Shanghai woman refuses to leave prize home after lease expires

The woman won the free 15-year lease from a milk company. 

==============================================================\

A woman who won a 15-year lease on a home in Shanghai from a milk company has refused to move, though her prize has expired. Now a court has ruled the woman must return the apartment to the company despite her calls for negotiation, reports the Shanghai Morning Post.

The woman, surnamed Bai, won the right to live in the apartment in 1996, on the condition that the lease only lasted 15 years. The lease ended in January of this year. The agreement signed between the company and Bai also says negotiations are possible if the winner wants to continue to live in the home.

Bai made an offer on the residence last November but the company turned her down, then sued her when she refused to leave the apartment.

Bai said she was counting on being able to continue to live in the apartment by negotiating with the company after the lease was up. The company should fulfill its promise and negotiate, she said. A court said the company has the right to take back the apartment as the negotiation promise was not stated in the contract.