Lodgers' dilemmas

Xiao Yang is a 23-year-old migrant from Hebei Province who is pursuing her dream of living in Beijing for six years. She enjoys the city life, but owning her own place is far from possible.

Unable to purchase a place in the big city, she first rented a room in Wudaokou. Last June, she moved to Huixin Street near her office.

But just two weeks ago, her landlord demanded she pay an additional 200 yuan (US$26) in rent without advance notice, because her rental contract was expiring soon. This nudged the total rent to 1,000 yuan. The sudden increase in rent 'choked' her for that amounts to one third of her monthly income.

She is baffled by the choice of either paying more or move on. as she says it is unreasonable, but has agreed to pay more. "It is a mission impossible to find a cheaper one.

"As a renter, I don't have much choice when it comes to a cheaper and better place," Xiao says.

Her fate is part of life of migrants in the Chinese capital whose priorities are finding what some describe as 'kennels' for themselves. But as the rental market heats up, many are facing the same dilemma as that of Xiao.

The rental is sustained by 3.5 million migrants, said Wang Zhiwei, marketing director for Beijing Homelink Real Estate Consultant Co Ltd., a leading house rental firm in Beijing.

And the current market conditions make it possible for landlords to raise the rent at will because if 'one moves, and another will follow'.

Xiao is luckier for she is a white-collar worker. Some migrants have to live in underground houses with mold growing beneath residential buildings, just so they can save their meager income.

Landlords' tactics

The Beijing municipal government has moved to rein in the speculation of the second-hand houses, levying a 5 percent tax on the landlords.

But the rule is likely to influence landlords to raise the rent after the termination of the contract and charge more to end income losses.