Measures to curb property prices have been implemented strictly in Shanghai and proved effective in dampening speculative demand and curbing the cost of homes, an inspection team sent by the State Council said yesterday as it concluded its four-day local trip.

The team, one of eight dispatched across the country to check how well its housing policies are being applied at local level, focused its checks on the implementation of home purchase restrictions, differentiated credit and tax policies, supply and management of residential land as well as the trial operation of a property tax.

Shanghai is very determined in its fight against soaring home prices and has been strictly implementing the measures, which have proved effective in squeezing out speculative demand and curbing the growth of home prices, the inspection team concluded.

The team took site trips to two commercial housing projects and listened to views from residents, developers, brokerages as well as financial institutions such as banks.

The inspection team also urged local housing authorities to improve management of the issuance of pre-sale permits for commercial houses and the registration of home selling plans by developers.

Checks on the implementation of property policies should be conducted regularly while the supply of residential land plots designated for both commercial and affordable housing development should be optimized, according to the team.

Home prices in China rose in July for the second straight month amid continuously improving sentiment across all property segments, a China Index Academy report released on Wednesday showed.