Shenzhen Daily. Li Hao reported that "BUYERS of government-subsidized housing have complained about the small floor space in apartments in the Songpingshan area in Nanshan District.

An Internet blogger said the government-subsidized housing plans required no less than 18 square meters for each person, which means a family of three should be provided an apartment no less than 54 square meters. Each apartment in the western area of Songpingshan, however, was only 48.63 square meters.

In addition, people complained the apartments were not decorated, the Daily Sunshine reported.

In response to the complaints, Bu Lizhu, director of the residential housing sales center, said the floor area of the apartments ranged from 48.63 square meters to 60.46 square meters, which was in accordance with a national regulation limiting the floor area of government-subsidized housing to about 60 square meters.

Bu said government-subsidized housing was built with public resources for low-income earners and sold at prices much lower than market value.

The center would provide interior decoration for 300 yuan (US$47) per square meter.

Those not satisfied could elect to take a cash subsidy instead of buying an apartment.

Netizens said people qualified for cheap housing could not be too picky because the purpose of building the cheap apartments was to provide them with basic living space. " (Li Hao)