This summer I signed a 12 month apartment lease with my cousin.We agreed to split the rent & bills. There weren't any problems until his girlfriend moved in. I never stayed there, so I let it slide. This month another one of my cousin's asked both of us if she could stay in my room for a short time & everyone agreed that would be fine. They had a disagreement and now everyone has moved out and refuses to pay rent. I'm left to pay everything & I've been informed that I don't have many legal rights. I'm screwed until I find a new roommate.
My cousin took the keys when he moved out, but he still uses this address for his mail. He has not returned my calls and refuses to pay rent/bills. I called him twice to ask what was going on and he told my grandmother if I keep harassing him, he'll call the police. He did the same with a friend, who he bought a car with. He refused to give him any profit when he sold it & then broke contact. What can I do? Can I change the locks? Any advice?
2006-10-02 09:22:47 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Depends on who's name is on the lease.
If it's yours..... too bad.
If it's his then you have nothing to worry about.
If it's both of yours then you have legal recourse to take him to court for half.
2006-10-02 09:31:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who informed you that you don't have legal rights? Have you been to see a lawyer? If he signed the lease, he's libel for his portion of it. Also, you all might have broken the lease and you could get kicked out because there was someone else living there. I know my lease stated no one but the leasees could live there and no overnight guests for longer than 3 days in a row.
Ask your landlord to change the locks. You go fill out a change of address/stop mail at the post office for him if he refuses to do it himself.
If you have a mailbox with a key, you'll probably have to get that lock changed as well. If you get any mail for him, drop it back in the mail with a "NOT AT THIS ADDRESS" written on it.
You'd better make sure you get him off all the other bills relating to the apartment too.
If he did something like this before, it was pretty dumb of you to rent an apartment with him in the first place.
2006-10-02 16:36:34 · answer #2 · answered by parsonsel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not harrassment to ask about payment on bills he owes you, so let him try calling the police. You can take him to civil court (you don't need an attorney) to demand payment, but in the meantime, change the lock (with the landlord's approval) and see about subleasing rooms to people you trust, or subletting the whole place with your landlord's approval to get out of your lease. Your cousin is a major creep and a user and you're best with him out of your life. Get a judgment in court against him for what he owes (you can file the papers yourself, it's quite easy, just filling out forms). He may not pay it, but you'll have the legal papers to show you have the right to collect. Don't let him pick up his bills or mail or continue to use that as his legal address. Take his mail and mark it 'return to sender. Not at this address'. Good luck.
2006-10-02 16:30:26 · answer #3 · answered by wynterwood 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes change your locks. And find a return to sender stamp and mark all his letters and put them back in your mail box. When you said you signed with your cousin im thinking you signed it while he was there. That he didn't "co-sign". if this is the case, no you don't have any rights you need to find another roomate. It sounds like your cousin is either a really bad guy. Or he has problems, maybe drugs. I would talk to your family about him and see if you can get him some help :)
Good luck
2006-10-02 16:29:40 · answer #4 · answered by none 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, since u live in an apartment u cant change the locks with out the landlords consent so go ahead and ask him, as long as your paying for it, im sure they wont mind. next, you should take his mail and hide it and tell him that hes gonna need to pay for his mail...hmmm....how about a months rent...and so on and so on....look back on the contract and did he sign it with you? or is there any thing that says he is living with you? because if there is, u would have a good chance in court.
2006-10-02 16:34:39 · answer #5 · answered by Julie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, notify the office that he has moved out and that you are now the sole responsible person for the lease-- they should be able to get ONLY you on there. . . its important to have him taken off if he is not paying.
Second, yes you can change the locks but coordinate it with your landlord, or they can get mad-- they need to have access in case of emergency.
Third, everytime his mail comes in the mailbox, write "Return to Sender-- no person by that name" or something similar..... make sure he gets NO Perks from you!
Hopefully he didn't damage anything....
2006-10-02 16:35:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask the apartment owner to change the locks... you will probably get charged for this.
Stick a couple Change of Address froms from the Post Office in with your Cousins mail. Maybe if you provide him with this form he will change his mailing address.
2006-10-02 16:36:42 · answer #7 · answered by Corvette Red Racer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take him to small claims court and quit calling him. He's not going to pay you any other way. Just file and be done with it.
Change the locks on everything, including the mailbox and write "return to sender, moved" on all his mail and drop it in a mailbox.
2006-10-02 20:13:08 · answer #8 · answered by BoomChikkaBoom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
consult with your landlord about the locks. there should
be no problem with changing the locks providing you
inform him ahead of time.
inform the post office that he in no longer at that address
or just mark everything moved no forwarding address.
do not under any circumstances ever enter into any
agreement with this person again. he may be family,
but that didn't keep him from using you and he will do
it again at the next opportunity.
2006-10-02 16:36:15 · answer #9 · answered by agedlioness 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Charge the locks. Have his mail returned to sender. Sue him in small claims court. All that is legal and should get his attention.
2006-10-02 16:28:12 · answer #10 · answered by WJVV 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would first off. tell your apartment manager to either change the key locks. or tell both of them if they don't respect your request of changing the locks. manger/ and your ex roommate to stay out of your place that you'll report it to the head office. with a faliure to fix a request or require the old tenant to leave there key. or trustpassaging.
good luck but stand your ground. and don't let them push you.
2006-10-02 16:32:29 · answer #11 · answered by d_a_truckergal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋