Latest News

‘I never said the basement was included’: Woman in China secretly lives in house after selling it to family

Former home owner in China secretly lived in basement for years

In a twist straight out of the Oscar-winning movie ‘Parasite’, a man in China discovered that his home’s previous owner had been living out of a secret basement underneath the house for years.

According to the South China Morning Post, the man, surnamed Li, had settled into his ¥2 million (S$373,000) home after nearly a decade of living there.

He bought the house — located in the city centre of Jiangsu, China — seven years ago and lived there with his family.

Discovering a hidden door behind a staircase

Mr Li was cleaning his home when he first found a mysterious door behind a staircase.

Confused by the discovery, he explored what lay behind the door but was left aghast by what he saw.

Source: spxChrome on Canva. Image is for illustration purposes only.

At the bottom of the stairs was a fully furnished room with ventilation, lighting, and a small bar.

He also saw traces that someone had recently been living there.

Former owner said she never sold him the basement

Mr Li then confronted the previous homeowner, a woman surnamed Zhang, for hiding the existence of the basement during the sale.

In response, she told him she never included the basement in the price of the house.

“I sold you the house, but I never said the basement was included,” she said.

 

Ms Zhang added that she had been using the room as her personal recreational space.

She even asked Mr Li where she was supposed to relax if the basement belonged to him.

It is unclear how the woman managed to sneak into the basement unnoticed.

Mr Li took Ms Zhang to court claiming that since he paid for the property, the basement should also be his.

The court then ruled in Mr Li’s favour, granting him full ownership of the basement. Ms Zhang was also ordered to pay the man compensation.

Also read: Hotel Guests Lose S$27.4K In Cash & Valuables In Thailand, Room Had Hidden Door Disguised As Mirror

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.

Featured image adapted from spxChrome on Canva. Image is for illustration purposes only. 

Buranond Kijwatanachai

I'm the kind of guy who says he loves reading, but the books I actually read have more pictures than words.

Recent Posts

Street sweeper in Thailand goes viral for good looks, gets modelling offer

A makeup artist has reached out asking the street sweeper to be her model.

18 Mar 2025, 9:56 am

3 teenagers charged over beating of boy in ITE College West stairwell, another 3 to be dealt with

The accused are reportedly students aged between 16 and 18.

18 Mar 2025, 12:54 am

Man allegedly steals cash & credit card on flight to S’pore, will be charged in court

A witness saw him allegedly taking another passenger's bag from the overhead cabin while the…

18 Mar 2025, 12:07 am

2 residents sent to hospital after electrical riser catches fire in Jalan Kayu HDB block

About 10 people were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

17 Mar 2025, 10:26 pm

Another monsoon surge expected in S’pore from 19-21 March, temperature may drop to 22°C

National water agency PUB warned that flash floods may occur over this period.

17 Mar 2025, 9:20 pm