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A Chinese man spent years waiting for possession of his dream apartment before discovering the building had only 32 floors, even though he had purchased a flat on the 34th floor
After paying for an apartment advertised on the 34th floor, a Chinese homebuyer discovered that the floor never existed (Image-AI)
A Chinese man’s dream of owning an affordable apartment turned into a bizarre real estate nightmare after he learned that the “34th floor” flat he was paying for did not exist.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the unusual case involves a man surnamed Shen from Shaanxi province in northwestern China.
Shen believed he had secured a bargain deal on a new apartment in 2013, only to learn years later that the flat he had paid for was supposedly situated on the 34th floor of a building that had only 32 floors.
Shen had paid a down payment of 117,700 yuan for a 90-square-metre apartment near Xi’an. The property was being offered at a price significantly lower than comparable homes in the area, making it an attractive option for buyers seeking affordable housing.
However, the discounted rate came with considerable risks. The residential project reportedly belonged to China’s so-called grey-market housing sector, where developers construct homes on collectively owned rural land without obtaining all the necessary government approvals. Such projects often operate in a legal grey area and typically offer fewer protections for buyers.
Despite these concerns, Shen proceeded with the purchase after the developer assured him that the required documentation and approvals would eventually be secured. Under the agreement, the apartment was expected to be handed over in 2015.
After completing the initial payment, Shen returned to Beijing, where he was working at the time. When the promised handover date arrived, the project remained unfinished. It was not until 2017 that the developer informed him that construction had finally been completed and requested the remaining balance.
That conversation brought an astonishing revelation. The developer reportedly told Shen that the residential tower contained only 32 floors, meaning the 34th-floor apartment he had purchased simply did not exist.
To resolve the issue, the company initially offered him a substitute apartment on the 32nd floor. However, Shen was unable to immediately arrange the remaining payment. By the time he was prepared to complete the transaction, he was informed that the replacement unit had already been sold to another buyer.
Left without an apartment, Shen sought a refund of his deposit. While the developer acknowledged the debt, the company repeatedly cited financial difficulties and delayed repayment.
Over the following years, Shen received only partial refunds. He reportedly recovered 20,000 yuan in 2020 and another 50,000 yuan in 2022. After that, communication with the developer allegedly ceased.
Frustrated by the prolonged delays, Shen turned to local authorities and initiated arbitration proceedings. The arbitration commission ruled in his favour, ordering the developer to repay the outstanding 47,700 yuan along with 27,000 yuan in interest. The ruling also stipulated additional compensation if the company failed to comply.
Despite securing a favourable decision, Shen said he had still not received the remaining amount as of May this year, extending what has become a decade-long battle over a home that was never built.
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