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Alice Yan

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.
Wang’s husband revealed that she was terminally ill with cancer. He expressed that he had not disclosed her condition to Zhang previously, as it was a private health matter and not relevant to their rental agreement.
Concerned about potential implications for the property’s value, Zhang urged the couple to leave quickly, fearing that the flat could be perceived as a “haunted house” should Wang pass away there.
He claimed that this perception could lead to a significant decrease in the property’s value, estimating a potential loss of between 500,000 to one million yuan (US$70,000 to US$140,000).
In addition to evicting the tenants, Zhang requested that Wang and her husband sign an agreement stipulating they would compensate him if the flat’s market value decreased due to their occupancy.
The couple refused to sign this agreement, stating they would not vacate the property unless Zhang provided compensation for terminating the lease, a request he declined.

As a result, the conflict between Zhang and the couple remains unresolved, with both sides holding firm to their positions.
The incident has captivated Chinese social media and sparked a heated debate, with 5,000 comments on Douyin alone.
One observer expressed outrage, stating: “It is too much for the landlord to behave like this. He is inhumane!”
However, another viewpoint emerged: “I understand the landlord’s frustration. Selling a property plagued by issues is challenging, but he should provide compensation for breaching the leasing contract.”


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Landlord was concerned property could be deemed ‘ghost house’, affecting value


Landlord was concerned property could be deemed ‘ghost house’, affecting value.


Cancer