Moving in

He Jing, an official with the local publicity department, confirmed to the Global Times yesterday that residents with an urban hukou, or household registration, will have to pay to move into the new apartments, but added that the amount has not been finalized and a moving in schedule has not been drawn up.

He added that they are charging for the new homes in order to placate rural residents, who are not eligible to buy the new homes and also receive less government housing subsidy. The subsidy for rural residents is between 16,000 and 19,000 yuan ($2,386 and $2,833), while for urban residents it is 30,000 yuan ($4,474).

"If we do not charge them, the rural residents, who get less subsidies, will feel it is more unfair," he said.

Mu Yalong, a student, said his family cannot move into a new house because they do not have an urban hukou nor did they own property in the old county seat's urban area.

Some villagers who have purchased a new house complained that they have become "mortgage slaves."

Tang Hongying, a 34-year-old farmer from Chenshan village, said the location of her old house is on a geological disaster black spot. She has purchased a new house in Leigu township, but has only been given 16,000 yuan ($2,386) in housing subsidies.

"We have no other choice but to borrow money from banks," she said.

He, the official, said the government is cautious when distributing houses as any missteps could lead to chaos.