Legal Information

Firm news, insights on new laws, and frequently asked questions.

24 2026-10

How can I protect my rights if the renovation upstairs has caused cracks in my home?

The illegal renovation on the upper floor has caused cracks in the walls of your own home. You can protect your rights based on the neighborly relationship and the infringement liability: fix the photos of the cracks, record the time of the renovation, and obtain the inspection report. If no agreement can be reached through negotiation, you can sue for repair and compensation after appraisal.

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24 2026-10

What should I do if a neighbor illegally demolishes and modifies the load-bearing wall without authorization?

The neighbor's unauthorized demolition and modification of the load-bearing wall endanger the building's safety. You can ask the property management company to stop it and report it to the competent authorities, and the administrative department will order rectification and impose a fine. If any damage occurs, you can claim neighboring rights and compensation for infringement.

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24 2026-10

What is the warranty period for the waterproofing project of a house?

The statutory minimum warranty period for roof waterproofing and bathrooms, rooms, and external walls with waterproofing requirements is 5 years, for electrical wiring and other components it is 2 years, and for the foundation and main structure it is the design service life, calculated from the date of completion and acceptance.

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24 2026-10

How can I claim compensation if the water leakage from the upstairs flooded my house?

If the water leakage from upstairs causes damage to your own property, you can claim compensation from the upstairs owner based on the principle of neighborly relations and tort liability. You need to keep the repair request, on-site photos, loss lists, and appraisal reports. If no agreement can be reached through negotiation, you can file a lawsuit to claim for repair and compensation.

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24 2026-10

How long is the warranty period for a house, generally speaking?

The minimum warranty period for housing is determined by law: the foundation and main structure shall have a reasonable design service life; the roof waterproofing and anti-leakage shall last for 5 years; the heating and cooling systems shall last for 2 cycles; and the electrical wiring and plumbing for decoration shall last for 2 years, starting from the date of passing the completion acceptance ...

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24 2026-10

Is it a quality issue if there are cracks in the walls of a new house?

Whether the cracks in the walls of new houses constitute quality issues depends on whether they affect the structural safety or the functionality of the building. Cracks that are through-going, structural, or accompanied by seepage and leakage are considered quality defects. Developers should repair them free of charge within the warranty period, and if they refuse to do so, the buyers can file cl...

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24 2026-10

What should employees do if their unit refuses to approve their sick leave?

Sick leave is a statutory right of workers. If the employer refuses to approve it without a valid reason and punishes or dismisses the worker for this reason, the worker can fix the evidence of medical treatment, claim sick leave wages, and seek protection through arbitration. If the employer terminates the contract illegally, the worker can claim double compensation.

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24 2026-10

Will I be fired if I forge a sick leave note?

Forging sick notes constitutes fraud, and the employer may terminate the employment contract in accordance with Article 39 of the Labor Contract Law for serious disciplinary violations and not pay economic compensation; however, the employer must provide evidence of the forgery, publicize the relevant regulations, and comply with the legal procedures. Otherwise, the termination will be considered ...

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24 2026-10

Will I be fired if I take long-term sick leave?

During the medical leave period, the employer shall not terminate the labor contract. If the employee is unable to perform their original job or any other arranged job after the medical leave period, the employer may terminate the contract after giving 30 days' notice. Any unlawful termination shall result in the payment of double compensation.

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24 2026-10

How is the salary paid during the annual leave?

During the annual leave, the employee's salary shall be paid in full. For the unused annual leave, the employer shall pay 300% of the employee's daily wage. The daily wage shall be calculated by dividing the average monthly wage (excluding overtime pay) of the previous 12 months by 21.75 days. Please note that the statute of limitations for arbitration is one year.

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24 2026-10

If I take too much sick leave, will I lose my annual leave entitlement?

For employees who have worked for a total of less than one year but more than ten years, if they have taken sick leave for more than two months, for those who have worked for a total of more than ten years but less than twenty years, if they have taken sick leave for more than three months, and for those who have worked for a total of more than twenty years, if they have taken sick leave for more ...

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24 2026-10

Can the Spring Festival holiday be counted towards the annual leave?

The statutory holidays of the Spring Festival last for three days and are not included in the annual leave. Employers are not allowed to use welfare leave to offset annual leave without consultation. The number of days of overtime on statutory holidays shall be compensated through consultation, and the overtime pay on statutory holidays shall be 300% of the employee's daily wage.

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24 2026-10

Can employees refuse to take the annual leave arranged by the company?

The unit shall arrange the annual leave in a comprehensive manner, taking into account the wishes of the employees. Generally, the annual leave shall not span across two consecutive years, and if it is necessary to span across two consecutive years, it can only span across one year. Employees may refuse unreasonable arrangements, and if no agreement can be reached through consultation, they may fi...

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