Expert suggests introducing unified national regulations for homestay management

On October 30, 2026, Wang Tianxing, deputy director of the Center for Cultural Tourism Policy and Regulations at Beijing International Studies University, put forward suggestions on the standardized development of urban homestays. He said that urban homestay governance should be "standardized development" rather than "direct closure," and that judicial practice needs to interact positively with the policy direction. He pointed out that courts mostly determine commercial use of housing based on "daily pricing and provision of accommodation services," yet often substitute "the possibility of interference" for review of actual harm, and that application of the "unanimous consent" rule under Article 279 of the Civil Code still leaves room for discussion. He suggested promptly introducing unified national regulations for the management of homestays (online rental housing) to clarify operating conditions, procedural requirements, and neighborhood consultation mechanisms. This suggestion is currently at the expert-advice stage, and there are no reports of relevant legislation or policy being implemented.