JLL bets big on rental housing sector

What measures should be taken if the country wants to further open up to the outside world?

China is currently pushing some of the key factors in attracting foreign capital, such as opening up the financial market further and pledging to fully protect intellectual property. These efforts will help to further strengthen foreign investors' confidence in this market.

We are already seeing a handful of significant deals struck by foreign companies, such as Tesla's auto plant in Shanghai. Efforts to push domestic reform and make the regulatory environment friendlier will further help attract foreign direct investment.

What's your suggestion for China to achieve more sufficient and sustainable economic development?

In the past three decades, China has been able to sustain rapid economic growth through its build out of capital stock in the form of buildings, equipment and other forms of physical capital.

Moving forward, China should concentrate its efforts on maximizing the efficiency of its capital stock by developing "soft" industries, promoting consumption and lifting the industrial sector up the value chain.

Additionally, increasing market transparency will boost efficiency by helping investors to make more informed decisions.

How do you look at China's role in promoting globalization and multilateral trade?

We think that multilateralism is the key to economic globalization. Today, most of the businesses are leveraging the global markets for growth, not just local markets. So, we think promoting globalization is key to making a better business environment, not just for Chinese companies but for international players as well.

What do you think is the next big thing in your industry in China?

China is home to more than 200 million renters. Tier-one cities and some key tier-two cities have attracted large numbers of workers from across the country. However, the single-occupant rental housing market - which particularly caters to the needs of the millennial generation - is short of effective supply.

As a result, in recent years there has been rapid growth in newer rental housing, supported by favorable demographics, rising barriers to home ownership, supportive policies and an influx of capital.

Rental housing will not only serve as a new living option for the young generation, but also gradually change Chinese people's living habits and lifestyles in the longer run.

In addition to establishing a long-term means for the healthier development of China's housing market, the rental housing sector will also accelerate the transformation of real estate developers' business models, from traditional build-to-sell approaches to those focused on integrated development and operation of assets that they can hold over time.