A petition is calling for a private residence affiliated with the University of Toronto to cancel leases and refund money to international students who are “fleeing” the COVID-19 virus.

The petition, led by Andrew Wang, who could not be reached for comment, alleges international students at CampusOne, a private, 890-bed residence on College Street near Spadina Avenue, are being taken advantage of during a time of crisis.

CampusOne told the Star the residence remains open and students must honour their leases, but it is open to looking at “individual options” and has also lowered rent for April by $150.

In a statement accompanying the online petition, Wang said: “As the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating around the world, many international students have to abandon their studies, flee home and (are) trapped in foreign countries in a dire financial situation and precarious physical security. However, even in a global pandemic there are people who want to make money off vulnerable people, in this case the international students studying in the city of Toronto.”

Minh is one of those students. The third-year math and physics student, who asked his last name not be used because he fears making the situation worse, wants to move out of the residence and back to his family in Singapore.

“My family is in Singapore at a time of super chaos,” he said, referring to the crisis caused by COVID-19. He is self-isolating in his CampusOne room and trying to get a flight out of Canada in mid-April.

“If I get sick, I want to be with my family. At least my family would be close by to support me emotionally,” said Minh, who pays $1,700 a month for his bedroom. He lives in a space with four other people. Meals are extra.

His current lease runs to the end of August, and Minh wants to cancel it at the end of April. In February, he signed another lease for the school year September 2020 to August 2021. He wants out of that lease, too, because he fears the COVID-19 pandemic will not be cleared by fall.

He sent a note earlier this month to CampusOne asking to be released from the lease but he says he was turned down.

In a March 23 email Minh shared with the Star on Monday, Simon Zarzour, general manager for CampusOne, told Minh the residence remains open and continues to serve its residents.

“At this time CampusOne residents are not required to leave ... If you choose to check out (or if you have checked out already) your rent and all charges remain due as outlined in your lease agreement,” Zarzour’s email said.

“Your lease agreement is a binding contract and cannot be terminated due to illness or the impact of COVID-19. If you are unable to make a payment on time due to extenuating circumstances, please reach out to the property to discuss your situation and payment options,” Zarzour’s note adds.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, Danny Roth, a spokesperson for CampusOne, said management has “made it clear to residents” that the company anticipates lease obligations will be met, but “we appreciate the challenges of the current situation and are willing to discuss individual options” for residents facing challenges brought on by COVID-19.

He added CampusOne recently reviewed its policies and is reducing April rent by $150, the student meal plan by $100 and will further review the situation caused by the virus.

Roth said Campus One was aware of the petition and some student complaints prior to Monday’s statement and said those weren’t the “sole influence on our current approach.

“The decisions also reflect guidance from academic institutions, government leaders, industry sources and health officials,” Roth said.

Most of the students at CampusOne attend the University of Toronto, the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD) and George Brown College.

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Zarzour declined to comment on the matter. The Star’s query was referred to Roth, who said he — Roth — isn’t in a position to comment on private communications between management and individual tenants.

U of T told the Star it operates its own residences elsewhere and credits are being provided to student accounts for those who have moved out early due to COVID-19 to cover money spent on rooms and meals.

Students in these residences have contracts that expire April 26.