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View Full Version : Terminating lease with roommate


kquinn240
Jan 1, 2009, 10:29 AM
Okay I had to move out of my apartment due to job loss. I agreed however with my roommate to pay the rent till the end of the lease. Which was jan 14. I moved out on nov 15 going to the office with roommate and my mother explaining I was leaving. But would continue paying the rent till the lease was up on jan 14. A leasing agent there said all I need is your forwarding address which we gave him and the check, with no paperwork. We then left, about two weeks later they called and said they couldn't keep my check, which was fine we paid on-line. Then like a month before the lease was up, they said I needed to sign papers which I did and have them notarized and sent back. Explaining I was vacating the apartment on jan 14. However my room mate has not found a place to live and they rented out the apartment to someone else. Now she is staying and hasn't signed anything. I called the office again and they told me I had no obligations after the 14 of January. Now she is calling me saying I have to pay ones months rent because she hasn't signed me off the lease, and she has nowhere. Is this legal? Do I have to pay that rent?

ScottGem
Jan 1, 2009, 10:57 AM
No. The lease expired on Jan 14. You informed the landlord you were not renewing the lease. You paid your contractual obligation for the lease. You have no more responsibility after 1/14.

JudyKayTee
Jan 1, 2009, 10:59 AM
okay I had to move out of my apartment due to job loss. I agreed however with my roommate to pay the rent till the end of the lease. Which was jan 14. I moved out on nov 15 going to the office with roommate and my mother explaining I was leaving. But would continue paying the rent till the lease was up on jan 14. a leasing agent there said all i need is your forwarding address which we gave him and the check, with no paperwork. We then left, about two weeks later they called and said they couldn't keep my check, which was fine we paid on-line. then like a month before the lease was up, they said I needed to sign papers which I did and have them notarized and sent back. Explaining I was vacating the apartment on jan 14. however my room mate has not found a place to live and they rented out the apartment to someone else. now she is staying and hasn't signed anything. I called the office again and they told me i had no obligations after the 14 of january. now she is calling me saying I have to pay ones months rent because she hasn't signed me off the lease, and she has nowhere. is this legal? do i have to pay that rent?


Were you both on the lease? Did she agree to let you off the lease? Did the landlord let you out of the lease?

It's not what the landlord told you, it's what you have in writing. A written agreement/contract can only be changed by a written/agreement contract.

If the landlord said it's not your responsibility to pay this rent, then your roommate would have to pay it herself and sue you in Small Claims Court. Because it appears to be a stay-over month to month rental and not part of the lease, I don't see how she can win.