Tsinghua tenants in eviction row

A number of former Tsinghua University employees are refusing to leave their rented downtown apartments, insisting that the compensation they have been offered is derisory.

The building, across from the new CCTV Tower on the East Third Ring Road, housed around 30 families.

Some residents, who are still Tsinghua employees, have moved, following the sale of the plot to the developer, Beijing CBD Development and Construction Company, who offered 2.4 billion yuan ($381 million) and a new office building near the original spot, those who are staying put claimed.

But some 10 households, former canteen and maintenance staff at Tsinghua, are holding out for more money.

The developer sued Tsinghua for not removing its staff as contractually agreed.

A Tsinghua representative told a Chaoyang district court that it stands by the agreement it made with the developer, and said that the houses are just dormitories which Tsinghua temporarily rents to staff, said the Beijing News yesterday.

Residents told the Global Times yesterday that they have lived there for over 10 years, and paid rent of 43 yuan a month. Among the householders who are refusing to move, some have retired, and some have switched to other jobs.

A resident, in his 30s, said he is dissatisfied with the current compensation Tsinghua has offered, 49,000 yuan per square meter for his 27-square-meter apartment.

Tsinghua has not taken into account residents' opinions, he said, accusing Tsinghua of having received much more money from the developer.

A 68-year-old woman, a retired canteen worker, said she will only move if she can buy a two-bedroom 90-square-meter home within the Fourth Ring Road.

"The compensation, [about 1.3 million yuan], is too little to pay for the house I want," she said. Such an apartment would cost around 2.4 million yuan at today's prices.

"A demolition notice was not even put up in advance," said another 56-year-old resident.

There should have been a three-party negotiation, said residents, which included them, the developer and the university.

Tian He, deputy director with Beijing Zhongzhe Law Office, said that despite not owning the property, these tenants are entitled to compensation.

"This issue is quite complicated because tenants rented the house as a kind of welfare before the reform of the housing system [in 1998]," he said.

The law stipulates procedures to follow in these cases, but does not say how much compensation residents are entitled to, which varies from case to case, he said.

The compensation will depend on the tenants' negotiation skills and how long they can hold out, said Tian.

A Tsinghua spokesman said that it is following government rules, and the compensation offer was made after taking the tenants' situation into consideration, said the Beijing News.

Tsinghua University could not be reached for comment.