Renovation of Prefabricated Panel Houses in Chongqing

Currently, there is no unified large-scale demolition plan for prefabricated panel houses across Chongqing. Only in Qianjiang District is there a project for the demolition and reconstruction of some prefabricated panel houses. Moreover, since 2023, the state has prohibited the construction, renovation, and expansion of buildings such as prefabricated panel houses that do not comply with current standards.

I. Renovation Project in Qianjiang District
Qianjiang District has implemented the first phase of the urban dilapidated houses, prefabricated panel houses, and earthquake-prone area house renovation, hazard elimination, and reinforcement project. It mainly focuses on the demolition and reconstruction of prefabricated panel houses owned by the government, covering an area of approximately 11,000 square meters, while also renovating the environment in the area covering about 5,620 square meters. The estimated total investment for the project is 47.8794 million yuan, with a construction period of 24 months. This project is a local hazard elimination and reinforcement project aimed at eliminating safety hazards and improving the living environment, but it has not been extended to the entire city.

II. National and Chongqing Municipal Policy Regulations
In 2023, relevant departments in China issued new regulations explicitly prohibiting the construction, renovation, and expansion of buildings such as prefabricated panel houses that do not comply with current standards within urban construction land areas. This policy restricts the increase in the number of prefabricated panel houses at the source but does not directly involve the renovation or demolition of existing houses. The Chongqing Housing and Urban-Rural Development Committee has also clearly stated that the rumor that 'prefabricated panel houses in Chongqing will face large-scale demolition in 2024' is false information. According to the Regulations on the Expropriation of Houses on State-owned Land and Compensation, house expropriation must comply with situations in the public interest (such as the construction of transportation, energy, and education infrastructure), and 'the house being a prefabricated panel structure' itself does not fall within the scope of the public interest. Therefore, Chongqing has not currently formulated a unified plan or scheme for the expropriation of prefabricated panel houses.

III. Renovation Directions and Suggestions
For existing prefabricated panel houses, renovation directions may include local reinforcement, environmental improvement, or functional enhancement, rather than large-scale demolition. If a house has safety hazards, the owner can apply for a safety appraisal in accordance with the Regulations on the Safety Management of the Use of Urban Houses in Chongqing and take repair or reinforcement measures based on the appraisal results. In addition, policies encourage the improvement of living conditions through urban renewal and the renovation of old residential areas, but these must comply with the principle of the public interest and follow legal procedures.