BEIJING - Chinese auditors found that 4,247 low-rent housing units financed by the government were improperly leased to unqualified families last year, the country's chief auditor said Monday.

Liu Jiayi, head of the National Audit Office, made the statement in a report submitted to the 21th session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

A total of 4,247 low-rent homes were leased to unqualified families in 16 cities in eight provinces and autonomous regions. Of these homes, 4,407 were sold or rented illegally or used for purposes other than housing low-income earners, Liu said.