A study on the impact of centralized long-term rental apartments on tenure security of urban village tenants : a case study of Vanke Nantou ancient city port apartment

Abstract

The vast population of China has given rise to a thriving housing rental market, particularly in major first-tier cities experiencing a significant influx of migrants. In this context, urban villages, characterized by their affordable rents and convenient transportation, have become a popular choice for many individuals seeking rental accommodations. The prosperity of the rental market has also spurred the emergence of various rental products, including long-term apartment rentals. However, at the end of 2020, the financial distress of the decentralized long-term rental apartment platform “Danke” drew widespread social attention. This event inflicted significant damage to the tenure security of tenants and raised concerns regarding the viability of long-term rental apartment as a housing option. Despite the inherent differences between decentralized and centralized long-term rental apartment, the financial issues faced by multiple decentralized platforms have also cast doubt on the centralized long-term rental apartment product. This study aims to explore the impact of centralized long-term rental apartment on the tenure security of tenants in urban villages, using the representative case of Nantou Ancient City Port Apartment, located in Shenzhen, as a case study. The study conducted a detailed case analysis of Nantou Ancient City Port Apartment and collected 57 valid questionnaires from tenants for analysis. The research findings indicate that tenants in urban villages have a high level of concern for tenure security, and Nantou Ancient City Port Apartment is able to provide good tenure security. This study not only provides direction for theoretical research on tenure security for tenants but also offers insights into the healthy development of centralized long-term rental apartment in the context of financial issues faced by decentralized long-term rental apartment platforms.