No lease...now owner is demanding money.

[dragonflame17]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Minnesota
I lived in a "friends" apartment complex (4 units) in minnesota for about 2 years. I asked the owner to transfer the electric bill into my name, after months of not recieving it. it was attached to his so he was paying it...he paid for like 10 months, and over that 10 months i repetely tryed to get him to let me know how much it was so i could pay him for it, he never did...i chose to move out after several months of not paying rent because of a employment situation. and now he wants me to pay the back rent (which i am willing to pay) and the electric (which i am not). What does minnesota law say about this...can he take me to court, and if he does how does he prove that i should pay for the electric and the rent without a formal lease. he doesnt even have any info besides my name and address.

 

[FarmerJ]

With out a written lease the only thing the LL will likely win is the past due rent. I have to admit I am curious though , what stopped you from calling excel or who ever the elect co-op is if your not metro and starting a account back when you moved in? No matter though, with out written lease the only terms of a oral agreement are what each party admits to . LLs records for deposits and tenants past history of knowing where to pay the rent and actually doing it are the only provable things as far as court goes. So yes he can take you to court, I doubt he will win more than the rent owed.

 

[dragonflame17]

Answer

The problem i had with changing the electric is that it was tied in with his, and i was not about to pay his electric...combined with the fact that he did not have an oral agreement with me about the bills, he had one with my roommate.

 

[FarmerJ]

You wrote > The problem i had with changing the electric is that it was tied in with his, and i was not about to pay his electric...<< At the time you lived there how many electric meters were there for the entire 4plex ? ( did the number of meters change ? like LL separating house lights or splitting two units off so each had own meter ?)