Residents claim cracks began appearing on the walls of their houses in a residential complex on Taixing Road, Jing'an District, following the start of a neighboring construction project two months ago.
The residents said the cracks made them feel unsafe living in their houses.
They blamed the cracks on the construction project, which is only five meters away from the complex.
Construction began in September on five tall buildings.
Residents claim the cracks started appearing at the start of this month.
"These cracks were surely caused by the construction project," said Yang Ze, who lives in the third floor of a house closest to the construction site.
There are six families living in the house and all are effected.
Yang showed the cracks stretching from the first floor to the top of the third, with the longest stretching for 2.5 centimeters.
"We feel the house even shaking at night," said a resident surnamed Wang.
"We have complained several times, but there has been no response."
All residents expressed concern for their safety.
"No one knows when the house will collapse," Yang said.
Retired professors from Tsinghua University inspected Yang's house and said the building was dangerous.
Residents hope the developer will stop construction until the problem is solved.
Officials from the construction project said they have asked professors from Shanghai Institute of Building Research and Tongji University to monitor the closest houses.
The professors said the houses are not yet in serious danger, officials point out.
"We will strictly follow the professors' suggestion if they do find the houses to be in danger," said an engineer who refused to be named.
Houses in the complex are more than 70 years old and feature distinct, old-styled architecture, which is seldom seen in the city now.
A face-lift to the houses was finished at the end of September.