Cai Yingbo

    GOVERNMENT housing subsidies to the city’s low-income families were increased by as much as 47 percent within the special economic zone (SEZ), and almost doubled outside the SEZ.

    Under the new standard released Sunday by the municipal bureau of land resources and housing management, the monthly housing subsidies for families in Luohu, Futian and Nanshan districts have been raised to 26.08 yuan (US$3.57) per square meter per person, up 34 percent, while subsidies for families in Yantian District have been raised by 47 percent to 17.65 yuan per square meter per person.

    Families in Longgang and Bao’an districts enjoy the largest increase, a rise of 96.6 percent from the monthly 6.4 yuan per square meter per person to 12.58 yuan.

    The subsidies will be given to eligible families in the form of cash to pay rent, said yesterday’s Daily Sunshine.

    According to the new standard, it will be more costly for families living in government-subsidized apartments in high rises, while rents for apartments in smaller buildings have been lowered.

    Rent for a high-rise apartment within the SEZ now costs 5.38 yuan per square meter per month, up from the previous 3.50 yuan, and that outside the SEZ is 5.04 yuan per square meter per month.

    Apartments in buildings of eight stories or less cost less to rent, at 2.74 yuan down from 3.5 yuan per square meter per month within the SEZ, and 2.46 yuan outside the SEZ, the Daily Sunshine said.

    The new standard became effective from Jan. 1, 2008, the report said.

    Meanwhile, the plan indicated that families living in low-rent apartments should move out first if they want to buy affordable housing.