Legal basis: People's Republic of China (PRC) City Real Estate Management Law.
Article 60 The state practices a system of registration and certification of land use rights and house ownership.
Article 61 Anyone who obtains the land use right by means of transfer or allocation shall apply to the land administration department of the local people's government at or above the county level for registration. After verification by the land administration department of the local people's government at or above the county level, the land use right certificate shall be issued by the people's government at the same level. If a house is built on the land for real estate development obtained according to law, it shall apply for registration with the real estate management department of the local people's government at or above the county level with the land use right certificate, and the real estate management department of the local people's government at or above the county level shall verify and issue the house ownership certificate. When real estate is transferred or changed, it shall apply to the real estate management department of the local people's government at or above the county level for registration of change of real estate, and apply to the land management department of the people's government at the same level for registration of change of land use right on the basis of the changed house ownership certificate. After verification by the land administration department of the people's government at the same level, the land use right certificate shall be replaced or changed by the people's government at the same level. If it is otherwise provided by law, it shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws.
Article 62 When a real estate is mortgaged, it shall be registered with the department specified by the local people's government at or above the county level. Where the land use right and house ownership are obtained due to the disposal of mortgaged real estate, the transfer registration shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
Article 63 If the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government determine that the local people's governments at or above the county level are in charge of real estate management and land management, they may make and issue unified certificates of immovable property rights, and in accordance with the provisions of Article 61 of this Law, the confirmation and change of house ownership and land use rights within the scope of house occupation shall be recorded in the certificates of immovable property rights respectively.