The news of six-square meter apartments sold in China's southern city of Shenzhen has caused quite a stir. The mini homes also caught the attention of local land authorities, who have ordered their sales suspended. Would you buy a six square metre home?

Though the mini-flats in Shenzhen have attracted great interest among China's vibrant online community, few are interested in buying one.

A Shenzhen resident Mr. Zheng said, "I won't buy one. 6 square meters is too small to live in. Each square meter costs more than one hundred thousand yuan. It's rather expensive. "

These mini homes were sold at a fixed price of 880,000 yuan, or more than 130 thousand dollars. That's much more affordable than normal sized homes in the same district, which retail for millions or even tens of millions of yuan.

However, industry insiders say the 6-square-meter mini flats are in violation of the country's real estate design regulations, which stipulate that a home should have an minimum usable area of 22 square meters. The developer defends the mini-flats were built well before those regulations became law in 2012.

Mini flat sales manager Chen Hong said, "Our project was approved in 1998 and built in 2003. So the tiny space is a historical issue."

Even so, local housing authorities have found a number of other irregularities, including unauthorised changes to approved design plans and false advertising. The company had stopped sales, and rescinded the contracts for those mini flats already sold.

Local land planning law enforcer, Tang Enming, said, "We have taken action. We hope the public will keep a reasonable attitude, and not to spread rumors."

District authorities say four real estate agencies involved with the mini flats are also being investigated for improper dealing.