Couple moved into the pit also for

An elderly couple from Zhenzhou, the capital of east China's Henan province, have found a solution to making use of a disused underground space.

The duo - known only as Ma Fulai and his wife – have been living in what appears to be a well and they have transformed the old pit into their special home, reports The People's Daily Online.

They reportedly first moved into the 16-foot-deep well over 10 years ago, which is located minutes away from the university where they both work.

An elderly couple from Zhenzhou, in east China's Henan province, lived in this well for over ten years

A ladder is seen leading from the mouth of the well into their 16 ft deep home that measures 538 sq ft

The elderly couple have everything they need including washing machine, TV, refrigerator and water tanks

Report suggested the pit was used by the school as a generator room before the couple moved in.

Inside their fully furnished underground haven, the couple share a space that measures around 538 square feet.

According to the report, their children occasionally come to visit them, entering down the ladder that leads from the hole in the ground above.

Even though the space in their home is small, it's air conditioned, and they have all the supplies they need inside, collecting a lot of items over the past decade to make their hole a home.

With a bamboo fence around the entrance, their underground house is fully equipped with a TV and an antenna connected to the top of the well, a refrigerator, washing machine, and water tanks for bathing amongst other items.

Inside it is damp with a musty smell, as there is never any natural sunlight entering the room.

Ten years ago they both moved from Gongyi - a county in Zhengzhou – to the university to find a job.

Ma Fulai was offered a job in the engineering department doing maintenance work, located underground.

For convenience and to save money, they lived in the room next to the computer maintenance room, and were tasked with switching the air conditioning on and off each day.

A spokesperson from the university in Zhenzhou spoke to local reporters and said their stay was originally supposed to be 'temporary,' but the school will give them long-term arrangements with free staff quarters.

The duo moved into the well when they got a job at a university next door for convenience and to save money

Inside their fully furnished underground home they share a space that measures around 538 square feet

A picture of the elderly couple's 'well-home' was shared online in China, and many people voiced concern

The university minister named only as Hui said: 'The man and woman are responsible for the school-conditioned room. Their work performance has been good over the years, they are very honest people and are serious about their work.'

'If they want to move we will provide them with assistance and give them dormitories. They are elderly and cannot live down there forever,' he said.

After a picture of the couples 'well-home' was posted online, it was quickly shared on Chinese social media and attracted a lot of attention.

Many users were very concerned for the couple and suggested the university move them to a hostel or somewhere more livable.