China landlord tries to evict terminal cancer tenant, fearing death could reduce property value
Landlord was concerned property could be deemed ‘ghost house’, affecting value
A landlord in Beijing is facing immense criticism after he sent an eviction order to a tenant with late-stage cancer because he was worried that the property would lose value if she died there.
According to Red Star News, the tenant, who goes by the surname Wang, chose to rent the flat due to its convenient location near a hospital.
The landlord, Zhang, stated that he agreed to lease the flat below market value at 5,500 yuan (about US$770) per month as he was actively looking to sell the property.
In the lease agreement, Zhang requested that Wang and her husband accommodate property viewings for potential buyers. The couple was slated to reside there until mid-November, per the contract.
However, on September 4, the landlord issued a formal notice on their door, requesting that they vacate the premises within a week.
Zhang stated he made the decision to evict the couple after noticing Wang’s baldness during a property viewing, which led him to enquire about her health.