Roommate problem?

Question

SO here is my situation. Last September I was looking for a roommate and I found someone (from Saudi Arabia) to live in my apartment and pay half the rent. He told me that he might have to leave after 6 months and I told him that as long as he stayed at least 6 months that was fine. So he signed the lease with me which goes all year. The problem is he only stayed 2 months and never found a replacement for me. He finally found one of his friends to take over his room in March. I had to go 4 months paying the rent all by myself. He says he doesn't have to pay his share becasue he wasn't living there. He is on the lease though and still is till this day. Do I have any legal grounds to make him pay for those 4 months?

Answer 1

I see this on Judge Judy all the time. It depends on the state that you live in, but you are entitled to at least something. Sometimes they need to give you notice and are responsible for only the time of the notice others they are held liable for the whole lease. I would take it to court.

Answer 2

You are four in an appartment? That is your problem. On top of it, you are the ONLY girl!!!!! Listen, they are not going to change and you will mot change them. Either lay the rules down and if they don't follow, per example, you can - Buy you own toilette paper and keep it in your room - along with the role of paper you are using currently. - Sit them down and since there is 4 of you, assign each a week-end that you will clean the bathroom. - I've also had a roommate that use to eat my food, so I put laxatives in mine... I know it sounds mean, but he never did it again. - You can't expect people to act and do stuff the exact way you do them, however, when you all live together, some basic rules have to be followed and THIS is what you need to have a meeting about. If you don't say anything, trust me, it will only get worst, before it gets better. But my advice? Start looking for another place to live.

Answer 3

Yes, if he did not want to stay there for more than two months he had to either get someone to replace him or pay until the lease expired or some sort of negotiation. Either way go to small claims court to recoup your money. You may not get all but should get a substantial amount of compensation.

Answer 4

You can take him to small claims court.

Most leases are set up so the the tenants are individually wholly responsible, but if you go to your small claims court and prove that you had a joint contractual obligation then you may get his half of the rent for the months that he hasn't paid you.

Answer 5

I think your best option to sue him for breach of contract. You stated that he agreed to live at your place for a six month period. However, he only stayed two months. At a minimum you should be entitled to four months of payment.

Depending on your states laws you may need an attorney. Of course you can threaten to turn him into Homeland Security.

Answer 6

If his name is on the lease, the property owner should have gone after him. But you paid his part, so it's a done deal.

Answer 7

Yes. File a suit in small claims court.

Answer 8

Sure, you can sue him. Watch him disappear. If you don't/didn't pay, they'll go after both of you, but it's more likely you'll be the one holding the bag. Lesson learned.

Answer 9

I'm not a lawyer... but if you have it on paper... I think you have a pretty good chance getting some $ out of him...

Answer 10

You can take him to small court