Rising Rent Forces Young Chinese Woman to Live in Office Toilet
An 18-year-old from rural Hubei opts for an unconventional living arrangement amid soaring rental costs.
A young woman in China has resorted to living in an office toilet due to escalating rental prices in her city.
The 18-year-old, whose surname is Yang, hails from a rural family in Hubei province and currently works in sales at an furniture store in Chuchou, Hunan province.
She earns a monthly salary of 2,700 yuan (approximately 370 USD), significantly lower than the city’s average income of 7,500 yuan (around 1,000 USD).
In Chuchou, rental costs range from 800 to 1,800 yuan (about 110 to 250 USD), making traditional housing unaffordable for Yang.
As a solution, she made an agreement with her manager to reside in a six-square-meter office toilet for a reduced rent of just 50 yuan (approximately 7 USD) per month.
The cramped space includes two small toilets and a sink.
To adapt to her living conditions, Yang has fitted the toilet with a folding bed, a small cooking pot, a curtain, and a clothes rack.
She has been living in this unusual arrangement for a month, dedicating time to clean the toilet daily and occasionally cooking noodles at night while other employees use the facilities during daytime hours.
Yang has stated that the toilet is clean and odor-free, and she feels secure because the office is under 24-hour surveillance.
She also mentioned that she never locks the door and has not experienced any theft.
Her manager, Ms. Zhou, acknowledged Yang's independence and resilience, even offering her temporary accommodation at her home.
Moreover, Yang initially considered moving into an unused office or a room with a monthly rent of 400 yuan (about 55 USD) but ultimately opted for the office toilet for safety concerns and proximity to her workplace.
Ms. Zhou plans to relocate Yang to a recently renovated office room at the end of the month.
After sharing her unique housing situation on social media, Yang has garnered over 15,000 followers, prompting some users to question the authenticity of her claims.
However, Yang has clarified that her choice was purely for convenience and has expressed gratitude for the support from her manager.
The 18-year-old, whose surname is Yang, hails from a rural family in Hubei province and currently works in sales at an furniture store in Chuchou, Hunan province.
She earns a monthly salary of 2,700 yuan (approximately 370 USD), significantly lower than the city’s average income of 7,500 yuan (around 1,000 USD).
In Chuchou, rental costs range from 800 to 1,800 yuan (about 110 to 250 USD), making traditional housing unaffordable for Yang.
As a solution, she made an agreement with her manager to reside in a six-square-meter office toilet for a reduced rent of just 50 yuan (approximately 7 USD) per month.
The cramped space includes two small toilets and a sink.
To adapt to her living conditions, Yang has fitted the toilet with a folding bed, a small cooking pot, a curtain, and a clothes rack.
She has been living in this unusual arrangement for a month, dedicating time to clean the toilet daily and occasionally cooking noodles at night while other employees use the facilities during daytime hours.
Yang has stated that the toilet is clean and odor-free, and she feels secure because the office is under 24-hour surveillance.
She also mentioned that she never locks the door and has not experienced any theft.
Her manager, Ms. Zhou, acknowledged Yang's independence and resilience, even offering her temporary accommodation at her home.
Moreover, Yang initially considered moving into an unused office or a room with a monthly rent of 400 yuan (about 55 USD) but ultimately opted for the office toilet for safety concerns and proximity to her workplace.
Ms. Zhou plans to relocate Yang to a recently renovated office room at the end of the month.
After sharing her unique housing situation on social media, Yang has garnered over 15,000 followers, prompting some users to question the authenticity of her claims.
However, Yang has clarified that her choice was purely for convenience and has expressed gratitude for the support from her manager.
