A listed house from the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911) in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, was partly demolished without informing the elderly owner who was told the demolition was a mistake, Modern Express reported on Friday.

The occupant, surnamed You, 78, bought the house 30 years ago but earlier this year he and his wife went to live with their daughter. When they returned on May 20 he found it had been partly demolished even though it was listed as a historic building and was under the protection of the local government. You went to the local demolition management office and was told that part of his house had been demolished due to a mistake.

You reported it to the police and the case is under investigation.