Building resident who dug basement told to fill it

A resident who lives on the first floor of a 33-story residential building in Chongqing was found to have dug out a large basement with four rooms, triggering anger and safety concerns among the neighbors.

More than 200 households have occupied the building for about eight years. Recently, some residents discovered the basement, which is equivalent to an apartment with four bedrooms and a living-room. The basement is equipped with water and electricity, as well as furniture, appliances and other daily necessities, according to a report by Chongqing Television on Sunday.

The resident, who asserted the basement was used only for storage and not for rent as a residence, claimed not to remember details about the excavation.

A staff member from the Caijiagang subdistrict planning and construction office said the resident has been ordered to refill the basement and restore it to its original state, according to the report.

This staff member said workers from the municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Commission would check the blueprints to see whether the excavation undermined the safety of the building.

Regulations state that when a private party digs a basement without submitting a construction plan and obtaining a permit, the planning authority should order a halt and require corrective action and may impose a fine ranging from 5 percent to 10 percent of the project's construction cost.

Lawyer Wang Rengen told National Business Daily that property owners only have a right to use land that lies within the purchased building area, and can only execute co-ownership rights in common areas as stipulated by law in the community. They don't have the right to use underground land, Wang said.