GGarces1992
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New Jersey
5 people (including myself) signed a year lease to rent an apartment in a college town. Two of my roommates decided not to pay the last 2 months of rent. They were bitter at the landlord for not resigning them for another year. Also a 3rd roommate decided to not pay the last month (but he claims he made arrangements with the landlord to have the last month removed from the security deposit). Myself and the last roommate paid each month.
Two weeks before the lease ends, the landlord gets an attorney to sue my 2 roommates that didn't pay the last two months. However, we all signed the lease collectively, so we all receive eviction notices from the attorney. I did not worry at the time because I paid every month. My two other roommates, who didn't pay the last two months, did nothing. A couple weeks later, I have found out that the landlord will not be returning any of our security deposit. Apparently, to cover the 4 months of rent that was not collected (plus the 3rd roommate's rent whom "made an arrangement"), the late fees (which included that 3rd person's "arrangement"), and court fees, and misc was deducted from the security deposit. So basically, myself and the last roommate got nothing, because these other guys did not pay. What should I do?
I spoke to the landlord's attorney, and he said I can't get anything from the landlord at this point. He said I should go after my roommates. I tried nicely speaking to my ex-roommates and they say I should go after the landlord. What I should I do before I take any legal action. The security deposit was a month and a half.
Also, on the list of expenses that was deducted from the security deposit, one of the huge fees was "Legal fees due in connection with the eviction filing".
Was that simply the eviction notice? Because we were not evicted, the lease simply ended.
5 people (including myself) signed a year lease to rent an apartment in a college town. Two of my roommates decided not to pay the last 2 months of rent. They were bitter at the landlord for not resigning them for another year. Also a 3rd roommate decided to not pay the last month (but he claims he made arrangements with the landlord to have the last month removed from the security deposit). Myself and the last roommate paid each month.
Two weeks before the lease ends, the landlord gets an attorney to sue my 2 roommates that didn't pay the last two months. However, we all signed the lease collectively, so we all receive eviction notices from the attorney. I did not worry at the time because I paid every month. My two other roommates, who didn't pay the last two months, did nothing. A couple weeks later, I have found out that the landlord will not be returning any of our security deposit. Apparently, to cover the 4 months of rent that was not collected (plus the 3rd roommate's rent whom "made an arrangement"), the late fees (which included that 3rd person's "arrangement"), and court fees, and misc was deducted from the security deposit. So basically, myself and the last roommate got nothing, because these other guys did not pay. What should I do?
I spoke to the landlord's attorney, and he said I can't get anything from the landlord at this point. He said I should go after my roommates. I tried nicely speaking to my ex-roommates and they say I should go after the landlord. What I should I do before I take any legal action. The security deposit was a month and a half.
Also, on the list of expenses that was deducted from the security deposit, one of the huge fees was "Legal fees due in connection with the eviction filing".
Was that simply the eviction notice? Because we were not evicted, the lease simply ended.
