December 28th, 2012
After Bullets Shot Into Her Rental, University of Manitoba Student Kate Cheng Wants the Rental Agency to Agree to Break Her Lease
Bullet Shots?
Yes.
Kate Cheng is an international student studying at the University of Manitoba. Her rental property was shot at.
How Did That Happen?
Kate Cheng was about to enjoy a late night snack when she realized drywall in the apartment was falling. She didn’t worry too much at the time because she thought a neighbour must have been doing some late night drilling to put up pictures.
It was only later she realized the seriousness of the situation – someone had shot bullets into her apartment and she was lucky to be alive.
What Did She Do Next?
She called the police who did an investigation.
Where Did the Bullets Come From?
The police found the bullets came from the neighbour’s rental next door to her. The bullet when through the wall between the two units then smashed a ceiling light raining broken glass on Cheng’s bed. Unfortunately it’s all too common for tenants to live with dangerous neighbours in their rental homes.
That’s Dangerous
Cheng said she now doesn’t feel safe in the apartment.
Has She Moved?
She wants to. However she say her rental agency doesn’t agree.
Does She Have a Lease?
She has a fixed term lease until September, 2013. The rental agency said they expect her to stay until the lease is up.
Cheng says she will pay for December rent, but wants out of the lease. She wants it terminated so she can move to somewhere safer.
Is the Rental Agency Flexible At All?
The said Cheng could terminate the lease if you found someone to sublet it. She said she was moving no matter what. There are often complications when it comes to move-ins and move-outs.
Have They Had Any Success Finding Anyone to Sublet?
No, because according to Cheng everyone knows the bullet story and feels it’s an unsafe place to live. The rental agency should have been more careful in screening the other tenants and making sure they dealt with bad tenants fast.
What’s the Current Situation?
After the media became involved, the rental agency agreed for Cheng to leave at the end of January, 2013. This means Cheng will have to pay January rent even though she’s not living there and will never return.
