Surprise Basement in China: Former Homeowner Secretly Lived in Basement for 7 Years Until New Owner Discovered Hidden Door

In China, there was a story that seems like a plot for a thriller or a horror movie. A new homeowner discovered that the woman who sold him the house had been secretly living in his basement for seven years. The news sparked a reaction in the community and on local social media. We tell you how it ended.

A Surprise That Would Impress Anyone

This story took place in 2018. Then a man surnamed Li from Jiangsu Province in eastern China bought a house in the center of the city for almost 2 million yuan (about 280 thousand dollars). 

The house seemed perfect to him: convenient location, access to public transportation, and quality repairs. However, 7 years after the purchase, while cleaning the house, Li accidentally discovered a hidden door behind the stairs.

Behind the door was a spacious basement that the new owner didn’t even know existed. The room had ventilation, lighting, and even a small bar. But here’s the best part — Lee found clear signs that someone was living in the basement.

The Secret Life of the Former Owner

Li approached the former owner of the house, whose name was Zhang, and accused her of not informing him of the existence of the basement when the house was sold. However, Zhang claimed that the basement was not part of the deal.

“I sold you the house, but I never told you that the basement was included in the price,” she replied. According to her, the basement was her personal recreational space, and she had no intention of transferring it to the new owner.

How exactly Zhang got into the basement remained a mystery. Some online users speculated that she had a spare key, while others believe she may have used the door leading to the underground garage.

What the Court Decided

Lee, confident in his rights to the basement, filed a lawsuit in court. He insisted that, having paid full price for the house, he was entitled to all of its premises as well. The court sided with Li, ruling that the basement was part of the property and ordered Zhang to pay compensation.

How the Public Reacted

The story quickly went viral on Chinese social media. Many users compared it to the plot of the South Korean movie “Parasites,” which won an Oscar in 2020.

“The very thought of someone living under your house gives you goosebumps,” one user wrote. Another noted, “Honesty is the foundation of any deal. Hiding important details violates consumer rights.”

What This Story Teaches Us

This story should once again remind us how important it is to ensure safety during real estate transactions. To do this, we need to turn to professionals and, of course, be extremely careful when checking documents and inspecting property. Sellers are obliged to provide full information about the property in order to avoid such conflicts.