my roommate moved out and is on the lease

[Stephanie Adams]

What is the name of your state?Pennsylvania. My roommate moved out in January and IS on the lease. He was told by the leasing manager he had to pay rent until the lease was up in October. He hasn't paid the rent for May or June.(He did however pay Feb,Mar,and April) I received a default notice and he doesn't live here. Am I allowed to send the same letter certified mail to his place of work? He owns his own business so, I wouldn't be getting him in trouble with a boss. This is the only address I have for him? What do you think will happen to me? I pay my half on time always. I have copies of those checks. I am 8 months pregnant and am very stressed ouy that I will be evicted. What should I do?

 

[txlandlady]

Did you sign a lease that shows you being responsible for your half of the rent? Or is there one lease with both of your names on it and the total amount of rent? Is there any language in the lease pertaining to this type of situation? For example, my lease states that each person is individually responsible for the total amount of rent - because of situation like this exactly.

Have you been in contact with your landlord? What do they say?

Have you started making any kind of arrangements to move? This does not seem like a situation that's likely to go away, and not a good environment to bring a new baby into.

I don't know the laws in your state, but my guess would be that you CAN be evicted (and no offense, but why should the landlord have to settle for only half the rent.)

If I had a tenant approach me in this situation I would do anything and everything I could to help her out, find another place to live, go after the roomate for the rent, etc. But with only 1/2 the rent coming in it would not be possible for her to just stay living there indefinitely. Do you have a decent relationship with the landlord? I'd contact them as soon as possible. I'm always WAY more willing to help a tenant who stays in close contact with me when stuff comes up rather than just not say anything or avoid me.

Karla in Amarillo

 

[Stephanie Adams]

Thank you Karla. I do keep in touch with the leasing manager often. They say that they understand my situation and they are not going after me but, have to because my name is on the lease. No, there was no agreement to how much each of us would pay. The manager said that they are not looking to kick me out and they enjoy having me as a tenant. But, I know it is not up to them to have the final say. My lease is up in October and they know that I will not be renewing. I have since sent the letter to him certified mail and am waiting to receive the signed portion back. My leasing manager seems honest in not wanting me to leave or put me in any more stressfull situations but, can't the judge decide I have to move if my ex-roommate is adamint about feeling he shouldn't have to pay for somewhere he doesn't live? Or will the judge say look you signed the lease you owe the money! And what if he lies and says he moved out because we couldn't get along? Should I have some witnesses write a statement saying that they were there when he moved out and we weren't fighting and he would still come into my work and hang out with me after the move to prove we were still friends? It makes me so angry because I thought he was my friend and he just got engaged so, he has the money for a two karat ring but, not his obligation to the rent here!!

 

[Who's Liable?]

It does not matter if he does not live there anymore... If he didn't want to live at the place, he should not have signed his name on the lease... your best bet is to sue your former roommate for exactly half of the lease, plus any costs for advertising a room for rent.

Most people think that just because they do not want to live somewhere, they can just leave and everything will be ok... Show the judge your lease with his name on it, and most likely the judge will ask why he isn't paying rent, then laugh at his excuse. You can bring up the fact that he just got engaged, and if he's stupid enough to bring his fiancee, you can show the judge the ring...