This certificate is the conclusive and official proof of property ownership by a building or building unit owner. The format of the certificate is prescribed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD). This certificate is issued by a local counterpart of the MOHURD.

With the rolling-out of the local implementation of a unified real property registration system, many cities have combined and more are soon to combine this certificate and the corresponding state-owned land use right certificate (land certificate) into a unified real property ownership certificate (不动产权利证书) on title registration. Existing land certificates and property ownership certificates are still valid until any change of ownership, which would trigger a new registration under the new system.