A UNIVERSITY graduate surnamed Zhao intended to start a business in Shenzhen and had invested millions of yuan to decorate a venue. However, his property was demolished by the building owner before Zhao’s company opened for business, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.

After months of research, Zhao, 22, and two other partners rented a space in a business building in Nanshan District this February.

Zhao signed a lease contract with a man surnamed Dong. The property covered an area of 1,150 square meters, and he had to pay Dong more than 160,000 yuan (US$23,324) in rent and property management fees per month.

Zhao said he began to decorate the company in April and planned to open June 15.

“The decoration was basically completed in June and some equipment was also installed. However, the property began to have power failures from time to time,” Zhao was quoted by the daily as saying.

Zhao said a notice was posted on the property Sept. 5. The owner of the building, Tiley Real Estate Group Co. Ltd., ordered the property to be cleared before 3 p.m. Sept. 11; otherwise the company would clear the place.

Zhao was out of town when he received the news from his partners. When he arrived at the place Sept. 6, he almost burst into tears. “The real estate company had demolished it by force, and our equipment was still there. The investment was all gone,” Zhao said.

Zhao said Dong was a former employee of the real estate company. He did not realize that Dong had disputes with the real estate company over the lease until he saw the notice.

The real estate company claimed that Dong had worked at the company, but left between April and May. Zhao said he would pursue legal means to solve the dispute. (Zhang Yu)