Amweican Anne Preston complained to the Shenzhen Daily recently that her landlord, who wants her to move out, cut off the electricity at her apartment.

"I have been in dark for about 10 days, no place to go. I can't send my e-mails or take a shower," said Preston, who has lived in Shenzhen for nearly five years. "I am afraid the property owner will turn off other supplies such as gas and water if I refuse to move out."

Her current landlord, a man surnamed Liu, purchased the apartment, located in a residential compound in Futian District, from her previous landlord last December, but indicated to Preston that she could stay.

"I started to pay rent and utility fees to Liu after the property was transferred to Liu's name, and paid Liu 5,200 yuan (US$675.32) in cash for February and March, as required by Liu," said Preston, who claimed she had receipts signed by her new landlord as well as bank deposit slips.

For April and May, Preston said she deposited money into Liu's Bank of China account.

Liu, however, told the paper that he did not receive the rent for April and May, and had no choice but to cut the electricity off.

According to Gan Yongming, a lawyer with Guangdong Chenggong Law Firm, the management office had no right to cut off the electricity, even if it was required by the owner. A property buyer also cannot evict a sitting tenant as the lease is binding on the buyer.

Gu Hongtao, department chief of the Shenzhen Consumer Council, said if Liu received the payment, and still wanted to evict Preston, the tenant should take Liu to court.

Editor: Yan