Three options?
They had heard clearly what to do, but how to choose had everyone beginning to hesitate.
Although everyone found the property management particularly hateful, going to court over such a small matter seemed too much...
This was a normal situation, actually related to our long-standing "non-litigation" culture. Even today, it is still a focus in public messaging.
The rate of mediation and case withdrawal is also a key statistic.
No one wanted to take legal action because it was troublesome, yet the problem had to be resolved.
Going to the other party's door and starting a physical fight was even more unrealistic, but was establishing an owners' committee realistic then?
"Lawyer Tang, if we sue the property management, how much money can we win?" Zhao Ruixia thought for a moment and then asked.
The other owners all perked up their ears; they did not care about the professional aspects, only about one thing, and that was money, the benefits.
To this, Tang Fangjing also gave a direct answer, "This, I cannot determine right now, but I can say with certainty that the amount will not be much."
"Based on other cases that I understand, compensation is usually about ten to twenty percent of the property management fees, so everyone can decide whether to sue based on the situation."
The interest of the owners dropped at that, thinking there wasn't much money to be had, so what was the point of suing.
One of the owners said directly there, "Then let's not bother with all this and just pay the property fees to avoid going around in court."
Seeing that everyone seemed not very interested, Tang Fangjing looked at Secretary Tian from the community side and spoke again, "Then, what do you all think about establishing an owners' committee?"
Hearing this, most of the owners looked disinterested; Money Grandpa said directly, "Little Tang, as I've said before, the neighborhood tried this once before, but it was impossible to establish one."
"Yeah, Lawyer Tang, actually I really want there to be an owners' committee, but... well, how do I put it, the people in this community are not united at all," Zhao Ruixia likewise spoke.
"Back then, so many people in the group agreed not to pay the property fees. But what happened? They turned around and paid anyway; it's pointless, it just doesn't work."
On the other side, Old Wang asked, "Little Tang, let's not talk about other things for a second, but what's the use of this owners' committee?"
Tang Fangjing cleared his throat, about to speak, when a young person among the owners interjected, "What use can it be, it's to terminate the property management, isn't it? And here I thought you, some professional, would offer some good advice."
"It's all over the internet, after terminating this property management, other companies won't dare to come, and then our community would become an abandoned one. What owners' committee? Utterly useless. I can't be bothered with all this trouble, I'm out of here."
The young person walked off, leaving other owners with expressions that showed they also wanted to leave, feeling this so-called professional was utterly useless.
Not to mention, if anything went wrong, he would be despised by the entire neighborhood. With so much at stake, what was his motive?
Zhao Ruixia looked at the others and still asked, "Lawyer Tang, it's not that we don't trust you. It's just that this is happening too fast, and didn't you just move in yesterday? How come you seem more invested than us..."
Tang Fangjing replied with a laugh, "Ms. Zhao, I'm not one to get up early without a cause. People work on profitable deals, but they would never engage in a losing business."
"Think about it, if I can help everyone establish the homeowners' committee, wouldn't all future legal cases for the committee come my way?"
"You know what that means? A huge market, countless cases, so of course I have to be more concerned than anyone else. This is about whether I'll have a livelihood in the future!"
So that was the reason, and considering this, it seemed reasonable indeed...
Without second thoughts, Zhao Ruixia didn't consider why other lawyers weren't doing the same if the benefits were so significant.
Setting up a homeowners' committee is not simply about following the law step by step. It's not life-or-death competition, but its intensity could certainly overwhelm the average person.
It meant forcibly creating an entity above the property management with the power to control it!
As a result, many give up halfway. Current property managements wouldn't dare use brute force, but they had plenty of ways to make things difficult.
However, Tang Fangjing was indifferent; being uncomfortable was better than losing one's life.
"Of course, preparing for the homeowners' committee won't be possible without everyone's support. Let's start today; I need a few people to form a preparatory group with me..."
Are we really rushing this?
The homeowners present looked at each other, feeling the pace was too fast to handle.
But Tang Fangjing knew that he had to strike while the iron was hot, while everyone's emotions against General Hou were still running high.
Otherwise, after going home and discussing with family, persuading one another that it's better to do less than more, then what was the point?
Indeed, Zhao Ruixia was the first to stand up and say, "I'll join this preparatory group. Lawyer Tang, I work as an accountant, and I feel I can definitely help everyone!"
"Then I'll join too, since I've got nothing better to do anyway," said the enthusiastic Old Qian.
People began to discuss fervently, while Kong Xiufang had quietly left.
Soon, General Hou on the other side received the news.
"What? How come out of the blue they want to establish a homeowners' committee?"