The Beijing authorities have enacted new laws to prevent couples from faking divorce in order to buy more houses in the Chinese capital.

   Until now, the city allowed married couples with a hukou (permanent residence document) in Beijing to buy two apartments in the city. Those without the hukou, as well as singles, could only buy a flat.

   To avoid this new law, some couples were faking their divorce and thus being able to buy a second property.

   The new measures, which took effect in August this year, are designed to stop this practice.

   Now, anyone with a hukou in Beijing who is divorced but owned two properties while married cannot buy another house in Beijing for three years, according to a notice issued by the Municipal Commission for Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Beijing.

   Those without hukou in Beijing, who owned a house during their marriage, will also be prohibited from buying another house.