A public platform meant for all residents in the Vanke Emerald Tianjiao community in Guiyang's Guanshanhu District was secretly converted into a private garden with flowerbeds and a fish pond by a first-floor owner. This has led to persistent water leaks in the shops on the second floor below. A temporary drainage channel has failed to address the root cause, with water still seeping in during heavy rain. A agreed-upon comprehensive repair plan has stalled for over a month without starting.

Mr. Wang, whose shop is located in the Vanke Emerald Tianjiao community, has been troubled by water leaks for nearly a year. He attributes the problem to the private garden built by the first-floor resident above. Mr. Wang explained that the building structure includes a second-floor shop, with the roof being a vacant public area originally paved with concrete. The first-floor resident turned this space into a garden, adding tree-planting and fish-keeping troughs, tiling it, and installing an outdoor sink.

After the leaks appeared, Mr. Wang repeatedly discussed the issue with the upstairs owner, but it remained unresolved. He then contacted the property management company, which took temporary measures to mitigate the leaks. Mr. Wang said they drilled a hole in his ceiling to install a drainage channel, but this is only a temporary fix, not a permanent solution. While no visible leaks are present after the temporary patch, heavy rain still causes water to seep through.

Mr. Wang noted that professionals from the real estate developer and the property management company inspected the site, and both agreed that the tiles need to be removed. The plan involves installing water barriers on both sides of the building's expansion joints and applying a large area of waterproofing. However, this comprehensive repair would inevitably damage the tiles of the privately built garden. Since multiple parties reached an agreement in June, the waterproofing work has not progressed.

Mr. Wang stated that the upstairs owner initially agreed to the plan but has delayed for over a month, citing various excuses. The property management company, which has been pushing for the repair, sent photos showing the owner only filling the tile gaps with a glue-like substance, not following the agreed-upon plan. A reporter accompanied Mr. Wang to the upstairs owner's door, but no one answered. When contacted by phone, the owner quickly hung up after saying, "Ask the community. I'm busy now."

A visit to the local Jinhong Community Committee and the property management office revealed that both have verified the situation multiple times. The upstairs owner's private garden, built without any approval, is a clear violation. Xiao Jie, a community committee member, noted that the owner has laid tiles, placed flowerpots, and tables. Chen Weiting, the property management director for Vanke, confirmed that the company had previously advised against the modification and reported it to relevant authorities.

Community and property staff have mediated the dispute over the leaks caused by the unauthorized construction. Chen Weiting said the company organized multiple meetings, but initial disagreements stalled negotiations. On June 13, a consensus was reached for the upstairs owner to cover the cost of the leak repairs. Xiao Jie added that the upstairs owner is not opposed to removing the tiles but has concerns about how to address subsequent issues. Recent photos from the property manager show the tiles remain intact. Both the community and property management have pledged to continue mediation efforts. Chen Weiting stated that the company will keep facilitating communication and invite community and relevant units to participate. Xiao Jie said he will personally handle the communication with the upstairs owner.