Roomate abandoned apartment while at work, what is she still liable for

[danieljshort]

What is the name of your state? California


My girlfriend and I signed a 12 month lease with her grandfather as the co-signer. Her grandfather was never intened to live in our one bedroom apartment. She recently packed up all her things while i was at work making myself the only person on the lease that lives here. We are only three months into the lease and I do not intend to move out. Can I hold her liable for her half of the rent and utilities since it is a one bedroom apartment and getting another roomate will be a little difficult. If not what measures would be advised to recoup as much as possible to get through the next nine months aince getting the money to pay the breaking the lease fee right away is next to impossible.

Daniel

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by danieljshort

What is the name of your state? California


My girlfriend and I signed a 12 month lease with her grandfather as the co-signer. Her grandfather was never intened to live in our one bedroom apartment. She recently packed up all her things while i was at work making myself the only person on the lease that lives here. We are only three months into the lease and I do not intend to move out. Can I hold her liable for her half of the rent and utilities since it is a one bedroom apartment and getting another roomate will be a little difficult. If not what measures would be advised to recoup as much as possible to get through the next nine months aince getting the money to pay the breaking the lease fee right away is next to impossible.

Daniel

**A: the answer is yes. In fact, both she and Grandpa are on the hook.

[danieljshort]

Just to be clear, they are liable for half of the rent for the next nine months or as many months as I live here and then half of the breaking the lease penalty if for whatever reason I can not make rent?

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by danieljshort

Just to be clear, they are liable for half of the rent for the next nine months or as many months as I live here and then half of the breaking the lease penalty if for whatever reason I can not make rent?

**A: ok, let's call the written 12 month lease "the hook" for lack of a better term. Now go back and read my response. Then read your lease.
If you still can't get the picture, imagine the landord fishing and you, your ex girlfriend and Grandpa are on the hook.

[ecmst12]

She is required to keep paying her half of the rent or you can sue her for it. However you may be required to look for and be willing to accept another roommate....depends on your local laws. In most places, if a lease is broken then the original tenant is still responsible for the rent but the LL has to make a good faith effort to find a new tenant, at which time the old tenant is released from having to pay any more. But I'm not sure if the same would hold true in the case of a one bedroom apartment/couple breaking up situation. So check out your states's LL/tenant laws.