Huang Shizhong Representative: Recommends Accelerating Legislation to Resolve Difficulties in Installing Elevators in Aging Residential Communities

China Economic Net Beijing, March 10 (Reporter Zhang Jing, Guo Zongzong, Editing Zhang Siyang) — “It is recommended to accelerate the legislative work related to installing elevators in old residential communities, clarifying the rights and obligations of all parties from a legal perspective, standardizing the installation process, and solving the difficulties in promotion.” Huang Shizhong, a National People’s Congress delegate and Vice President of the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants, stated in an interview with China Economic Net that installing elevators in old communities has become one of the prominent livelihood issues amid an aging population. In recent years, many local governments have introduced relevant policies to promote elevator installation in old communities, but many obstacles and difficulties remain.

“The most prominent problem is the difficulty in unifying residents’ opinions,” Huang Shizhong analyzed based on years of community research. He explained that there are natural differences in interests between residents on high and low floors: residents on higher floors, especially the elderly, have an urgent need for elevators, while residents on lower floors have many concerns — worried about the elevator shaft occupying public space and affecting lighting and ventilation, afraid of noise disturbing their lives, and concerned about the potential devaluation of their property. Additionally, the lack of a clear negotiation and compensation mechanism has led to a tug-of-war between residents on different floors. Besides the difficulty in coordinating interests, issues such as unclear maintenance responsibilities and difficulties in raising funds also hinder project progress.

“To address these issues, besides community coordination and mediation, I believe legislation is ultimately necessary,” Huang Shizhong suggested. First, accelerate the legislative process for installing elevators in old communities, combining practical experience and existing policies from various regions to formulate specific legal provisions or introduce special legislation, further improving the voting mechanism for residents’ approval, setting reasonable thresholds for voting, and safeguarding the legitimate rights of minority residents. Second, establish and improve negotiation and compensation mechanisms among residents on different floors, clarifying the principle of ‘those who benefit should pay, and those who suffer losses should be compensated,’ defining standards, methods, and responsibilities for compensation, and guiding residents to negotiate legally and rationally. Third, clarify the regulatory responsibilities of government departments, standards for financial subsidies, and requirements for maintenance and management after installation, standardize the construction process, safety standards, and acceptance procedures for elevator installation, and resolve difficulties related to funding and ongoing maintenance.