving housing needs, demographic shifts, and lifestyle trends. By optimizing the floor area ratio to effectively boost the usable floor space, these designs should thoughtfully integrate living, entertainment, and bathroom areas while clearly separating quiet zones from active ones, ensuring dry-wet separation, clean-contaminated waste segregation, and overall comfort and livability. Additionally, they should incorporate storage spaces or flexible, adaptable areas. Moreover, indoor spaces and floor plans should be optimized to maximize daylight exposure. All utility lines should ideally be concentrated within ceiling cavities, with access points conveniently located for maintenance purposes. Advanced technologies such as fresh-air air conditioning units, whole-house water purification systems, direct-piped drinking water networks covering every area, smart home control systems, fire-resistant smoke and temperature sensors, integrated kitchen and bathroom solutions, modular partition walls, and separate plumbing layouts should be employed. In this context, the structural ceiling height of residential units must be no less than 3.2 meters. Finally, dedicated vertical shafts should be provided separately for kitchens and bathrooms, equipped with mechanical ventilation systems—or designed to accommodate future installation of such systems. Each residential unit served by an elevator must include at least one elevator capable of accommodating stretchers, ensuring that entryways, hallways, and other areas connecting directly to elevator lobbies meet the necessary requirements for stretcher maneuverability and smooth access.

(Four) Enhance supporting facilities. High-quality residential communities should be equipped with elderly care service facilities at a standard of no less than 20 square meters of floor space per 100 households. Additionally, barrier-free facilities must be constructed in accordance with relevant engineering standards for accessible infrastructure. It is recommended to include fixed areas for fitness activities, offices for the owners' committee, childcare and elderly care centers, community Party building activity rooms, and community canteens—providing a wide range of services that foster a vibrant atmosphere of shared living, learning, collaboration, and enjoyment. Moreover, the high-quality residential environment should incorporate well-planned public spaces designed for residents to relax or engage in physical activities, with centralized green areas accounting for at least 10% of the total residential land area. To ensure safe and efficient traffic flow, pedestrian and vehicular zones should be clearly separated. Parking spaces are encouraged to meet a ratio of no less than 1:1.5, with each space measuring at least 6 meters by 3 meters. Finally, provisions should be made—or charging stations installed—to accommodate electric vehicles.

(5) Promote green and low-carbon technologies. The construction of high-quality residential buildings should integrate green and low-carbon principles, utilizing new building materials that are healthy, environmentally friendly, sustainable, and recyclable. Throughout the entire process—ranging from project planning and design to construction drawing reviews, actual construction, completion acceptance, operation, and maintenance—buildings must fully comply with green building standards at or above the one-star level. Additionally, projects that have already been completed and accepted are encouraged to apply for and obtain the corresponding star-rated green building certification. Residential exterior wall insulation should prioritize the use of integrated thermal insulation technology. Solar photovoltaic or solar thermal systems should be installed. Residential buildings equipped with public corridors and internal courtyards must implement effective drainage and anti-icing measures. Additionally, heating channels should be pre-installed in the building’s common indoor spaces. In high-quality residential communities, underground areas such as basements, underground parking lots, elevator lobbies, and equipment maintenance rooms should achieve full coverage of communication signals. Community roads and parking spaces should utilize permeable concrete or paving tiles, while exterior facade materials should be high-quality options that are dirt-resistant, UV-stable, and easy to clean. The use of green-certified building materials is strongly encouraged.

(6) Implement a menu-based, fully-fitted housing model. Encourage high-quality residential interiors to adopt a "menu-style" selection system for both design styles and building materials, allowing buyers to tailor their homes according to personalized preferences and functional needs. Explore customized, turnkey interior delivery models to prevent secondary renovations from damaging the structural integrity, functionality, or materials of the home, thereby reducing environmental pollution and minimizing material waste. Public areas within residential units should also be delivered fully fitted, ensuring consistent decoration standards across all common spaces in the same residential community. For homes delivered under this "menu-style" fully-fitted model, the sales contract for commercial properties must clearly specify the brands and models of all装修 materials, equipment specifications, total装修 costs, and the expected outcomes after completion. Importantly, the装修 costs will be included directly in the purchase price, rather than being factored into the base amount used for calculating public area maintenance fees.

(7) Enhance the智能化 level of residential buildings. From the very beginning of the design process, integrate cutting-edge technological advancements in architecture and living—such as 5G, IoT, big data, artificial intelligence, and BIM technologies—into residential design. By leveraging these next-generation IT innovations through continuous technological upgrades, we can deliver unparalleled convenience to residents. Supported by modern smart technologies, we’ll further refine and expand smart home features, including remote control systems, intelligent security and access management, automated monitoring and alerting mechanisms, and emergency call services. Tailored to meet the unique lifestyle habits and specific needs of diverse groups—such as seniors, young adults, and children—we’ll create scenario-based settings that significantly boost living comfort. With a clear focus on building high-quality residential spaces, we’ll establish an expert database for the housing and construction system dedicated to premium housing solutions. Additionally, we’ll actively encourage universities, research institutions, industry associations, and relevant enterprises to take the lead in developing and promoting innovative smart home devices.

(8) Promote the ready-to-move-in housing sales model. Addressing prominent issues associated with the current pre-sale system—such as delayed delivery, construction stoppages leading to unfinished projects, and discrepancies between advertised and actual properties—we will safeguard market fairness and protect the legitimate interests of homebuyers. Gradually roll out the ready-to-move-in sales approach by first launching pilot programs in Hohhot City, Tongliao City, Ordos City, Ulanqab City, and Hinggan League. Other leagues and cities may, based on their specific circumstances, independently decide whether to adopt the ready-to-move-in model for high-quality residential projects. For high-end residential projects that opt not to use the ready-to-move-in model, while strengthening oversight of pre-sale funds, we will, in principle, progressively raise pre-sale requirements each year—eventually aligning them with the milestone of completing the main structural topping-out of the project.

(9) Standardize checklist-based acceptance procedures. Strictly implement the "inspect before accepting" system to ensure homebuyers' rights to information about their purchased residences and their ability to oversee construction quality. Enterprises should provide buyers with a detailed inspection checklist, clearly outlining key information that buyers need to know—such as acceptance criteria, usage guidelines, maintenance instructions, equipment specifications, and material details. Additionally, companies with the necessary resources are encouraged to conduct joint inspections covering aspects like structural integrity, functionality, building materials, and installed equipment, ultimately obtaining essential documents including the "Residential Quality Assurance Certificate," "Residential Usage Manual," "Certificate of Comprehensive Completion Acceptance for Real Estate Development Projects," and the "Completion Acceptance Filing Form." This approach will gradually enable property handover accompanied by the issuance of the certificate of ownership.

(10) Improve the housing warranty and inspection system. Further refine the engineering quality and safety supervision mechanism, and encourage the proactive implementation of regular housing inspections through market-oriented approaches. For parts, building materials, and equipment covered by contractual quality warranty agreements, key information affecting usability—such as repair deadlines and standards—should be clearly specified in the contract. Moreover, the quality warranty periods and standards for major building materials and equipment used in high-quality residential construction should not fall below the current regional requirements for quality warranties, and these standards should gradually align with the lifespan of the building structure itself. Real estate developers are required to establish mechanisms for quality follow-up visits and complaint handling, conducting return visits to homebuyers within six months before the end of the warranty period to assess how the homes are being used. Additionally, real estate developers must promptly address any quality issues that arise during the warranty coverage and timeframe. High-quality residential projects may also adopt a regular inspection system, accompanied by the creation of unique QR codes for easy access and verification. Real estate developers (or property service companies) are responsible for promptly reporting and addressing any problems or potential risks identified during these inspections.

(11) Enhance the quality of property services. Encourage property service enterprises to actively expand their service scope, tap into additional service resources, and broaden service offerings. Actively explore new models such as "property services + lifestyle services," addressing residents' evolving needs through innovative approaches like healthcare and eldercare integration, home-based elderly care, household cleaning and maintenance, residential property management, childcare services, and community dining programs. Furthermore, vigorously promote the smart operation, maintenance, safety management, and energy-saving initiatives within property services. Under the premise of maintaining high standards for property management and service quality, guide property service companies to effectively reduce energy consumption across various operations—through scientific management, technological upgrades, and behavioral guidance—thereby maximizing resource conservation and environmental protection. Finally, establish a robust evaluation system led by the neighborhood owners' committee, complemented by a mechanism for addressing negative feedback and removing underperforming providers, while ensuring that homeowners' associations fulfill their legal responsibilities and mediate property service disputes in a timely and effective manner.

III. Assurance Measures

(1) Strengthen organizational coordination. The Autonomous Region Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department will take the lead in organizing and implementing high-quality residential construction initiatives across the region. It will guide all leagues and cities to refine their own tailored plans and measures based on local conditions, aligning with the design, development, construction, and management standards for premium housing. A mechanism of "real estate-market linkage, city-specific strategies" will be established to gradually promote the principle of "high quality at competitive prices" in residential projects. Meanwhile, housing and urban-rural development departments in each league and city are encouraged to seize this new opportunity to build high-quality homes—actively collaborating with various departments and institutions to map out comprehensive strategies, attract and establish relevant industry and supply chains locally, and ultimately create more employment opportunities.

(II) Strengthen Incentive and Guidance. Starting from 2025, administrative offices of various leagues and cities where municipal governments are located may encourage and support social investment in the construction of high-quality residential projects. Projects certified by the housing and urban-rural development authorities of the respective leagues or cities as high-quality residences will be eligible for a moderate relaxation of the upper limit on sales registration prices. Banks and other financial institutions are encouraged to provide financial credit support to qualified high-quality residential real estate projects. Additionally, homebuyers who use housing provident fund loans to purchase such high-quality homes will receive support under the housing provident fund loan policies as stipulated by national and autonomous region regulations.

(III) Promote示范 Leadership. Launch pilot projects for high-quality residential construction, and based on the progress of these initiatives in various regions, organize a district-wide selection process to identify and recognize outstanding demonstration projects that enjoy high public satisfaction, generate significant social impact, and serve as exemplary models. Timely organize on-site observation sessions for these demonstration projects to showcase their achievements and amplify their leadership role. By supporting the development of these pilot and demonstration projects, we will facilitate the practical application and integration of cutting-edge technologies and innovative products—such as green building practices, prefabricated construction methods, BIM technology, fully-fitted homes, eco-friendly building materials, and smart equipment and facilities—into real-world applications.

(Four) Intensify promotional efforts. Increase publicity through initiatives such as organizing district-wide selections for high-quality residential demonstration projects and conducting pilot project evaluations. While firmly upholding the central theme of strengthening the sense of community among the Chinese nation, enhance management over the approval process for naming residential communities and buildings. Actively promote advanced experiences and innovative practices in the design, construction, delivery, operation, and maintenance of high-quality housing, thereby boosting societal, market, corporate, and public awareness, attention, and engagement with premium residential developments. Encourage real estate developers to step up their efforts in building high-quality housing projects that deliver superior quality, enhanced performance, aesthetically pleasing environments, and lower energy consumption—ultimately creating green, low-carbon, livable, and smart homes that set new benchmarks for sustainable living.