Seven public housing projects, occupying a total area of 310 million square meters, are under construction in Pingtan. [Photo/english.pingtan.gov.cn]

Qualified residents across 15 townships in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone can start applying for public housing around late May, according to a circular.

They will have to submit applications to local governments for the public rental apartments between late May and early June, the circular said.

Seven public housing projects, occupying a total area of 310 million square meters, are under construction in Pingtan, with an accrued investment of up to 10.6 billion yuan ($1.7 billion).

Public housing consists of low-rent housing, affordable housing, fixed-price housing and public rental housing built by local governments and offered to low-income residents.

Starting this year, China combined low-rent housing and public rental housing. The apartment is usually limited to 60 square meters; its price is set by the government according to the tenants' situation.

Beneficiaries of public rental housing include families with low-income or at a minimum living standard, new employees who have no houses, migrant workers and staff members at public institutions.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Nelly Min