Stuck in a lease with someone, need to move.... please help

[Erose999]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? GA, Athens/Clarke county.

I have a lease on a 3 bedroom apartment. My name and the name of one of my roommates (who we will call "X") is on the lease. There are 2 other roommates ("Y" and "Z") who share the third bedroom. Y and Z are listed on the lease as "residents" but have not signed the lease.

The problem I am having is with Y and Z. They are absolutely filthy and their pets have caused damage to the trim and to the floors which they have done nothing to fix. They have 3 cats that they do not clean up after (the whole place reeks of cat) and they are just trashy and disrespectful in general.

I have dicsussed this at length with X and X refuses to evict Y and Z no matter how trashy they are or how much damage they do the the place. They are all close friends and X is worried that evicting Y and Z will damage his reputation among their group of friends. Since the lease is an equal partnership between X and I we are at a deadlock about evicting Y and Z.

This situation has been brewing for several months. Every day I come home and the place is filthy and theres not much I can do about it except ask them politely to clean up their messes (which they then ignore).

It is to the point that I feel it has seriously effected my mental health... I am constantly angry, depressed, or both. I stay away from the place as much as possible (often traveling 100 miles or more each weekend to crash at friends' houses). I am unable to eat is my own kitchen because of the cat smell and general filth.

So I am weighing my options toward moving out.

I know I probably won't be able to find anyone to sublease my place because no one would want to live in X Y and Z's filth. And if I did it would probably be another degenerate who would cause more damage I'd be liable for.

If I move out and not pay my share of the rent, I guess I will be taken to small claims court by either X, the landlord, or both. What are my options if that happens?

If I move out and continue to pay them my 1/3 of the rent, I would barely be able to afford to live. The amount of my 1/3 for the 5 months remaining on the lease totals to $1100. I really can't afford that as I have debt that I need to start paying on.

Any words of advice or encouragement would be really appreciated. I just don't know what to do here.

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? GA, Athens/Clarke county.

I have a lease on a 3 bedroom apartment. My name and the name of one of my roommates (who we will call "X") is on the lease. There are 2 other roommates ("Y" and "Z") who share the third bedroom. Y and Z are listed on the lease as "residents" but have not signed the lease.

The problem I am having is with Y and Z. They are absolutely filthy and their pets have caused damage to the trim and to the floors which they have done nothing to fix. They have 3 cats that they do not clean up after (the whole place reeks of cat) and they are just trashy and disrespectful in general.

I have dicsussed this at length with X and X refuses to evict Y and Z no matter how trashy they are or how much damage they do the the place. They are all close friends and X is worried that evicting Y and Z will damage his reputation among their group of friends. Since the lease is an equal partnership between X and I we are at a deadlock about evicting Y and Z.

This situation has been brewing for several months. Every day I come home and the place is filthy and theres not much I can do about it except ask them politely to clean up their messes (which they then ignore).

It is to the point that I feel it has seriously effected my mental health... I am constantly angry, depressed, or both. I stay away from the place as much as possible (often traveling 100 miles or more each weekend to crash at friends' houses). I am unable to eat is my own kitchen because of the cat smell and general filth.

So I am weighing my options toward moving out.

I know I probably won't be able to find anyone to sublease my place because no one would want to live in X Y and Z's filth. And if I did it would probably be another degenerate who would cause more damage I'd be liable for.

If I move out and not pay my share of the rent, I guess I will be taken to small claims court by either X, the landlord, or both. What are my options if that happens?

If I move out and continue to pay them my 1/3 of the rent, I would barely be able to afford to live. The amount of my 1/3 for the 5 months remaining on the lease totals to $1100. I really can't afford that as I have debt that I need to start paying on.

Any words of advice or encouragement would be really appreciated. I just don't know what to do here.

**A: if you move out wou woul dneed to pay your share of the rent etc. until a qualified replacement tenant is found.

 

[Erose999]

**A: if you move out wou woul dneed to pay your share of the rent etc. until a qualified replacement tenant is found.

Would I be within my rights to lock my room and restrict them from accessing it if I were still paying my share of the rent? So that if another tennant is found it could be someone who I approve of (I don't want to sublease to someone who doesn't have a verifiable income, or someone who is likely to damage the place)

Technically, we are all eligable for eviction, because of the mess made by Y and Z, and because of the pet damages.

I suppose I could give the landlord a tour of the damages and get us all evicted... if I were so inclined. But I don't see how that would benefit me in any way.

I suppose it would be advantageous to X Y and Z if no sublease tenant is found... they will have higher monthly for their utilities, but they will also have one less roommate to share space with. They have me on the hook to keep paying 1/3 whether I live there or not.

And I absolutely cannot live there anymore... this is a situation that could escalate to violence.

Z and one of his buddies went into my room on at least two occasions and logged onto my computer without asking. They even deleted my browsing history to cover it up. I told him in jest (not thinking about repercussions because of anger) that I would "not hesitate to stab someone" and to stay out of my room. Is that the same as making a threat?

They have sent me several vaguely threatening text messages. After I got on to Z for going in to my room, I have not tried to intimidate them in any way.

 

[Erose999]

Anyone else out there? I'm at the end of my rope here

 

[Antigone*]

Home Guru gave you solid advice.

This kind of thing can and should be expected when you decide to live in a communal situation.

You have a few choices. 1~ Stick out the term of your lease and then move.
2~ Move and pay rent in two places. 3~ move and don't pay rent and expect to be sued.

 

[Erose999]

You have a few choices. 1~ Stick out the term of your lease and then move.
2~ Move and pay rent in two places. 3~ move and don't pay rent and expect to be sued.

What I'm asking is who can sue me and what are they entitled to? Since X signed the lease too, can they sue me for the full amount, or is X liable for half the amount?

Sticking out the lease is not an option. I'm willing to risk the financial ruin that will surely result from breaking this lease to preserve my mental health.

I realize I will certainly get sued by someone over this, I just want to know what all I can expect and how I might defend myself if it comes to court.

 

[Erose999]

An update on this situation:

I found another lease and moved out. I am a lot healthier/happier in a new living arrangement.

After I moved out, the other roommate who had not signed the lease moved out as well, and I think the freeloader left too. Not entirely sure... didn't want to stick around to find out.

As I was moving my stuff out, the person staying there changed the locks.

So being locked out of the place, and with the place in dis-repair from the other roommates, I was unable to find anyone to sublease, but the person staying there did find someone to rent one of the rooms.

I have had no contact with them since I moved out March 1st, untill today when the other party on the lease tells me they can't pay and they are going to break the lease. This person tells me I am now on the hook for $1300... half of the remainder of the lease.

I have thought about calling the apartment complex, but I don't know what I should say to them. I don't have the means to pay the amount I am told I owe, and I have no idea what condition the place is in since I moved out 2 months ago.

I am thinking of just staying silent on the whole matter until I get a court summons.