The Provisions of the Supreme People's Court on the Seal-up, Seizure and Freezing of Property in Civil Execution by People's Courts (Law Interpretation [2004] 1 5) came into effect on June12005.
Article 6 stipulates that "the people's court may seal up the houses necessary for the life of the person subjected to execution and his dependents, but may not auction, sell off or pay off debts."
Article 7 stipulates that "the people's court may, upon the application of the executor, execute the houses and articles for daily use that are beyond the necessities of life of the executed person and his dependents after ensuring the houses and general necessities for the minimum living of the executed person and his dependents."
If the debtor's existing (all) houses are large enough, the bank can buy a smaller (relatively cheap) house. As long as it is enough for the debtor and his supporting family members to live together, it will be forcibly replaced by the court, and the debtor's larger house will be auctioned or sold. The proceeds will be used to offset the purchase price of smaller houses, and the rest can be used to offset the debts owed. This is legally based and operable.