I live in Texas. My roommate is moving out this friday, our lease is up in March 2008. He is moving out because I caught him stealing from me and confronted him about it (he denied it in the face of blatant evidence). I didn't even ask him to move out, he came up with that on his own because we aren't "getting along". He is going to continue to pay rent until the lease expires, but does not want to pay any more utilities. The cable is in my name, the electric in his and the water/ trash in both of our names. I am canceling the cable and he said he is canceling the electric bill and I need to get one in my name. I signed up for a 13 month lease with bills split evenly between the two of us. I understand he feels he doesn't have to pay because he will no longer be there, but why should I have to pay more for his choice? I don't think I can afford the extra bills. Is he in any way legally bound to half of the electric/ water bills?
2007-09-12 05:36:45 · 6 answers · asked by Robbie 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Hey Applecrisp, what part of "he was stealing from me" don't you understand? What part of that is him being a bigger person? Believe me, I took the high road the moment I found out he was stealing and tried to work it out with him. Instead he throws it in my face and tries to make me pay more. Screen your roommates kids, even if you've been good friends for four years.
2007-09-12 05:59:56 · update #1
It is good he is going to continue paying rent but he is also right in that he should not have to pay any of the utilities since he will no longer be there.
2007-09-12 07:39:52 · answer #1 · answered by Terri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, here in california, he would be IF you guys both signed a contract stating that he would pay for 50% of the utility bills. If you guys do not, you may have trouble. But, if he admits that you guys agreed to that, than he may in fact be. I again am going off of here, in california. I hope this helped and good luck. You could always get a new room mate to cover the utilities and 50% of rent. If you do that though, you can not legally take the money from your ex-roommate anymore. But, at least you will not have to worry about the extra bills.
2007-09-12 05:47:48 · answer #2 · answered by crystal nw 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's hard to tell from how that's written if your utilities are included in your rent. if that's the case, then instead of splitting the rent by 3 you just split it by 2. if your landlord is paying those bills for you and you never see the power or water bill, that's how it works. if the tenants are paying their own utilities and the cable etc is billed directly to someone in the house, and that person moves out, then one of the remaining tenants has to call the power or water company and tell them you will assume billing as of X date. that way the person who's not living there anymore won't get billed.
2016-04-04 17:09:04 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is required to give 30 days notice and is responsible up until that time but after the 30 days he is not responsible for utilities. He will also not be responsible for rent if you find a new roommate.
2007-09-12 05:47:31 · answer #4 · answered by mrsdeli 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No not at all. Sorry buddy. But the good news is that w/ out him there the bills should go down.
2007-09-12 05:46:11 · answer #5 · answered by Tino 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In theory you will use less water, electricity etc because there will only be one person there. He is being a big person you should be to.
2007-09-12 05:46:23 · answer #6 · answered by applecrisp 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋