The "Nightmare Scenario" For Beijing: 50 Million Chinese Apartments Are Empty
If you look at the figures, it's a serious issue, but one that still looks manageable.
The desired occupancy rate would be comparable to 14%, which we see in Taiwan or Japan, both places which have already urbanised.
So that translates to China having only 19 Million excess empty apartments rather than 50 Million.
Those 19 Million apartment would house roughly 60 Million people.
Given that China is still in the process of urbanisation, those 60 Million people can still be found in rural areas yet to urbanise.
The bigger issue is how prices are simply too high, because the purpose of housing is to be affordable living space, not an investment vehicle that keeps going up and up.
From that perspective, a property ownership tax really needs to be implemented.
That will force property owners to find paying occupants for their empty properties.
And it also provide local governments with a stable revenue stream for local services.
It should also help moderate housing construction so that the excess supply is gradually mopped up.