A couple in southern China’s Guangzhou has been ordered to vacate their rented room after having a child, with top rental platform Ziroom citing a breach of occupancy rules at the shared property that limit tenants to two adults between the ages of 18 and 40.

The case has ignited debate online and comes as governments across China roll out child-rearing subsidies to counter a shrinking population. The national birth rate fell to a historic low of 6.39 per 1,000 people in 2023, prompting local authorities to offer cash bonuses, longer maternity leave, housing incentives, and childcare allowances to encourage families to have more children.

Domestic media reported Monday that housing rental giant Ziroom gave the couple three working days to leave, citing a breach of contract. The platform warned their belongings could be removed without compensation if they failed to comply.

“We didn’t break any rules; we simply had a child, which is completely within our rights,” the father told local media.

Ziroom said Tuesday that it terminated the lease after several failed attempts at mediation. “In this incident, we have had to consider both the living experience of the tenant and their family, as well as that of their roommates.” the company said. 

The platform has also offered the family a no-fault lease termination and assistance with moving. A Ziroom spokesperson said Wednesday that the two sides had reached “a preliminary agreement.”

The case has sparked an online debate, with some calling the eviction inhumane. Others argue that contracts must be upheld and that raising a child in shared rentals can disrupt other tenants. Local reports said the couple’s relatives frequently visited to help care for the newborn, prompting complaints about noise and hygiene.

Ziroom’s occupancy limits stem from local regulations. Guangzhou’s 2022 housing rental notice requires a minimum of five square meters per tenant, excluding kitchens, bathrooms, balconies, and storage.
 
Shanghai-based lawyer Ren Chuanqian said Ziroom was within its rights to terminate the lease. “Once a contract is signed, its provisions are generally valid,” he told Sixth Tone, adding that platforms may impose requirements beyond local regulations.

In a commentary, Shanghai-based outlet The Paper said the case highlights discrimination in the rental industry, underscoring that landlords and platforms sometimes refuse to rent to groups such as the elderly or pregnant women to avoid liability.

In 2024, a similar dispute in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region made headlines after a tenant was accused of breaching a rental agreement by raising a child. The court ultimately ruled in favor of the tenant.

Legal experts say the controversy is about more than balancing contract law with compassion. They argue it underscores the need for legislation that promotes “housing for all” and supports the goal of building a “child-friendly society.”

Editor: Marianne Gunnarsson. 

(Header image: VCG)