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A 99-year-old man from Shanghai, surnamed Tan, sued his former colleague Gu to reclaim his flat after regretting a decision he made years earlier. In 2005, Tan, then 93, signed an agreement with Gu and his family, promising to give them his flat in exchange for care and companionship. At the time, Tan was estranged from his children, whom he felt had neglected him.
The agreement required Gu and his family to call and visit Tan regularly, buy him clothes and groceries, and care for him when he was sick. In return, Tan wrote in his will that Gu would inherit his flat and its contents. Additionally, they signed a purchase contract, selling the flat to Gu for 200,000 yuan (US$28,000), though this payment was never made, and Tan continued living in the apartment.
Years later, after remarrying in 2018, Tan regretted the arrangement and filed multiple lawsuits in 2019 and 2021 to reclaim his property. He claimed he wasn’t aware of the transfer to Gu’s name and sought to annul the contract.
Gu countered by asking Tan to vacate the flat and pay rent from 2006. He presented evidence, including messages and photos, proving his family had cared for Tan and even taken him on trips. Gu also noted that after 2019, Tan had blocked communication with his family.
The Shanghai court dismissed both parties' claims, stating that the agreement had been fulfilled and established a de facto support relationship. As a result, Gu would inherit the flat after Tan’s death. The court emphasized that Tan had not shown dissatisfaction with Gu’s care for over a decade, weakening his accusations.
Chinese social media overwhelmingly supported Gu, criticizing Tan for trying to renege on his promise after benefiting from Gu’s care. Many commenters emphasized the moral importance of keeping one’s word.
Source: SCMP
