Roomate's rent

[Greg Landis]

My six friends and I all signed a lease as cotenants to live in a house for 9 months. One of our roomates decided not to live there. He paid for the first month's rent but has not paid since. He told us that he would continue to pay rent until he could find a replacement. Whose responsibility is it to find a replacement? Is he liable for the remainder of the rent or are the rest of us simply stuck with paying it? We have posted a flyer for a roomate but have been unable to find anyone. Meanwhile he has done nothing to find someone to take his place. Can we collect from him for the rent or are we stuck paying it? What can we do?

 

[djdj]

YOU are ALL responsible for paying the FULL rent to the landlord each month no matter what.

BUT you can also sue the bum of a roomate for his share of the rent in small claims court...go there, its a small filing fee, and you will learn a lot about how our legal system works.

 

[Greg Landis]

Roomate's Rent

Thanks Djdj for your response. That's what I figured the answer would be. I have another question though. I was doing some research of my own on this topic and I read somewhere that a person who breaks a lease is only responsible for one month rent to give the landlord time to find someone else. Since we cannot find anyone else, is this applicable? What are your thoughts on this?

 

[djdj]

NO when you all sign the lease you are all responsible for paying the full rent ON TIME!!!!

doesnt matter who pays it......its not up to the landlord to figure out who owes what...its up to all of you.

yes you can ALL give a 30 day notice and IF the landlord agrees then the lease is cancelled.

So.. You signed it.. you and are responsible till it ends..

if you cant find another roomate you have to sue the old one for his share of the rent...he did sign the lease.