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Storekeepers take dispute over rent to the streets
By Wu Yiyao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-30 07:53
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Hundreds of tenants who had rented booths at a department store in Chaoyang district took their demand for a rent refund to the streets again on Monday, lying down outside the store to make their point.
They were angry after pre-paying for a year's rent at Chunping Plaza, beside Beijing Workers' Stadium, only to see the store close in January due to alleged mismanagement - three months after they paid for 12 months.
The tenants said they paid their rent in advance to then general manager Liu Haiyuan but neither he nor the new store boss, Sun Guosheng, has met their requests for a rent refund.
Sun reportedly announced in January that Liu was no longer entitled to lease out booths.
He said at the time that tenants would need to talk to Liu about refunds.
But the tenants said they had been unable to find Liu.
And those protesting on Monday said the maintenance team had not been at the store since Jan 11.
Sun is insisting he is not obligated to refund the tenants' pre-paid rent.
A tenant, surnamed Zhang, said the average claim for a refund was 100,000 yuan, according to Beijing News.
Tenants said they started the protest on Saturday. They are staying outside throughout the day and sleeping in the store's lobby at night.
"We just want our money back," said a tenant, surnamed Zheng.
The department store reportedly had more than 400 tenants and 500 booths.
Authorities in Chaoyang district said they were aware of the situation and had passed on the tenants' complaints to the relevant departments, including the police and Chaoyang's office for maintaining social stability.
The tenants are not likely to leave the store in the coming few days, said a spokesperson, surnamed Wang, with Chaoyang's social stability office.
"The best way for tenants to resolve the economic dispute and protect their rights is to seek help through legal channels," Wang said.
He said the case was still under investigation and declined to make further comment.
