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Zoey Zhang

A man in China has discovered his former homeowner secretly living in the basement of the house he bought seven years ago, attracting much attention online.
The man, surnamed Li, from Jiangsu province in eastern China, bought a city centre, second-hand home for nearly 2 million yuan (US$280,000) in 2018, the mainland media outlet NetEase News reported.
Li’s family was delighted with their new home, which boasted convenient transport and exquisite renovations.
However, while tidying up household items recently, Li stumbled upon a hidden door concealed behind a staircase.
The door led to a basement that he had not noticed before.

The underground space was large and fully equipped, with a ventilation system, lighting, and even a small bar.
Li discovered clear signs of someone living there, leaving him feeling “creeped out”.
He contacted the previous owner, a woman surnamed Zhang, and accused her of deliberately hiding the basement during the sale.
Zhang replied: “I sold you the house, but I never said the basement was included.”
She claimed the basement was her personal recreational space, not part of the listed property or the sale agreement.
“If the basement belongs to you, where am I supposed to relax in my free time?” she said.
How the woman sneaked in and out of the basement is unclear.
One netizen suggested she had a spare key, while another thought she might use a door connecting the basement to the parking garage.
Li insisted that having paid the full price for the property, the basement should legally be his and decided to take the dispute to court.
The court ruled in Li’s favour, ordering Zhang to pay financial compensation and confirming his legal ownership of the basement.
The story sparked a heated discussion on mainland social media.
One internet user said: “The thought alone is chilling. Just imagine living upstairs while a stranger drinks and watches TV below.”
“Honesty is the cornerstone of any transaction. Hiding critical details is a violation of consumer rights,” said another.

Someone else even described the woman as a “real-life Parasite”, referencing the 2019 dark comedy Parasite by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho.
In the film, a poor family fakes their credentials to infiltrate a wealthy household as the family’s driver, tutor and housekeeper.
When the wealthy family goes on holiday, the poor family takes over the mansion, briefly experiencing the luxuries of upper-class life.
However, the unexpected return of a former housekeeper exposes another hidden secret, her husband has been living in the basement to escape debt collectors for years.


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People & Culture

Hidden door in property leads to secret underground living space with ventilation system, lights, a bar; leads to legal battle for ownership


Hidden door in property leads to secret underground living space with ventilation system, lights, a bar; leads to legal battle for ownership.
