Me and my roommate rented an apartment in march and everything was fine. Then she said she was going to open a business and she quit her job in april. She never opened her business, meanwhile i was paying my half of the rent all along. Now we are got an eviction notice and with both our names on the lease, they are taking both of us to court. Its not my fault we got the notice, what do i do when i get to court. I dont want to leave!!!
2006-06-21 06:26:44 · 7 answers · asked by sweet_jemise 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
You joined the lease together so both of you are responsable for the rent. The landlord doesn't care how you split it or don't split it, they just want their money that the two of you agreed to pay.
You must have known she was not paying her portion. You had to receive late notices. That is the time you should have acted on it. You shouldn't have waited until the court date was set. I am sure the landlord would allow you to stay if you come up with the rent arrearage. That is why roommates usually do not work out.
At any rate, the court will probably extend your time by ten days to come up with the money. It is just as much your fault as the roommate, you signed the same paper and you let the rent fall behind.
2006-06-21 09:10:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have some very serious problems here, and you have let the situation slide far too long. You were never on the lease, so that's a big problem. Proving a verbal agreement is difficult. Your biggest problem is "joint and several liability." Unless you were renting a separate room in a rooming house with your liability limited to your room, each tenant is liable for the full amount of the rent for the unit. If one tenant fails to pay, the other tenants have to. That's the law, and there's no way out. Legally, the landlord can probably come after you. You would have to sue the deadbeat for his share - and good luck with that. Unemployed, there's a good chance that if you win, you will still end up with nothing. How could you even think of remaining in a place with no utilities? Should have gotten out immediately. If that deadbeat was solely on that bill, at least you have no liability, but you had no recourse, either. Your best option now is to get an attorney, because you may very well be in deep doodoo here. Should have "called in the troops" - i.e. an attorney - long ago before this mess degenerated to such a point. Get your own place, and beware of roommate situations. These things happen often, and there is no really good solution to a bad roommate. If you have to rent a tiny little studio, or a room in a rooming house, then do it! Get your own place in your own name where you are solely liable for your rent, utilities, whatever, and not dependent on potential troublemakers. Good luck with that now, however, as evictions, once filed, are public records and you end up with the problem (and bills) in your lap.
2016-03-26 23:59:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately if in the lease it says "jointly and severally liable" then you may not have much of a leg to stand on. You should get it checked over by a lawyer but if the notice has been served then there isnt altogether that much you can do.
Get a lawyer to check the lease
2006-06-21 06:31:08 · answer #3 · answered by button_mushroom_x 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have 30 days to file an answer with the court or try to work out something with your landlord.
2006-06-21 06:31:37 · answer #4 · answered by Mz.CoCo.In.ATL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have copies of your receipts showing you paid your part?
If you do take them to court with you. If not hopefully you paid by check.
2006-06-21 06:31:17 · answer #5 · answered by kspauldinghome 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
demand your rights and take those damn fools to court!!!!!1
2006-06-21 06:30:41 · answer #6 · answered by 4u2nv® 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you get kicked out!
2006-06-21 06:30:23 · answer #7 · answered by _ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋