Renovation of Prefabricated Panel Structure Houses

The renovation of prefabricated panel structure houses should be carried out according to the specific conditions of the houses and policy requirements, mainly divided into two categories: renovation to improve quality and policy-driven demolition and renovation.

Renovation to Improve Quality

For some prefabricated panel structure houses, especially old rural ones, renovation can be used to enhance living quality. For example, renovate the main door to make it look more grand and improve the overall aesthetics of the house; renovate the exterior facade by using new decorative materials and design styles to give the house a fresh look; install better-quality and higher-performance doors and windows to improve sound insulation, heat insulation, and airtightness of the house; and create a rooftop garden to increase the green area of the house, improve the living environment, and provide residents with a space for leisure and entertainment.

Policy-Driven Demolition and Renovation

Starting from 2025, a new national policy will be introduced, providing an opportunity for the renovation of prefabricated panel houses. However, it will not involve comprehensive demolition but rather precisely target two types of high-risk houses for priority demolition and renovation.

• Grade D Dangerous Houses: These are houses with damaged main structures, such as those with foundation settlement exceeding 5 centimeters, cracks in load-bearing walls wider than 1 millimeter, or seismic resistance levels less than 70% of the current standards. These houses pose serious safety hazards and must be demolished and renovated.
• Prefabricated Panel Houses Built Before the 1980s: These houses have been built for a long time and are difficult to withstand natural disasters, such as buildings with seismic resistance levels less than 70% of the current standards or houses that are particularly vulnerable in floods. At the same time, houses that affect urban planning and are located within the planning areas of major infrastructure projects such as subways and elevated highways are also prioritized for demolition.

For the demolition of prefabricated panel houses, the government provides multiple compensation methods to meet the personalized needs of residents, including monetary compensation schemes that are not less than 110% of the market price of surrounding commercial houses; property rights exchange, with residential buildings in Handan being replaced at a ratio of 1:1.1 and homestead houses at a maximum ratio of 1:1.2, with a guaranteed minimum area of 30 square meters per person; and housing voucher resettlement systems. In addition, since 2022, China has implemented an old housing renovation policy, focusing on repair and renovation of prefabricated panel houses and only demolishing buildings that meet the criteria for dangerous houses.