Lease, Back Rent, How Much Do I Owe?

[jkiloindia]

(Hawaii)

Here's the story. Early this year I signed a lease with my mother. I never had any intents of being "on the lease," they had me write down the names of the people living there and since I was over 18, I could be held accountable for rent--I had no idea about this, but that's just because I didn't read the contract well enough, so that's my fault. It was obvious by the amount that I was being paid that I couldn't possibly pay all the rent myself--the rent was more than I grossed.

I had a private agreement with my mother that I would pay half and she would pay half. She ASSURED me that she would be able to. Unfortunately, she refused to get a job. She stole all of my money to support a drug habit she had been hiding from me, so I could not pay the rent. The first couple of months were paid, then two months were not paid (while my mother and I fought over funds, and I found that she had drained all the money out of my savings account as well as illegally forging my name and closing out a $10,000 trust account years ago). Then, my mother got a new roommate and I moved out. I DID NOTHING IN WRITING--I know, I know, it's bad, but my mother told me that everything was OK and that the other roommate would take my place.

Unfortunately, I just recently found out that my mother stopped paying rent the second I moved out. I now owe for 6 months of rent, or $12,000.00, because I was never removed from the lease. However...

The thing that bothers me is that I moved out, which means I broke the lease, six months ago, which is when my mother stopped paying. However, the owners made no attempt to kick my mother out, and they made no attempt to find a new tenant. I could no longer pay, so I moved. I would have found them a replacement tenant, except that my mother refused to move and also she had a roommate who I was assuming was paying rent. Can they really hold me liable for ALL the months that she did not pay, considering that they made no attempt to kick her out or replace her?

I cannot pay that amount; I was near completely broke just a few months ago due to my mother stealing every single cent I had. I had just gotten my finances almost in order when they contacted me with this. How much do I really owe them?What is the name of your state?

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by jkiloindia

(Hawaii)

Here's the story. Early this year I signed a lease with my mother. I never had any intents of being "on the lease," they had me write down the names of the people living there and since I was over 18, I could be held accountable for rent--I had no idea about this, but that's just because I didn't read the contract well enough, so that's my fault. It was obvious by the amount that I was being paid that I couldn't possibly pay all the rent myself--the rent was more than I grossed.

I had a private agreement with my mother that I would pay half and she would pay half. She ASSURED me that she would be able to. Unfortunately, she refused to get a job. She stole all of my money to support a drug habit she had been hiding from me, so I could not pay the rent. The first couple of months were paid, then two months were not paid (while my mother and I fought over funds, and I found that she had drained all the money out of my savings account as well as illegally forging my name and closing out a $10,000 trust account years ago). Then, my mother got a new roommate and I moved out. I DID NOTHING IN WRITING--I know, I know, it's bad, but my mother told me that everything was OK and that the other roommate would take my place.

Unfortunately, I just recently found out that my mother stopped paying rent the second I moved out. I now owe for 6 months of rent, or $12,000.00, because I was never removed from the lease. However...

The thing that bothers me is that I moved out, which means I broke the lease, six months ago, which is when my mother stopped paying. However, the owners made no attempt to kick my mother out, and they made no attempt to find a new tenant. I could no longer pay, so I moved. I would have found them a replacement tenant, except that my mother refused to move and also she had a roommate who I was assuming was paying rent. Can they really hold me liable for ALL the months that she did not pay, considering that they made no attempt to kick her out or replace her?

I cannot pay that amount; I was near completely broke just a few months ago due to my mother stealing every single cent I had. I had just gotten my finances almost in order when they contacted me with this. How much do I really owe them?What is the name of your state?

**A: the answer is yes, you ARE liable and you owe $12K. Read your lease.