From "Housing for All" to "Quality Housing for All," How Should We Build "Good Homes"?

For two consecutive years, promoting the construction of “good houses” has been included in government work reports, becoming an important approach to ensuring people’s livelihoods and high-quality development.

The 2025 government work report explicitly states, “Promote the construction of safe, comfortable, green, and smart ‘good houses’.” This year’s report proposes orderly promotion of the construction of safe, comfortable, green, and smart ‘good houses,’ along with implementing housing quality improvement projects and property service enhancement initiatives.

Industry experts are discussing policy implementation, demand adaptation, and supply upgrades to build consensus and offer suggestions for further advancing the construction of “good houses.”

Policy Updates Reflect Care for People’s Livelihood

In the past year, the construction of “good houses” has gained momentum. The new Residential Project Standards have been officially implemented, and 42 cities have piloted full lifecycle safety management systems for housing. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, a total of 106 complete community pilots have been completed, over 2,000 service facilities such as elderly care and childcare centers have been built or renovated, 26,000 parking spaces have been added, and public activity spaces and green areas totaling 713,000 square meters have been upgraded.

During policy implementation, local governments have tailored measures to their circumstances. For example, Beijing has launched “original demolition and reconstruction” projects to transform old houses into “good houses”; Fujian Province has accelerated the improvement of supporting policies in cities like Fuzhou and Xiamen, selecting some affordable housing projects as “good house” pilots; Shandong Province has provided financial and fiscal support for the construction and purchase of “good houses.”

From practical experiences across regions, the construction of “good houses” continues to emphasize the core requirements of “safety, comfort, green, and smart,” balancing progress with quality, and better meeting the diverse needs of different groups.

“With the continuous improvement of residents’ living standards in China, housing demand has shifted from ‘whether I have a house’ to ‘whether it is good,’” said Feng Yuan, chief engineer of China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute. Promoting the construction of “good houses” involves upgrading housing development goals from ‘housing security’ to ‘comfortable and livable housing,’ which is essential for fulfilling people’s aspirations for a better life and for creating new development models in real estate and promoting high-quality social development.

Follow Demand and Lead with Policies

How can we better keep pace with changing public needs and improve policy support while promoting the orderly construction of safe, comfortable, green, and smart “good houses,” along with housing quality improvement projects and property service enhancements?

“‘Good houses, good decoration, good materials’ has become a consensus. In the past, there was no choice in fine decoration, but now, ‘choose your house and decoration,’ with multiple options for consumers to select, enabling ‘move in tomorrow after decorating today,’” said Guo Xing Tian, chairman of Wanhua Ecological Industry Group. To truly realize the concept of “good houses” in people’s daily lives, supply-side, demand-side, and regulatory authorities must work together, focusing on consumer needs.

Feng Yuan believes that “good standards” are the first step toward building “good houses,” but current standards and supporting policies still have shortcomings. She notes that since the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development’s Residential Project Standards came into effect, cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Sichuan have issued standards or guidelines for “good houses,” but many regions lack localized implementation details, which somewhat hampers improvements in housing quality and addresses residents’ pain points.

She suggests establishing a quantifiable indicator system centered on housing “performance,” emphasizing core performance metrics related to safety, durability, health, comfort, green low-carbon features, and convenience. Additionally, building model experience homes and selecting exemplary “good house” projects for publicity can help educate the public on the meaning and value of “good houses.”

Focus on Whole-Chain Quality Improvement

Regarding how to optimize supply and enhance the quality of “good houses,” industry insiders have offered specific suggestions related to construction details and the entire residential chain.

“Currently, China is at a critical stage of promoting green, low-carbon transformation and expanding domestic demand. In old community renovations and urban renewal, we focus on promoting green, smart, and healthy buildings. Windows and doors are key components for energy efficiency and are vital for improving residents’ living quality,” said Ni Haiqiong, president of Hebei Aorun Shunda Group. She recommends including energy-efficient windows and doors in the subsidy programs for ‘old-for-new’ renovations and increasing renovation subsidies to meet residents’ higher demands for housing functions and quality.

Zhong Zheng, vice president of Midea Group, found through research that consumer demands for “good houses” have shifted from “fully equipped hardware” to “smart experience” and “healthy living.” However, issues such as incompatible smart devices across brands and high premiums for green appliances restrict demand release.

“Building ‘good houses’ requires industry chain collaboration. Home appliance companies, real estate developers, and tech firms should break down ecosystem barriers,” Zhong Zheng suggested. He advocates further implementation of national standards for smart homes, increased subsidies for green appliances, and creating integrated scenarios involving housing, appliances, and vehicles, making smart and green features standard in “good houses.”

Experts point out that constructing “good houses” is a systematic project requiring joint efforts from government, enterprises, and society. Based on clear policy guidance, companies should uphold quality standards, increase the use of green building materials and smart technologies, and improve construction and property services. Society should build consensus and work together to maintain a healthy living environment, ensuring that the development of “good houses” truly benefits people’s livelihoods.