The forgotten families of migrant workers forced to live in shipping containers Four families pay around £50 a month to live in old cargo containers All homes in 'village' on outskirts of Shanghai have electricity and water Millions of migrants priced out of property ladder as rents soar These are the Chinese migrant families who are forced to live in old shipping containers due to a lack of housing. For just £50 a month, they rent out their metal homes on the outskirts of Shanghai. Millions of rural migrants have flocked to China's fast developing cities in recent decades, but many are unable to join the property ladder as house prices have boomed and rents have soared. Left behind: The containers, which house different families, were set up by the landlord, who charges a rent of 500 yuan (£50) per month Struggling: There are 18 shipping container homes in this 'village' on the edge of Shanghai Overcrowded: Shanghai has a population of around 23million but many migrants can't afford housing Risk: A similar container village in Pudong was pulled down by the Chinese authorities in 2011 because it was too 'dangerous' They also struggle for rights to health care and public education because of the government's household-registration system 'hukou'. Li Yanxin, a native of Anhui Province, said she and three other migrant families have lived in the so-called 'container village' for the last 10 years. The old cargo containers were reportedly rescued by a man in his 70s, known simply as the 'old man', who acts as landlord after he found them discarded on the side of a road. All are equipped with doors, windows, electricity and water and Li said she feels safe. She has divided her 15 square metre home into a small supermarket, selling food, drinks and other daily necessities, and a living room with a bed, sofa and even a television. Li told Shanghai Daily: 'It was more than 10 years ago that the 'old man' bought the containers from local customs. He planned to use them as warehouses on the land he rented from the government but later decided to lease them out to migrant workers. Rescued: The old cargo containers were reportedly taken from the side of the road by a man in his 70s who acts as landlord to the workers Safe: All the containers are equipped with water, electricity, doors and windows Established: The shipping containers are believed to have housed workers for more than 10 years Another female resident living in the container said the 'old man' took pity on some migrant workers who survived by collecting garbage and charged them very low rent. Many people ask me how I feel living in a container. I say it's quite fine as I've never lived in an apartment in the city,' said Li. The iron containers are quite solid and I do not have to worry about leakages during rain or the roof collapsing. A similar container village existed in suburban Gaoqiao Town in Pudong in 2011. But last May, Gaoqiao government officials claimed the container village 'posed danger to residents.' A total of 324 containers were then removed, including 111 containers which were modified into houses by the migrants.